McCartin Played Pivotal Role in Tempe During the Last Four Years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tempe Tourism Office
Rachel Semik / 480-894-8158 / [email protected]
Tempe, Ariz. (August 12, 2021) – The Tempe Tourism Office announced today that Brian McCartin, President/CEO, will retire after nearly four years at the organization.
McCartin joined the Tempe Tourism Office in 2017. Prior to his time at the Tempe Tourism Office, McCartin was executive vice president at Travel Portland, the tourism office in Portland, Oregon. During his tenure at Travel Portland, his experience included responsibility for convention and tourism sales, marketing, communications, and cultural tourism.
McCartin also has a background in the hotel industry where he served in numerous sales and operations positions including director of sales and marketing, general manager, and area director. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Hotel and Food Service Management from the W.A. Franke College of Business.
His experience in both the hospitality and nonprofit worlds gave him the well-rounded skill set needed to lead the tourism office. During his time with the Tempe Tourism Office, Tempe’s hospitality industry grew including the addition of new hotel properties throughout the city offering expanded opportunities for meeting and sports planners to bring their business to Tempe.
In 2020, the hospitality industry was shuttered with the COVID-19 pandemic, and McCartin supported his team in its continued efforts to market Tempe as a safe destination for future meetings and leisure travel.
McCartin was selected as the third CEO to lead the organization, following Stephanie Nowack and its founder, Sandy Hecomovich, who began the organization in 1988.
“Brian McCartin has led this organization through one of the most challenging years that our world has experienced. We are grateful for his consistent communication to the Board and his staff, and his support of Arizona’s tourism industry,” said Kate Borders, Tempe Tourism Office Board Chair and Executive Director of Downtown Tempe Authority.
In the meantime, the Board of Directors has appointed the Executive Vice President of Tempe Tourism, Michael Martin as the interim President/CEO.
Commitment to the Community
Brian’s commitment to the local community includes having served on the Tempe Streetcar Community Advisory Board, being a member of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, actively engaged in the effort to pass the Tourism Marketing Authority (TMA) legislation at the state level and supporting small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been an honor to be a part of Tempe’s hospitality community and a privilege to promote this terrific destination. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all our local and statewide tourism industry partners, the City of Tempe, the Downtown Tempe Authority, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, Arizona State University and the numerous other individuals and organizations that make Tempe a special place to live, work and visit. I’m excited for my next chapter and wish Tempe much continued success.”
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The Tempe Tourism Office is a non-profit organization devoted to marketing Tempe, Arizona as a desirable visitor and group destination site. To learn more about Tempe, please call 480-894-8158 or visit us at www.tempetourism.com.
