SF Travel names new executive VP and chief customer officer

John Reyes

The San Francisco Travel Association (SF Travel) has announced two changes in its executive staff.

John Reyes, MBA, CMP, has been named executive vice president and chief customer officer, and Tom Kiely has been promoted to executive vice president, tourism.

In his new position, Reyes will oversee all Convention division activities including citywide group business optimization, long-range sales and marketing of the City and County of San Francisco’s major convention facilities including Moscone Center.

“This position is absolutely critical to the success of San Francisco‘s tourism industry – and to San Francisco‘s economy as a whole,” said Joe D’Alessandro, SF Travel President and CEO. “John’s background is ideal for this role in growing both our meetings and convention bookings.”

The Moscone Center, San Francisco‘s primary meeting facility, is in the midst of a $56 million renovation which includes new carpet, paint, lighting and ceilings; upgraded lobbies; restroom renovations; and digital displays and telecom/data cabling upgrades. The project, slated to be completed in June 2012, is funded jointly through San Francisco‘s Tourism Improvement District and the City and County of San Francisco.

“I look forward to being part of the San Francisco Travel team that ensures that growth and success of San Francisco’s overall economy and its tourism industry by strategically selling and marketing San Francisco as one of the premiere destinations of choice for meetings and conventions,” said Reyes.

In 2010, San Francisco welcomed 15.92 million visitors, an increase of 3.1 percent from 2009, with an average of 126,931 visitors in San Francisco each day. These visitors spent $8.34 billion in 2010, up 6.2 percent from the previous year. The tourism industry generated $485 million in taxes for the City of San Francisco, up 4 percent from the previous year, and supported 67,122 jobs in 2010 with an annual payroll of $1.88 billion.

Reyes brings nearly 30 years of executive travel industry experience, most recently as president and CEO of the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau. He was also president and CEO at Florida‘s Visit Jacksonville.

Tom Kiely, who joined SF Travel in September 2010 as vice president, tourism, has become executive vice president, tourism. He will oversee travel producer business development in international and domestic markets.
This includes developing new business from travel producers (such as wholesale tour operators, receptive tour operators, and major travel agencies), growing business from the current business to business (B2B) customer base, and working in partnership with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), U.S. Travel Association and the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC).

“One third of our visitors come from outside the United States and most are first-time visitors, so this market has tremendous potential for growth,” said D’Alessandro. “Tom’s leadership raises our effectiveness in optimizing the global opportunity.”

Kiely was previously with the California Academy of Sciences, where he was director of business development and a key member of the pre- and post-opening team. He has more than 20 years of experience in tourism and hospitality sales and marketing, including executive management roles with Universal Studios Hollywood as vice president of sales, Disneyland Resort as director of travel industry sales and marketing, Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas as director of sales and Atlantis The Palm theme parks in Dubai as director of business development and operations.

Kiely was previously with the California Academy of Sciences, where he was director of business development and a key member of the pre- and post-opening team. He has more than 20 years of experience in tourism and hospitality sales and marketing, including executive management roles with Universal Studios Hollywood as vice president of sales, Disneyland Resort as director of travel industry sales and marketing, Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas as director of sales and Atlantis The Palm theme parks in Dubai as director of business development and operations.