Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of William Morrissey to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council.

Morrissey, of Eagan, is the president and owner of Morrissey Hospitality Inc., a St. Paul-based hospitality management and consulting company employing over 1000 hospitality professionals in restaurants, hotels, and sports entertainment venues. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morrissey has spent his entire career in hospitality management. He has chaired the boards of the Minnesota Lodging Association, Hospitality Minnesota, Historic Hotels of America, and the St. Paul Convention and Tourism Bureau, and has served on the boards of directors of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. Morrissey replaces Wayne Kostroski on the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council as a representative of restaurants to complete a four-year term that expires on January 3, 2011.

The Explore Minnesota Tourism Council serves the broader interests of tourism in Minnesota by promoting activities that support, maintain, and expand the state’s domestic and international travel market. The council consists of 28 members, including 23 appointed by the Governor. The director of Explore Minnesota Tourism chairs the council.