San Francisco Travel Association Holds 113th Annual Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4, 2023 — Over 600 travel and tourism leaders from across the Bay Area attended the 113th San Francisco Travel Association’s Annual Meeting at Pier 27 last week. The event also honored outgoing President and CEO Joe D’Alessandro and welcomed the association’s new leader, Scott Beck.

During the event, San Francisco Travel Board Chair Randall Reynoso announced the appointment of Anna Marie Presutti as Board Chair, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Presutti, the Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Nikko, will assume the role in place of Chair-Elect Terry Lewis, who will resign from San Francisco Travel at the end of the year following her recent promotion to Area Vice President for Hilton. Previously Complex General Manager at Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 San Francisco, Lewis’s expanded remit now encompasses 17 hotels in the Bay Area, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado.

“We are incredibly grateful to Terry for her time and dedication to SF Travel and our city. Among her many contributions, she played a critical role in securing Joe’s successor, Scott Beck, as Chair of the CEO search committee,” Reynoso said. “It is a pivotal time for SF Travel and the city’s visitor economy, so we are excited to have Anna Marie as Board Chair next year. Her industry expertise, connections, and experience will be an asset to the association.”

Presutti, who serves as Chair of San Francisco Travel’s Meetings and Conventions Council and on the Executive Committee, was previously Chair of San Francisco Travel from 2015-2016. She helped capture Super Bowl 50 for San Francisco in 2016 as an integral part of the Super Bowl Host Committee.

“I am ready for round two and excited to work with Scott and the SF Travel team to promote our incredible destination. We will build upon this year’s successes to secure more group and events business in advance of welcoming three major sports events in 2025 and 2026,” Presutti said.

As part of the proceedings, California State Senator Scott Wiener and California Assemblyman Phil Ting presented D’Alessandro with a Resolution from the California Legislature, resolved by them and California Assemblyman Matt Haney, commending D’Alessandro for his long and distinguished record of professional service and outstanding civic leadership.

Incoming SF Travel President and CEO Scott Beck announced the creation of the Joe D’Alessandro Scholarship, which will encourage future tourism and hospitality leaders in the Bay Area. Awarded through the San Francisco Travel Foundation, the first scholarship recipients will be named next year.

D’Alessandro, who has helmed San Francisco Travel for nearly 18 years, also received the Silver Cable Car award from Pat Gallagher, the former President of Giants Enterprises and Past San Francisco Travel Board Chair. The annual award is given to the person or organization whose contributions have impacted San Francisco as a global destination.

D’Alessandro said, “It has been a privilege to serve with incredible board leadership and community partners and to lead SF Travel’s talented team. I look forward to seeing SF Travel thrive in the years to come. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Scott Beck at the helm charting SF Travel’s future.”

“Joe’s tireless dedication to championing San Francisco and leading SF Travel has left an indelible legacy. I extend my sincere gratitude for his remarkable accomplishments and wholeheartedly share his unwavering commitment and genuine excitement for the future of our city,” Beck said.

Presented by: United Airlines

Sponsored by: Metro Events, McCalls Catering and Events, Expedia, Miles, JP Morgan Chase, Airbnb, Giants Enterprises, SIMCO, Scoma's Restaurant, Presidio Trust, BART, Edlen Electric, CLEAR, Hotel Nikko, Bright Event Rentals, San Francisco International Airport, Moscone Center, Hartmann Studios

Entertainment Sponsors: SnapFiesta, Verducci Event Production, Misti Layne Photography, Entire Productions, Headshots Inc., Bobby Friday, David Perry & Associates, Dear San Francisco, Carnaval San Francisco, San Francisco Wine School, Chung Ngai Lion Dance Troupe, San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Impact Audio Visual

Beverage Sponsors: Ballast Point, Free Spirits, Mondavi, Visit Napa Valley, Sonoma County Tourism, RNDC, Amaretto Di Saronno, Engine Gin, Fernet Branca, Coppola Wines, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Caffe Borghetti, Brucato Amaro

San Francisco Travel

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. The city is one of the top tourism and meetings destinations in the U.S. and received 21.9 million visitors in 2022. Total tourism spending in 2022 exceeded $7.7 billion. The tourism industry is the largest generator of outside revenue into San Francisco’s economy and supports over 53,000 jobs.

For information on reservations, activities and more in San Francisco, visit www.sftravel.com. 

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San Francisco International Airport 

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For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation, masks and COVID-related protocols and more, visit https://www.flysfo.com/. Follow us on twitter.com/flysfo and facebook.com/flysfo.

United Airlines is the preferred airline of the San Francisco Travel Association.

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