The Board of Directors of VISIT PHILADELPHIA today reported that following a broad national pursuit, Jeff Guaracino, current president and CEO of Welcome America, Inc., has been chosen to lead VISIT PHILADELPHIA and its skilled staff as president and CEO starting on October 29, 2018.
VISIT PHILADELPHIA is a monetary motor for Philadelphia’s tourism industry, creating in excess of 1 million lodging room evenings in Center City in 2017 alone. That equivalent year, the Greater Philadelphia area invited 43.3 million individuals, and 88% of them were here for a relaxation reason. These guests created more than $11.5 billion in monetary effect for the locale. Guest spending in the district underpins nearby organizations, makes employments, creates charges and at last improves occupants’ personal satisfaction.
Guaracino has been a piece of VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s development since its initial days. He joined the association in September 2001 and spent over 10 years in influential positions. In 2012, he cleared out to fill in as boss technique and interchanges officer for the Atlantic City Alliance (ACA), a New Jersey-based goal promoting association and later turned into that association’s official executive. In 2016, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney selected Guaracino to fill in as president and CEO of Welcome America, Inc., a non-benefit association in an open private organization with Philadelphia to create citywide occasions.
“After a broad hunt that distinguished best level national hopefuls, Jeff was the consistent decision of our pursuit board of trustees,” said Manuel N. Stamatakis, seat of VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s Board of Directors. “With over 20 years of national and universal tourism industry encounter, a demonstrated reputation and profound Philadelphia roots, Jeff is extraordinarily fit the bill for this position. He has fabricated a wonderful profession in goal showcasing, and we are certain that Jeff’s initiative will additionally hoist Philadelphia’s stature for both U.S. what’s more, worldwide groups of onlookers.”
Amid his chance at VISIT PHILADELPHIA, Guaracino took a shot at a significant number of the association’s mark promoting efforts, including Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over®, With Love, Philadelphia XOXO®, With Art Philadelphia® and Philly Homegrown. He additionally built up the pivotal showcasing effort Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight And Your Nightlife Gay®.
“Jeff is energetic about Philadelphia, and I’m sure about his aptitude to wind up the president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA,” said Mayor Kenney. “This new job is a characteristic development of his longstanding excitement for Philadelphia and will empower him to use his mastery to drive tourism to our awesome city.”
Guaracino has constructed a global notoriety for his work in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. He is the writer of two books: Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing (Elsevier, 2007) and Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice (Harrington Park Press/Columbia University Press, 2017).
Amid his opportunity with the ACA, Guaracino was instrumental to the accomplishment of the DO AC promoting effort, which drove relaxation appearance and non-gaming income to the city
