The Georgia Aquarium's board of directors has selected hotel industry leader Mike Leven as its new CEO, the Atlanta attraction recently announced. Leven, who previously served as president and CEO of hotel franchisor US Franchise Systems (USFS), has been acting as interim CEO since May and as permanent CEO will oversee all operations within the Georgia Aquarium."Mike Leven has put new energy into the Aquarium and is already making additions and changes that will make guests want to visit over and over again," Chairman of the Georgia Aquarium Board Bernie Marcus said in a statement. "He was once named one of the '25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds in Hospitality & Travel,' and we have encouraged him to apply that creativity to the Aquarium."Before founding USFS, Leven was president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide, prior to which he was president of Days Inn of America. As CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, he's already attracted tens of thousands of visitors with new exhibits."We're just getting started," Leven said in a statement. "I learned a long time ago in the hospitality industry that, while guests want consistency in things like good customer service, they also expect to be enticed to return."