2017 TOURISM SUMMIT

MEET OUR PANELISTS:

What's Next for California and the Los Angeles Region?

Caroline Beteta serves as President & CEO of the industry-led Visit California, a nonprofit organization created to market California as a premier travel destination and to increase the state’s share of tourism-related revenues. She simultaneously serves as the Director of Tourism in California’s Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz). Caroline is responsible for implementing Visit California’s $115 million global marketing program and serves as the lead spokesperson for California’s $122.5 billion travel industry. She has shepherded the growth of Visit California into a global marketing franchise delivering millions of visitors and billions of dollars of economic growth to the state every year.

Julie Wagner, CEO of the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau (BHCVB), is a seasoned hospitality marketing executive with over 25 years in hospitality. In this role, Julie guides the strategy, development and implementation of all efforts for BHCVB. As the head visionary of the organization, Julie directs an international marketing strategy with a focus on China, UK, Australia, Middle East, India Mexico and Canada, with BHCVB employing third party agencies in China, United Kingdom/Europe, India and Australia. Julie also launched a new brand identity and website for BHCVB, directed the strategy for the opening of the City of Beverly Hills’ first independent visitor center and retail space and manages a team of nine employees.

Caroline Beteta

President & CEO, Visit California

Julie Wagner

CEO, Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

2017 TOURISM SUMMIT

MEET OUR PANELISTS:

What's Next for California and the Los Angeles Region?

Patti MacJennett is Senior Vice President, Business Affairs for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. Patti develops and implements the organization’s community engagement strategy with local, state and federal organizations and serves as liaison with key policy makers. Patti began her career in hotel sales and trade show management before joining the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau as head of their tourism division. During her tenure at Los Angeles Tourism, Patti has served as Vice President of International Tourism and Senior Vice President of Marketing. Patti currently serves on the boards of CalTravel Association, the International Visitors Council Los Angeles, the Valley Economic Alliance and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Since 2013, Janet Zaldua served as the CEO for the Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau (MdR CVB). Under her leadership, the MdR CVB's budget has doubled and the number of full-time staff has tripled. Marina del Rey's brand has been refreshed with vibrant imagery and messaging that boasts a new trademarked description, "L.A.'s Marina." Janet actively participates on various committees and speaks on behalf of the Marina's tourism industry at hearings and commission meetings that relate to infrastructure, revitalization, homelessness and visitor-serving projects. Previously, Janet served as the Director of Tourism and Communications for the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Patti MacJennett

Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Janet Zaldua

CEO, Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau

2017 TOURISM SUMMIT

MEET OUR PANELISTS:

What's Next for California and the Los Angeles Region?

Misti Kerns, President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT), joined SMTT in 1997 and has served in her current role for 17 years and is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME). Misti founded the "I Am Santa Monica" program, which has certified over 3,000 local employees and community members as official Santa Monica ambassadors. She is an active member of the Santa Monica Human Relations Council, Santa Monica Pier Corporation Board of Directors and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and serves on local, state and national tourism boards. Misti has been a resident of Santa Monica for over 22 years, and resides in the city by the sea with her husband and daughter.

Tom Kiely brings years of experience to Visit West Hollywood promoting destinations travelers love, and West Hollywood is no exception. Tom has experience in hotel management in Las Vegas and Dubai, but his major experience is in the destination and theme park industries, with 11 years at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, six years at Universal Studios Hollywood and six years at the San Francisco Travel Association, the marketing organization for the City of San Francisco. Tom’s vision as the CEO of Visit West Hollywood is to continue to grow West Hollywood as the vibrant, well-loved destination within the Los Angeles area, supporting hotel growth and sustained occupancy, and its many reasons to stay a few nights longer to take in the 1.9 square miles of pleasure in the city.

Misti Kerns

President/CEO, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Tom Kiely

CEO, Visit West Hollywood