Industry leaders speaking at the Northern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference on Feb. 23 will discuss why they are investing in Northern California`s visitor industry, how they will market to visitors in…
Industry leaders speaking at the Northern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference on Feb. 23 will discuss why they are investing in Northern California`s visitor industry, how they will market to visitors in 2006 and how their plans will affect local tourism businesses.
The conference is presented by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) Education & Research Foundation, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, PKF Consulting and the San Francisco Business Times. It will take place at The Argent Hotel, 50 Third St., from 8 am to 1:30 pm.
United Airlines is the major carrier at San Francisco International Airport and has recently emerged from bankruptcy. Graham Atkinson, United`s senior vice president, Worldwide Sales & Alliances, will discuss The Big Picture: Northern California`s Position in National Brand Strategies.
Steve Eimer, vice president, Development, Westfield Corporation, will discuss plans and strategy for the new Westfield San Francisco Centre expansion, which will open in September 2006. The Bloomingdale`s store in the complex will be the company`s largest store outside of New York.
Kirk Kinsell, senior vice president, chief development officer, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels, will discuss the new property under construction at the corner of Fifth and Howard streets, currently the only definite hotel development in the immediate future.
Thomas E. Callahan, CEO-West, PKF Consulting, will present A Snapshot of Northern California`s Hotel Market and shed some light on what`s ahead in terms of other hotel developments in the region.
Rick Swig, president and CEO, RSBA & Associates, and 2005/2006 SFCVB Chairman, will address the challenges and opportunities for the Northern California visitor market, including labor issues and the reflagging of local hotels.
John E. Buchanan will be making his first travel industry appearance since being appointed director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the new de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor).
Journalist Peter Greenberg will be the keynote speaker. He is the travel editor for NBC`s Today Show, CNBC and MSNBC and host of the nationally syndicated radio show, Travel Today. Greenberg is contributing editor for America Online as well as Men`s Health magazine and often appears in The New Yorker. He is a frequent guest on ABC`s Oprah and The View. The Emmy award-winning writer and producer is also the author of the best-selling Travel Detective book series.
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