submitted by Greg Smith, Visit Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. — Visit Orlando, the Official Tourism Association for both the No. 1 meetings and travel destination in the U.S., announced hospitality and meetings industry veteran, Lisa Messina, will join Visit Orlando as Chief Sales Officer.
Messina’s impressive career spans three decades in leadership roles at several of the meetings and events industry’s leading organizations. Most recently, Messina served as the Chief Sales Officer for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, which also owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Lisa Messina is a powerhouse in the meetings and conventions industry, has a tremendous reputation and a diverse hospitality background,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Her rich experience in leading high-performing teams, focus on driving results, passion for the industry, and alignment with our company culture, are exactly what our organization and destination need right now for this critical role.”
At Visit Orlando, Messina will oversee several departments including the meeting & convention sales and experience team, travel industry sales, membership and supporting services. She joins the organization at a crucial time as the Orange County Convention Center is set to embark on an expansion project to the North-South Building, opening up opportunities for new businesses to our region. Visit Orlando also grew its travel industry sales presence to more international markets with trade sales representation with year-round or project work in 15 international countries, as the relationships with the travel industry trade remain vital to drive full recovery in international visitation.
“What drew me to Orlando is the outstanding leadership at Visit Orlando, the vibrant organizational culture and the incredible product that constantly grows and evolves each year,” said Lisa Messina. “I look forward to getting to know the team, members and community partners who make this such a remarkable destination, and to reconnecting and serving clients on behalf of this outstanding organization.”
Before her tenure at Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Messina served as Senior Vice President of Sales for Ceasars Entertainment, leading revenue strategy for the meetings and conventions segment. Prior to Ceasars, Messina held numerous sales leadership roles during her 16-years with Hilton Worldwide and served as the Chief Marketing Officer for ConferenceDirect, a full-service global meetings solution company.
Throughout her career, she has received a host of prestigious awards and served on key industry boards. In 2023, she was named one of MPI’s 50 Most Influential Meeting Professionals and was inducted into Smart Meetings Hall of Fame. Messina has also served on CVENT’s Advisory Board, HSMAI’s Advisory Board and the Executive Board of the American Heart Association Southern Nevada. Messina currently serves on the Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Board of Directors.
Messina holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.
She will begin her role August 19 and report to Visit Orlando’s president and CEO, Casandra Matej.
About Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States, Theme Park Capital of the World® and No. 1 meeting destination in the country. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, we represent more than 1,500 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s tourism community.
Visit Orlando connects consumers and business groups with all facets of Orlando’s travel community, whether for a vacation or meeting. Home to seven of the world’s top theme parks — as well as refreshing water parks, nature and outdoor adventures, vibrant neighborhoods, a dynamic dining scene with Michelin-recognized restaurants, and a robust calendar of entertainment and sports events — Orlando is a diverse, welcoming and inclusive community for all travelers. Find more information at VisitOrlando.com, VisitOrlando.org or OrlandoMeeting.com.
