Peter Shackleford was recruited into the International Union of Official Travel Organizations (the predecessor to the UNWTO) in January 1968 and was subsequently promoted to Head of Research at the Madrid headquarters. He then served as Chief for the European region, and finally as Director of Finance and Administration until his retirement.
Francesco Frangialli was elected UNWTO Secretary General for three terms of office (from September 1996 to February 2009), during which time he witnessed first-hand the excitement of international election periods.