California Travel Association

Visit Truckee-Tahoe has expanded its team with the hiring of Jackie Calvert as Director of Tourism Marketing and Management. Jackie has held marketing management positions at Palisades Tahoe since 2011, most recently as Digital Marketing Director. In 2024, Jackie and her team won Visit California’s Poppy Award for “Best Paid Brand Campaign.” Visit Truckee-Tahoe’s two-year strategic plan is structured to balance economy, community, and stewardship—and Jackie’s career as a place-based marketing strategist with a passion for brand storytelling makes her an ideal fit. She is a long-time Truckee local who grew up skiing in a family with roots in the winter sports industry. Congratulations on your new position, Jackie! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 CalTravel Awards, which recognize extraordinary member individuals and organizations whose leadership efforts have significantly impacted the travel and tourism industry in California. This year, we'll celebrate the accomplishments of nearly 30 individuals from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., JW Marriott, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Explore Butte County, Visit Pleasant Hill, LEGOLAND California Resort, North Tahoe Community Alliance, Visit Modesto, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Stay Healdsburg, Visit Oxnard, Anaheim Transportation Network, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Visit Carlsbad, The Abbi Agency, Visit SLO CAL, Visit Sacramento, Newport Beach & Company/Visit Newport Beach, Civitas, Universal Studios Hollywood, JNS Next, City Experiences, and the California State Assembly. 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

Following a national search, Visit Berkeley has appointed Jeffrey Church as its new President and CEO. He becomes Visit Berkeley’s second CEO, following the retirement of Barbara Hillman who held the role since the organization’s founding in 1992. Jeffrey has been with the organization for over seven years, most recently serving as Director of Partnership Development where he developed lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships with the city’s hospitality industry. He’s excited to take on this new role, promote a destination that he’s come to know and love, and work with Visit Berkeley’s talented team. In addition to leading Visit Berkeley, he will serve as the city’s Film Commissioner. A California native, Jeffrey was raised in San Jose and graduated from the UC Berkeley. Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Jeffrey! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Hunden Partners has hired Jay Burress as Executive Vice President of Tourism. He joins the team with over 35 years of DMO experience, having led destinations like Anaheim, Dallas, and Arlington to new heights. In his new role, he’ll be utilizing his passion for destination development with DMOs leading the way. His primary focus is on the execution of Hunden’s Placemaking Plans and associated destination development studies and implementation efforts, including major tourism-inducing assets such as entertainment, sports, and convention facilities and events. Jay has long believed that DMOs must become placemakers in addition to sales and marketing organizations, and this next step of the DMO evolution will benefit destinations and ensure DMOs are seen as valued leaders in this effort. Congratulations on your new position, Jay! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

Annabel Chang is Head of State Policy & Government Relations at Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company creating a new way forward in mobility. She previously served as the first Vice President at Alaska Airlines for the San Francisco Bay Area, where she shaped and executed strategic external relations, local government advocacy, and community relations efforts. Annabel also contributed to the policy landscape as Director of Public Policy for Lyft, working on initiatives related to the sharing economy, technology policy, and autonomous vehicles. Welcome to CalTravel, Annabel and the Waymo team! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/3xPUIkv

This week marks the start of CalTravel’s new leadership term (2024-25), and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new Officers, Executive Committee Directors, At-Large Board Directors, and Committee Chairs. These influential voices of the travel and tourism industry will play a key role in shaping the future of our organization in FY 2025 and beyond. New Executive Commitee Director: - John M. Hutar from The San Francisco Peninsula New At-Large Board Directors: - Terence Concannon, CATP from Visit Santa Cruz County - Melody Corvalán from Belmont Park - Donna Kalez from Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching / Oceanside Adventures - Paige P. Viren from California State University, Monterey Bay New Committee Chairs: - Communications Chair - Julie Wright from (W)right On Communications, Inc. - Sustainability & Stewardship Chair: Paige P. Viren from California State University, Monterey Bay We're especially excited to work with our new Board Chair Cassandra Costello, EVP, Chief Policy & External Affairs Officer at San Francisco Travel Association. And a big thank you to our Immediate Past Chair Chuck Davison, CDME, CEO of Pure Navigation Strategies, for his service last term. We're grateful to have such dedicated Officers to help guide the important work that we do. Check out the full leadership slate in the link below. https://bit.ly/4cK0Olr

Asm. Matt Haney's AB 1775, which would legalize cannabis cafes in the state of California, has passed out of the Assembly and is now headed to the Senate. The bill would allow cannabis dispensaries to sell non-infused drinks and foods, while also providing a space for socialization, entertainment, and cannabis consumption. Asm. Haney says the bill would support local businesses and the economy in a multitude of ways. "We have downtown commercial districts that are struggling, we have a tourism industry that needs to come back post-pandemic. This is something that could draw people out, that can bring people to California, create jobs and revenue, that can support this legal industry and allow it to offer something that can compete with the illegal illicit market," said Asm. Haney. Read the full story in the link below. https://bit.ly/3XkxDkl

Tina Riley is the Corporate Director of Public Affairs for Wincome Hospitality and the Director of Sales and Marketing for The Anaheim Hotel. Wincome Hospitality is a division of Wincome USA, a privately-owned real estate investment, development, and management firm based in Anaheim. With nearly 40 years in the industry, the company is committed to elevating experiences through its core values: customer service, true partnerships with team members, and deep connections to the communities in which they do business. Wincome Hospitality’s portfolio includes hotel and office properties in Anaheim and Costa Mesa, and previously included assets in Texas and other regions of California. Welcome to CalTravel, Tina and the Wincome Hospitality team! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/499Yp16

Visit Huntington Beach has hired Clara Tsang as its Vice President of Public Relations and Communications. She joins the VHB team with over thirteen years of global strategic communications experience in tourism and hospitality, including positions at the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board and the Citadel Outlets where she led communications and public relations efforts to drive visitation and business. She most recently worked as the Public Information Officer at the City of San Gabriel. VHB’s three-year strategic plan outlines initiatives to drive global brand awareness, and Clara’s experience leading public relations campaigns domestically and internationally will allow VHB to successfully connect with target audiences. Congratulations on your new position, Clara! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/499Yp16

Yvonne Hendrix is the Executive Director at Southern Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, an organization committed to meeting the needs of the community, with a dual concern for business and for quality of life. The Chamber’s mission is to enhance quality of life and the environment by promoting tourism and assisting local businesses to expand and prosper. It also functions as an advocate for Southern Humboldt at the county, state and federal levels. It serves businesses in the region by connecting them to area residents, visitors, and other businesses—supporting and enhancing both a vibrant local economy and healthy community. Welcome to CalTravel, Yvonne and the Southern Humboldt Chamber of Commerce team! Check out more tourism career moves in the link below. https://bit.ly/499Yp16