New York City Tourism + Conventions has a new president and CEO in Julie Coker, who is joining the group after serving as president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.
“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,” says NYCTaC Board Chair and Shubert Organization EVP Charles Flateman in a statement. “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.”
“Leading the San Diego Tourism Authority has been an incredible journey, and I'm immensely proud of what our team has accomplished,” adds Coker. “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. 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.”
Coker oversaw San Diego achieving top-three nationwide ranking in terms of hotel occupancy, and visitor spending that exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Prior to her work in California, Coker was President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, with previous work including roles at Hyatt Regency. She is a former co-chair of the U.S. Travel Association's Meetings Mean Business Coalition, and of the Shares Spaces Initiative.
New York City welcomed more than 62 million travelers in 2023, generating more than $74 billion in economic impact. We are on track to up that number to almost 65 million travelers this year, with 2025 expected to bring more than 68 million, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.
