Scott Beck Photo Credit: Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
Scott Beck has resigned as president and CEO of San Francisco Travel after holding the position for just seven months. He stepped down for personal reasons, according to the organization. Local hospitality leader Anna Marie Presutti, vice president and general manager of the Hotel Nikko and previously board chair of San Francisco Travel, is taking over as interim president and CEO.
John Anderson, general manager of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel and previously the chair-elect, is now the organization's board chair.
Countering the 'doom loop' narrative
San Francisco has faced its share of challenges as a tourist and meetings destination, as it recovered slowly from the pandemic and has had to counter a "doom loop" narrative that corresponded with a lot of retail and office space remaining vacant, and prominent-hotel owners defaulting on loans. Recovery had become more palpable over the past several months, however, as international visitation in particular had surged, growing by 26 percent year-over-year in 2023. Visitor spending is expected to surpass 2019 levels by 2025, while visitor volume is expected to reach 2019 levels in 2026. Events at Moscone Center continue to be below their historical levels, however, even as more tech events have announced they are returning to the city.
Beck was brought in to lead the organization in October 2023, and was excited to meet the city's challenges head-on. "I think for whatever reason, San Francisco has been put up on some level as a poster child for the ills of urban living," he said in an interview early this year. "And I think we have to own the fact that we are a city that has these issues. There is certainly a perception that the issues are at a greater magnitude than they really are, that they aren't the same issues faced by many cities — and that isn't reality. But I think we need to be genuine about the actual challenges and how we approach them, and that's one of the things I'm most excited about — the opportunity to share what the San Francisco experience really is — that ethos of innovation and of openness that is so important to who we are as a community."
Continuing the city’s recovery
San Francisco Travel expects both visitor volume and spending to increase this year, with volume reaching 23.7 million — and with 2.36 million international visitors forecast to contribute $5 billion of the projected $9.45 billion in visitor spending.
"San Francisco Travel will continue to be the champion of hospitality for all those who want to visit, enjoy, dine and work in one of the world’s best cities," interim president and CEO Presutti noted. "Our board will conduct a search for a new CEO who embodies the spirit of San Francisco, is a skillful manager of a great team, and is experienced in attracting conventions, business travelers and tourists to great cities."