Two business and tourism veterans will join the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the government agency responsible for statewide tourism marketing.

The state Legislature has confirmed Sherry Menor- McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Kelly Sanders, area managing director of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Waikiki, as HTA’s newest board members.

Gov. David Ige nominated the two business leaders, whose terms will run through June 2020. Menor-McNamara will replace HTA board member Lorrie Stone, and Sanders will fill an at-large seat formerly held by David Rae. Jack Corteway, whose term also expired in 2016, will hold over until at least the next legislative session.

The appointments came near the tail end of a legislative session where some state lawmakers had questioned HTA’s board composition and relatively slow turnover rate. State Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake) even inserted a provision into a bill that would have required Hawaii governors to make more prompt HTA board appointments. That bill died in the session.

“We are thrilled to have Sherry Menor-McNamara and Kelly Sanders join our board. Their knowledge and perspective will be vital as the board looks to the future and helps guide HTA in charting a path to support the State’s tourism industry, and all the families and businesses that stand to benefit from its success,” Rick Fried, HTA board chairman, said in a statement.

Menor-McNamara has led the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii since 2013. A University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law graduate, Menor- McNamara’s background includes sports, entertainment, business, law and government affairs.

Sanders, a 30-year hotel industry veteran, has been a senior leader at Starwood and Marriott in Hawaii since 2006. He supports local community organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Diamond Head Theatre, American Heart Association and Filipino Community Center.

“Sherry and Kelly have extensive insight about business, travel and hospitality in the Hawaiian Islands that will be of tremendous help in our fulfillment of HTA’s mission to continually strengthen tourism for the State of Hawaii,” HTA President and CEO George Szigeti said in a statement.