Longtime food and beverage industry executive George Szigeti will succeed congressional candidate Mufi Hannemann as president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association effective July 9.

George Szigeti

The association’s board of directors announced the appointment this morning.

Since 1997, Szigeti has been president and CEO of Better Brands Ltd., a subsidiary of Young’s Market Co., which is among the nation’s largest wholesalers and distributors of beer, wine and spirits.

"As someone whose business has benefited tremendously from travel and tourism, I welcome this opportunity to return that support by offering my knowledge, dedication and commitment to tourism through the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association," Szigeti said in a statement.

In addition to service on the HLTA board, he is a past president of the Hawaii Food Industry Association and board member of the Hawaii Restaurant Association, and has served in leadership roles in other industry organizations as well.

"There won’t be a steep learning curve for George because he’s been an active member of the HLTA and knows lodging and tourism through his success in the supply and retail sides of the visitor industry," Hannemann said.

Hannemann assumed leadership of HLTA Jan. 1, 2011, succeeding Murray Towill, who retired from the post in August 2010.