June 21, 2012 – The San Francisco Travel Association installed David Nadelman, general manager of the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, as chair for the 2012/2013 fiscal year at the organization’s 102nd Annual Luncheon meeting today.
Nadelman succeeds 2011/2012 Chair John J. Cope with the Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa.
The San Francisco Travel chair presides over the board of directors and the executive committee. Nadelman will direct and guide policy at all meetings involving members, the executive committee and the board of directors.
“David will be the perfect chair to lead this organization in the year ahead,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “His background and dedication will be invaluable as we push forward with plans to expand Moscone Center and finalize the funding structure.”
Nadelman has over 30 years of experience with the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, starting as a Corporate Management Trainee in 1980. He has held leadership positions with Hyatt properties in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlanta and other cities. Nadelman studied Accounting from Queens College and graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Business with a concentration in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Fairleigh Dickinson College in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Nadelman has been part of the San Francisco Travel board of directors and executive committee since 2007/2008 and has served as Meetings and Conventions Committee Chair. He was most currently vice chair on the San Francisco Travel Board of Directors.
“I’m honored to be chosen to chair the San Francisco Travel Association at such an exciting time for the tourism industry, which plays such a vital role in our local economy,” Nadelman said. “San Francisco is a world-class destination for business and leisure visitors, and when you add the World Series races this summer and the America’s Cup race in 2013, the year ahead gives the Association and its members a unique opportunity to showcase the San Francisco visitor experience on a global stage."
San Francisco Travel also installed Mariann Costello, vice president of Scoma’s Restaurant, as chair elect. The vice chair is Stephen Revetria, vice president and general manager of Giants Enterprises.
The secretary-treasurer is Rodrigo Enriquez, president of Extranomical Adventures, Inc. Four board members were named chairs of councils that provide general policy direction and oversight to San Francisco Travel staff:
• Tom Klein, general manager and regional vice president-California of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, to the Meetings & Conventions Council
• Kathy Paver, senior vice president of marketing at PIER 39, to the Consumer Promotions Council
• Gary Bauer, president of Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation, to the Community Engagement Council
• Nathan Nayman, global government relations for Visa, Inc., to the Public Policy Council
The four officers and four council chairs make up San Francisco Travel’s executive committee along with the immediate past chair John Cope. Cope will also serve as the 2012/2013 chair of the San Francisco Travel Foundation.
San Francisco Travel’s board of directors is comprised of 25 to 30 members and meets regularly to review and set policy for the association and its ongoing marketing efforts. The board approves and oversees an annual budget and program of work to be executed by staff.
Incoming members of the board include:
• Gabriella Calicchio, CEO of the Walt Disney Family Museum
• Janet Griggs, CFO of Taste Catering & Event Planning
• Alec Hughes, senior vice president, regional sales and marketing manager at Wells Fargo
• Jon Kimball, area vice president and general manager at the Westin St. Francis
• Tom Mullen, vice president, market development for American Express
• Charles Phan, owner of Slanted Door
• Anna Marie Presutti, general manager of the Hotel Nikko
• Simon Sin, owner/CEO of Cova Hotel
• Ferris Suer, principal at AlliedPRA Northern California
• Craig Vandermaus, general manager of Classic Cable Car Sightseeing
• Rick Welts, president and COO of the Golden State Warriors
• William Withington, vice president/general manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Dr. Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum
The San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the city as a leisure, convention and business travel destination. With more than 1,500 members, San Francisco Travel is one of the largest membership-based tourism promotion agencies in the country. Tourism, San Francisco's largest industry, generates in excess of $8.46 billion annually for the local economy. The San Francisco Travel business offices are located at 201 Third St., Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103.
San Francisco Travel also operates the Visitor Information Center which is temporarily located on the lower level of the Westfield San Francisco Centre, 865 Market St., while the permanent location near the Powell Street cable car turnaround at 900 Market St. in Hallidie Plaza, lower level, is being extensively remodeled.
For more information, call 415-974-6900 or visit www.sanfrancisco.travel.
The San Francisco Travel Association’s 102nd Annual Luncheon was made possible by Wells Fargo with additional support from American Express®, the official credit card partner for the San Francisco Travel Association.
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A headshot of David Nadelman can be found here: http://media.sanfrancisco.travel/images/Nadelman+David.jpg
