San Antonio CVB Names New President

The board of directors for Visit San Antonio has named Mario J. Bass as its new president and CEO, effective June 2. A San Antonio native, Bass brings more than 30 years of experience in tourism and hospitality to the position, having held key roles in major markets across New York, Florida and Texas, including his most recent role as executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Visit San Antonio.

"After thoughtful consideration of possible candidates, our board of directors is thrilled to announce Mario’s appointment to lead Visit San Antonio and our industry into a future of growth and evolution," said Hope Andrade, cofounder and partner of Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises as well as the outgoing chair of the convention and visitors bureau's board. "Mario’s extensive experience in the tourism industry coupled with his deep understanding of our community and culture make him uniquely qualified to lead San Antonio’s tourism and hospitality through the current uncertain times, a period of impressive local development and to ensure long-term success."

Bass became interim president and CEO of of the CVB in April when previous head Marc Anderson left the organization. Bass had returned to Visit San Antonio last July, having previously served for more than five years as chief sales officer. In the executive vice president and CSO role, Bass oversaw five departments — destination sales, destination experience, events, membership and River Walk operations — and contributed to the overall success of the San Antonio hospitality industry.

Success the first time around

During his earlier tenure at Visit San Antonio, Bass achieved the highest annual-room night production in the organization’s history, transformed the destination experience department from a reactive resource into a proactive industry thought leader, and capitalized on emerging business segments post-pandemic with a recovery deployment and engagement plan, among many other successes. 

Prior to rejoining Visit San Antonio, Bass served as COO at Visit Orlando, where he managed internal operations, led and implemented strategic initiatives, and developed annual business plans. Bass had a robust, multimarket career in hotel sales and marketing with Marriott International before transitioning into the destination marketing sector.

"I’m grateful to the board for their confidence in my vision to prioritize San Antonio’s greatest asset — our people — as we continue to elevate our home as a premier destination for both leisure and meetings," said Bass, who has multigenerational roots in the city. "San Antonio presents an exceptional blend of culture, history, cuisine, affordability, diverse accommodations and state-of-the-art convention options. Combined with our warm, welcoming community, the Alamo City truly stands out as a must-experience destination."