NYC Tourism + Conventions Names Julie Coker President and CEO

The New York City Tourism + Conventions Board of Directors recently announced its selection of Julie Coker as President and CEO—a role she will begin on December 9, 2024.

Coker currently serves as the President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), where she oversees the organization's efforts to promote San Diego as a top destination for meetings, conventions, overseas travelers and leisure visitors.

"Julie is a respected industry expert and deeply experienced leader who will steward both NYC Tourism + Conventions and New York City's $74 billion tourism economy," said NYC Tourism + Conventions Board Chair and Shubert Organization EVP Charles Flateman. "I want to thank Nancy Mammana, our CMO, for also serving as our Interim CEO for the past four months and paving the way for a seamless transition. I also want to thank the search committee—Emily Rafferty, Luis Miranda, Melba Wilson, John Calvelli, Dan Nadeau and Marlene Poynder—who diligently led our recruitment effort with a commitment to finding the best talent in the country. We are thrilled to have Julie on board."

Coker shared that leading the San Diego Tourism Authority has been an incredible journey, and that she's immensely proud of what their team has accomplished.

"Together with our Board of Directors, members and the local tourism community, we successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic and have driven San Diego's tourism recovery," Coker said. "This resilience and collaborative spirit have laid a strong foundation for my new chapter with New York City Tourism + Conventions. I'm eager to bring my passion for the tourism industry to New York City and look forward to building upon the remarkable work of the talented team in place, further enhancing the global appeal of one of the world's most iconic cities."

Fred Dixon, Brand USA President and CEO and former NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO, shared his thoughts on Coker's appointment.

"Julie is incredibly accomplished and a respected leader across the travel and hospitality sectors, making her an excellent choice to serve as President and CEO," said Dixon. "She will undoubtedly bring great vision and care to the role, and I am excited to continue working with her in this new capacity as she stewards NYC Tourism + Conventions and New York City's tourism economy in the years ahead."

Coker has served in executive roles across the tourism and hospitality sectors for more than three decades. Under her tenure, San Diego has ranked as one of the top-performing US destinations, ranking third in the nation in hotel occupancy at 73.5% in 2023, while the city's groups and convention business surpassed 2019 levels and the tourism industry generated $14.3 billion in visitor spending. With Coker at the helm of SDTA, tourism jobs returned to pre-pandemic levels with more than 200,000 employed; San Diego County's Transient Occupancy Tax generated more than $360 million for regional services; SDTA's sales and marketing programs delivered a $30 to $1 return on investment, the highest in the organization's history; and the retention rate among SDTA members was 93%.

Coker's commitment to serving on impactful boards gives her unique insight and notable influence in the tourism industry. In January 2023, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce's U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, joining 31 other leaders from the domestic travel and tourism industry in providing advice to the Secretary of Commerce on travel priorities. She also serves on the executive boards of the U.S. Travel Association and Visit California, the boards of Meeting Professionals International, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Lodging Association and Sharp Health Care.

Previously, Coker served as the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) where she oversaw the 2017 NFL Draft and the 2016 Democratic National Convention, which had a combined economic impact of $325 million for Philadelphia. Prior to that, she was PHLCVB's Executive Vice President, Convention Division, and managed a staff of 25 sales and services professionals responsible for selling the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center and hotel packages to customers across the country.

Prior to joining the PHLCVB, Coker was the general manager for the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, where she led all operational aspects of the 350-room hotel. A 21-year Hyatt veteran, she began her career in 1989 as a corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency Columbus. Throughout her more than two decades with Hyatt, she rose through the ranks in a variety of positions, including assistant front office manager, front office manager, hotel assistant manager, assistant executive housekeeper and general manager.

From January 2018 to 2020, Coker served as co-chair for the U.S. Travel Association's Meetings Mean Business Coalition and secretary-treasurer for International Association of Exhibitions and Events Executive Committee. From 2016 to 2019, she co-chaired the Shared Spaces Initiative to combat homelessness with Philadelphia's mayor, and in 2016, she served as the chair of Mayor Jim Kenney's transition team for the Democratic National Convention.

Additionally, Coker is a member of the San Diego Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. In 2023, she received the Fearless Award from the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and was inducted into the All-Time Hall of Fame by Smart Women in Meetings. In 2021, she was named a Phenomenal Woman in Business in the San Diego Union-Tribune's Phenomenal Women series. In both 2012 and 2019, the Philadelphia Business Journal named her among their Women of Distinction honorees. She was the 2017 United Negro College Fund Mayor's Ball Honoree for Civic Leadership and was named one of the Network Journal's 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business.

Coker is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, and graduated magna cum laude.

Courtesy of Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of New York City Tourism + Conventions.