Grateful to have CalTravel board member Julie Wright with her decades of experience and future-focused insights repping (W)right On Communications, Inc. and leading the organization's Communication Committee! Some fun facts: California remains the 5th largest economy in the world for the seventh consecutive year, with a nominal GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023 and a growth rate of 6.1% since the year prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Travel spending in the state reached an all-time high of $150.4 billion last year, surpassing the record $144.9 billion spent in 2019. California has the largest market share of tourism in the nation. The new travel-spending record generated $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue by visitors in 2023, marking a 3% increase over 2019. Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,155,000. #Hospitality #Tourism #PublicRelations
This week marks the start of CalTravel’s new leadership term (2024-25), and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new Officers, Executive Committee Directors, At-Large Board Directors, and Committee Chairs. These influential voices of the travel and tourism industry will play a key role in shaping the future of our organization in FY 2025 and beyond. New Executive Commitee Director: - John M. Hutar from The San Francisco Peninsula New At-Large Board Directors: - Terence Concannon, CATP from Visit Santa Cruz County - Melody Corvalán from Belmont Park - Donna Kalez from Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching / Oceanside Adventures - Paige P. Viren from California State University, Monterey Bay New Committee Chairs: - Communications Chair - Julie Wright from (W)right On Communications, Inc. - Sustainability & Stewardship Chair: Paige P. Viren from California State University, Monterey Bay We're especially excited to work with our new Board Chair Cassandra Costello, EVP, Chief Policy & External Affairs Officer at San Francisco Travel Association. And a big thank you to our Immediate Past Chair Chuck Davison, CDME, CEO of Pure Navigation Strategies, for his service last term. We're grateful to have such dedicated Officers to help guide the important work that we do. Check out the full leadership slate in the link below. https://bit.ly/4cK0Olr
Strategic communicator and business leader
6moThanks for the shout out--for me and for the impact of California's travel industry!