Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Anaheim, Calif., has appointed Mike Waterman as its new president and CEO, effective April 29. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 30 years of leadership and sales experience, Waterman comes to Anaheim from Visit Orlando, where he previously served as chief sales officer.

Upon assuming the helm of Visit Anaheim, Waterman will be responsible for developing, directing and overseeing the CVB as well as leading its efforts to draw conventions and visitors to the Anaheim area to bring economic growth to the community.

“I am honored and excited to accept this amazing opportunity,” Waterman said. “My wife and I raised our family in Southern California and are very much looking forward to this next chapter. I am eager to work with the talented Visit Anaheim team and its local stakeholders to fulfill our mission and create new economic opportunities for the community.”

Prior to his almost five-year tenure at Visit Orlando, Waterman was the president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GHCVB), aka Visit Houston, a role he held for more than four years.

Waterman started his career at Marriott International, where for more than 11 years he served as vice president of sales for the Western region overseeing 100 properties, including a grouping of Marriott hotels in L.A. Live, Los Angeles’ convention district. Prior to that, he worked for Renaissance Hotels for 13 years, most recently as regional director of sales and marketing.

Fred Brown, chairman of the Visit Anaheim Board of Directors, expressed excitement at Waterman’s appointment.

“Mike brings extensive experience and a long history of leadership, innovation and success in the hospitality and tourism industry, making him the ideal candidate to guide our organization into the future,” Brown said. “We look forward to working alongside him to benefit the residents and businesses of Anaheim and the surrounding region.”

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