Frances “Mikie” Wall, Vice-President of Sales & Services for the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), has received the NTA Bob Everidge Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Wall accepted the award on December 6 at an awards luncheon during the NTA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is the first North Carolinian to receive the award.

Established in 2003, the Bob Everidge Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has had an active dedication to the mission of NTA and the best interest of its members while making professional and personal contributions to the industry over a span of at least 20 years. Wall has been active in NTA and the group travel industry for more than 30 years. Active in numerous committees and leadership positions over her decades of service, Wall is a NTA past president (1986) and a member of NTA’s Past Presidents Council.

Mikie Wall joined the Wilmington and Beaches CVB as V.P. of Sales & Services in April, 2007. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Wall is a native of Huntsville, Alabama who grew up in Wilmington and Whiteville, North Carolina. Upon graduation, she spent over 20 years as a tour operator in Charlotte before joining the Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1989 as Tourism Sales Manager. In 1996 Ms. Wall joined the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, where she served as Director of Sales & Trade Development. Over the years Mikie has held board positions on the Travel Industry of North Carolina and the Charlotte CVB. She has also served on the marketing council for Travel South and on the Board of Trustees for Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College.

In addition to NTA’s Bob Everidge Lifetime Achievement Award, Ms. Wall’s industry recognitions include the Bill Sharp Travel Award in North Carolina (2000) for outstanding public service to the state’s travel industry. She was also included among Travel Agent Magazine’s (July 1999) roundup of America’s “Top 200 Most Powerful Women in Travel.”

“NTA’s Bob Everidge Lifetime Achievement Award is among the group tour industry’s most prestigious honors. We are very proud of Mikie and her accomplishments over the years in the group tour market,” states Kim Hufham, president/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches CVB. “Mikie’s leadership skills and expertise in group travel benefit not only Wilmington and the beaches, but also the entire state of North Carolina.”

Now celebrating its 60th year, NTA is the leading association for professionals serving travelers to, from and within North America. Formerly the National Tour Association, the organization became NTA when its global member ship (more than 40 countries) and focus exceeded its name.

NTA, www.ntaonline.com; Wilmington and Beaches CVB, 800-222-4757, www.WilmingtonAndBeaches.com