California Travel Association

Tourism Economics has hired Chuck Davison as Vice President of Attribution Solutions. With more than 30 years of experience within travel industry verticals—including nearly nine years leading Visit SLO CAL—he brings a depth of knowledge and expertise to the Tourism Economics team. In his new role, he provides clients with extensive data-driven insights for business strategy and technology implementation, in addition to expanding and strengthening partnerships across the industry. Chuck is excited for the new adventure with such a well-respected and industry-leading company and team. Congratulations on your new position, Chuck! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/47ZjRXy

Visit Pleasant Hill has hired Brisette Baugh as its new Sales and Marketing Manager. Brisette is a Bay Area native with over eight years of experience in hospitality and sales and a passion for the outdoors and traveling. She has developed a knack for building strong relationships and promoting brands, which has been a key factor in her success. Her love for building and promoting communities has led her to Pleasant Hill, where she has been actively involved in hotel sales and events. Her new role will allow her to combine her passion for sales and her enjoyment of marketing. Brisette is eager to connect with like-minded individuals in the industry and wants to be a role model for the younger generation pursuing careers in hospitality and tourism. Congratulations on your new position, Brisette! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Visit Anaheim has appointed Mike Waterman as its new President and CEO. Mike is a hospitality veteran with over 30 years of leadership and sales experience, including his most recent role as Chief Sales Officer at Visit Orlando and previous role as President & CEO of the Greater Houston CVB. He began his career at Marriott International, where he served as VP of Sales for the Western region, overseeing 100 properties including a group of hotels in Los Angeles' L.A. Live. In his new role, Mike will be the strategic and visionary leader responsible for developing, directing, and overseeing Visit Anaheim. He will lead the organization’s efforts to draw conventions and visitors to the Anaheim area to bring economic growth to the community. Congratulations on your new position, Mike! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Alysia Rivers is the Advocacy & Business Development Manager for Los Angeles County Business Federation - BizFed, a massive grassroots alliance that unites chambers of commerce, trade associations, minority business groups, economic development organizations, business improvement districts, and other business groups to advocate for policies and projects that strengthen the regional economy. Alysia is an author and community activist with a track record of driving political campaigns to victory, mobilizing groups to increase civic engagement, and project managing teams committed to empowering children. Welcome to CalTravel, Alysia and the BizFed team! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Bandwango has hired Kate Skidmore as Senior Sales Director. She joins the team with over 17 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Most recently, she served as Senior Sales Director at Adara. Her journey in tourism began with seven years at San Diego Tourism Authority, where she developed her passion for the DMO world. She also previously spent seven years with Destinations International (DI) as Senior Director of Membership Engagement, working with over 650 DMOs. During her time with DI, she earned her CDME - Certified Destination Management Executive. Kate is excited to continue her journey in the tourism industry, sharing her passion for people first, travel, technology, and Bandwango's vision of connecting communities to local businesses. Congratulations on your new position, Kate! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Nancy Beckman has announced her retirement as President and CEO of Visit Lodi! Conference and Visitors Bureau, after having led the organization for over 20 years. Nancy was named the organization’s executive director in 2001. By 2004, Tourism Business Improvement Assessment Districts managed by lodging properties became the standard for funding destination marketing organizations across the country, and their local lodging partners stepped up. At the time, there were 16 lodging properties in Lodi, and today there are more than 90, including hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, and short-term rentals. Nancy retires as the organization celebrates 25 years of growing with and supporting the city of Lodi. She looks forward to this next chapter of life, but will miss all the amazing people she’s worked with over the years. She will officially retire in September, and the organization is actively searching for its next CEO. Congratulations on your retirement, Nancy! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Join us in celebrating our 2024 Great Workplace Award winner - LEGOLAND California Resort. This award recognizes a member organization that provides a great environment for employees to thrive and grow through mentoring, innovative recruitment or training programs, high quality of life benefits, or other ways to make their workplace a great place to work. LEGOLAND California has a strong commitment to company culture, with a multitude of programs to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation—ensuring an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees have equal opportunities to thrive. And as one of Carlsbad’s largest employers, LEGOLAND California employs thousands of locals who deliver magical experiences to millions of guests each year. Click the link below to see the full list of award winners, and join us at the CalTravel Summit in Visit Oceanside next month to celebrate their accomplishments! 2024 CalTravel Award Winners: https://bit.ly/3SCnEUn

Join us in celebrating our 2024 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Champion award winner - Viola Ncube, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Visit Pleasant Hill. This award recognizes a member individual or organization who, by advocating, educating, developing programs, and/or raising awareness of DEI&A issues, has strengthened and affected meaningful change to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the travel and tourism industry. Viola Ncube is a trailblazing advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI&A) in the travel and hospitality industry. She established a mentoring partnership program with Diablo Valley College, providing paid employment opportunities for interns from diverse backgrounds. She also launched the "I Belong Here" campaign, amplifying diversity on Visit Pleasant Hill’s social platforms. And she is now working on an extension of the campaign celebrating the Indigenous People. Viola's story is a powerful inspiration to all, showcasing the boundless possibilities of hard work, determination, and global ambition. Click the link below to see the full list of award winners, and join us at the CalTravel Summit in Visit Oceanside next month to celebrate their accomplishments! 2024 CalTravel Award Winners: https://bit.ly/3SCnEUn

SeaWorld San Diego has hired Jackie Plaza as its new VP of Marketing. Jackie is making the move from Los Angeles where she was serving as Director of Marketing & Communications at Fairmont Century Plaza. In her nearly 20-year career, she has led the marketing and communications efforts at Los Angeles’ most iconic retail, hospitality, and entertainment destinations. With over eight years of retail marketing success, she has developed and executed strategic campaigns that drive revenue, traffic, and brand reputation. Community engagement, partnership, and problem-solving sit at the core of her philosophy for brand success. Jackie is most excited to work for such an iconic brand that creates lasting memories for families. Congratulations on your new position, Jackie! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Join us in celebrating our 2024 Sustainability & Stewardship Award winner - North Tahoe Community Alliance. This award recognizes a member individual or organization that has successfully implemented sustainability and stewardship practices that enhance environmental health, manage visitor impacts, and improve well-being of residents in their communities. North Tahoe Community Alliance has set an outstanding example for other California destinations with its commitment to sustainability and stewardship. It reinvests funds generated by tourism into local programs and initiatives that align with North Lake Tahoe community priorities and actively contribute to the triple bottom line of community vitality, economic health, and environmental stewardship. The organization has made incredible progress toward becoming the next generation of DMO. Click the link below to see the full list of award winners, and join us at the CalTravel Summit in Visit Oceanside next month to celebrate their accomplishments! 2024 CalTravel Award Winners: https://bit.ly/3SCnEUn