CHRIS SEEK ABOUT

Meet Our Guest Lecturer: Chris Seek. A Global Leader in Sustainable Tourism & Marketing. President & CEO of Solimar International and Executive in Residence at George Washington University.

Led Strategic Marketing Initiatives: Under the Local Economy and Infrastructure Development (LEID) Project, Chris directed a comprehensive digital marketing campaign (May–December 2024) that positioned Armenia as a top global destination for cultural andoutdoor tourism. He guided the creation of immersive content, leveraged advanced audience targeting, and expanded partnerships with international media to create over 30 million impressions and 300k engagements with potential travelers to Armenia.

⁠Strengthened Regional Collaboration: Through the USAID South Caucasus Regional Tourism Program (2023–2026), Chris fostered cross-border partnerships among Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. His efforts included organising advisory groups, building tourism networks around niche products (such as cultural heritage tours), and supporting grant mechanisms that incentivize inter-country links and joint marketing activities.

⁠Advanced Cultural Heritage Tourism: In partnership with USAID and the Smithsonian Institution, Chris contributed to the My Armenia program (2015–2021) to enhance rural community-based tourism offerings tied to Armenia’s cultural traditions. This work involved identifying and developing new tourism experiences, training local guides and entrepreneurs, and promoting Armenia’s rich heritage assets through curated storytelling and visitor-ready product development.

Guided Destination Management & Capacity Building: Across all three Armenian projects, Chris’s role included establishing or strengthening Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), improving governance structures for tourism, and creating long-term sustainability plans that empower local institutions to manage and market their regions effectively.