Beth Olson has served as the Director of Sales at Visit Santa Barbara since she joined the organization in 2019. In her role, Olson oversees the organization’s sales strategy with an emphasis on growing the region’s group and trade businesses and increasing leisure arrivals.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – Visit Santa Barbara congratulates Director of Sales Beth Olson on earning the honor of Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) from Destinations International, a leading organization representing DMOs and CVBs worldwide with over 7,500 members representing over 700 destinations. Olson was presented with the certification at the Destinations International annual convention that took place this past summer in Dallas, Texas.
The CDME program was developed specifically to address the needs and challenges of destination marketing and is regarded as one of the highest levels of educational achievement. Those who complete the certification program are taught to approach strategies and solutions with a multidisciplinary approach providing invaluable skills for their organizations. The program was created for senior executives looking to advance their careers by blending theory with experience to equip recipients with the tools needed to thrive in a constantly changing environment.
“The CDME curriculum offered an invaluable experience that allowed me to learn from my peers across the industry and provided me with a new perspective on the ever-evolving landscape of destination management,” said Olson. “I look forward to implementing new practices in our strategy at Visit Santa Barbara as we strive to develop valuable partnerships and increase visitation to the Santa Barbara South Coast.”
A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, Olson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations. She has 35 years of hospitality experience in Santa Barbara having held multiple positions in hotel operations and hotel sales, including 14 years as Director of Sales & Marketing at Fess Parker Resort (now Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort). Olson also previously held positions at Relevé Unlimited and PRA Destination Management.
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