Julie Coker is the new president and CEO of the New York City Tourism & Convention Corporation. Can she do for New York City what she did for San Diego?
As president and CEO of Visit San Diego since 2020, Coker has helped the city improve the quality of conference bookings.
She helped lead the vision and execution of the Professional Meetings Management Association’s (PCMA) annual Convened Leaders Conference in January. It is often referred to as the Super Bowl of business events, attracting decision-makers looking for a destination for their next meeting. This represents hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue.
San Diego hosts numerous medical conferences
Some other major conferences taking place in San Diego in 2024 include the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the BIO International Conference.
San Diego’s meetings business has improved from a hotel performance and economic impact standpoint since before the pandemic. In 2018, the city hosted 59 conferences, attracting 601,000 attendees and 791,000 contracted room nights. Additionally, direct attendee spending was $733.4 million.
In 2023, the city hosted 55 conferences, attracting 551,000 attendees. They signed a contract for 1.1 million room nights. This is a 44% increase from 2018. reunion.
Coker will assume his new role on December 9.
Business travel has not fully resumed in New York City
There is still work to be done. According to NYC Tourism + Conventions, the number of business travelers will increase to 12.5 million by 2024. It is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2026.
The upcoming major event is expected to draw record crowds to New York City. The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is one of them. New York City’s 400th and 250th birthdaysth America’s Founding Day is something else.
Coker replaces NYC Tourism + Conventions chief marketing officer Nancy Mammana, who has served as interim CEO since the departure of Fred Dixon. Dixon served as CEO of the New York City Department of Tourism for nearly a decade before resigning earlier this year to join Brand USA as president and CEO. Brand USA is the official destination marketing organization of the United States.
Coker leads Philadelphia CVB
Previously, Coker served as president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. She oversees events including the NFL Draft and the Democratic National Convention.
“Breaking Barriers, Paving the Way” is a Skift Meetings podcast where Coker shares her journey in the events industry.
