Hawaii restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi has been named to the board of directors of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.

The founder of Roy’s Restaurant was one of 11 travel and tourism industry leaders appointed to the board Friday by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

The CTP is a new nonprofit corporation charged with promoting travel to the U.S. and improving the entry process so visitors want to return.

Yamaguchi’s appointment was praised by Hawaii’s Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye.

He said in a news release that Yamaguchi took his love of local food and blended it with the best of the Asia-Pacific Rim to create a Hawaiian fusion cuisine that has inspired a following in the 33 U.S. cities that are home to his restaurants.