Visit Seattle, which serves as the tourism marketing authority for Seattle and King County, has appointed Marco Leal as its inaugural vice president of destination development. In this newly established position, he will concentrate on expanding tourism, forging strategic alliances, and enhancing community engagement.
“With Marco’s international insights and his successful track record in creating collaborative, impactful destination strategies, he is the perfect individual to spearhead the upcoming phase of tourism expansion, innovation, and community collaboration in Seattle,” remarked Tammy Canavan, president and CEO of Visit Seattle. “His ability to bring together government officials, industry stakeholders, and local communities from various continents is in perfect harmony with our vision for inclusive and sustainable destination development.”
Leal’s responsibilities encompass the growth and diversification of Visit Seattle’s membership rosters and the enhancement of both domestic and international travel trade partnerships, among other tasks. He will be part of Visit Seattle’s senior leadership team, playing a key role in shaping the organization’s strategies and influence across Seattle and King County.
A seasoned executive with over two decades of expertise in tourism development, international travel trade, strategic partnerships, and destination strategy, Leal has held leadership positions across various continents, specializing in bringing together varied partners towards common destination and economic objectives.
Most recently, he was the deputy chief executive officer at Concacaf, where he managed regional operations, developed destination-level strategies, and oversaw major events in 41 countries. In this capacity, he directed organizational changes, reinforced cross-sector tourism collaborations, and secured key commercial partnerships that improved brand visibility, increased international visitors, and generated sustained revenue growth and economic benefits. Before his tenure at Concacaf, Leal excelled in senior leadership positions at FIFA.
“Seattle is a top-tier destination, boasting a remarkable combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, innovation, and community character,” Leal expressed. “I am privileged to join Visit Seattle at such a critical juncture and eagerly anticipate collaborating with partners from the region and beyond to enhance the visitor experience, bolster economic influence, and promote the values that make this city truly outstanding.”
Fonte: Travel Market Report
