Visit SLO CAL selects new president, CEO

Cathy Cartier to serve as new president, CEO, effective immediately

– Visit SLO CAL, the official destination marketing and management organization for San Luis Obispo County, has named Cathy Cartier as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.

Cartier, who previously served as chief marketing officer for three years, was unanimously appointed during the Visit SLO CAL Board of Directors recent meeting. She succeeds her interim role as president and CEO, bringing over two decades of leadership in tourism marketing.

“I am honored to step into this new role,” said Cartier, “SLO County is a dynamic and vibrant region, and I look forward to continuing to promote the destination alongside the talented staff of Visit SLO CAL. Under my leadership, Visit SLO CAL will collaborate with our investors, partners, and stakeholders to drive tourism growth and enhance community engagement.”

“We are delighted to announce Cathy Cartier as the new President and CEO of Visit SLO CAL,” said Mark Eads, Board Chairman. “Under Cathy’s leadership, Visit SLO CAL aims to further establish itself as the premier travel and tourism organization for the region, driving economic prosperity through innovative initiatives and striving to embody the SLO CAL lifestyle of ‘people, place and pace.’”

Before her tenure at Visit SLO County, Cartier served as president of Cartier Global Strategies and chief marketing officer for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

In 2023, tourism in SLO County contributed significantly to the local economy, generating $60.1 million in transient occupancy tax revenue and $110 million in local tax revenue. This economic impact underscores the importance of tourism to the community’s financial health.

For more information visit SLOCAL.com.