San Francisco Travel Association, the official destination marketing organisation for the City and County of San Francisco, has announced the appointment of Anna Marie Presutti as President and CEO, effective immediately. 

According to a press statement by the tourism promotion organisation, Presutti had been serving as San Francisco Travel’s interim President and CEO since mid-May. 

The statement adds that Presutti will oversee one of the country’s oldest and largest membership-based tourism promotion organisations. San Francisco Travel markets and sells the destination globally to attract conventions, meetings and leisure travellers. Tourism is one of the leading industries in San Francisco and is the top generator of outside revenue into the city’s economy. In 2023, tourism accounted for USD 9.3 billion in total visitor spending and generated nearly USD 610 million in tax revenues.

“After an extensive search that spanned the country, the Executive Search Committee realised the best candidate was already in the job. Anna Marie is the ultimate champion of San Francisco and a bold, experienced leader. As a two-time SF Travel Board Chair, Anna Marie is deeply familiar with the organisation, its customers and its culture, and her continued leadership will drive the marketing and awareness of this destination,” says John Anderson, San Francisco Travel Board Chair.

“I am passionate about this city and have been a part of San Francisco’s tourism industry for over 20 years. As we emerge from this challenging time, we have much to look forward to. My priority is to lean into the momentum building and return our convention business to a healthy level. We will invest in marketing San Francisco’s great strengths, including its culinary scene and arts and culture, and collaborate with other organisations, such as the Bay Area Host Committee, to bring more world-class events here,” says Presutti.

Prior to accepting her new role, Presutti was Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Nikko San Francisco. She made history there in 2006 when she was appointed the first female vice president for Tokyo-based Nikko Hotels International. She made history again this year; she is San Francisco’s Travel’s first female CEO. 

Before joining Hotel Nikko San Francisco in 2004, Presutti served as area director of sales and marketing for Kimpton Hotels in San Francisco. Her experience also includes leadership positions with ITT Sheraton, Hilton Hotels and Sunstone Hotel Properties, adds the statement. 

The tourism promotion organisation says that Presutti is consistently recognised for her work. The San Francisco Business Times named her one of “The Most Influential Women in the Bay Area,” and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) named her Outstanding General Manager of the Year. She was also awarded the Hotel Council of San Francisco’s Peter Goldman Award of Excellence and the Northern California Chapter PCMA’s Legend Award.

Presutti currently serves on the boards of the US Travel Association and the Hotel Council of San Francisco. She also sits on Okura Nikko Management Company’s board of directors and Missouri State University Foundation’s board of trustees.

Presutti began her career at Walt Disney World in Orlando. She grew up in Kansas City and studied communications at Missouri State University, reads the statement.