Cowtown has a new tourism leader.<\/p>\n
Mitch Whitten, chief operating officer for Visit Fort Worth, the city\u2019s tourism arm, was named Thursday as the nonprofit organization\u2019s new president and CEO. He replaces former CEO Bob Jameson, who retired after 13 years<\/a> at the end of April.<\/p>\n Whitten, who serves on the board of directors for the Fort Worth Report<\/a>, plans to expand tourism efforts as Fort Worth, now the nation\u2019s 10th-largest city<\/a>, booms with growth.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an important moment for Fort Worth, and I am proud of the team we have assembled to<\/p>\n accelerate our progress on the national stage,\u201d Whitten said in a statement. \u201cThe city\u2019s investments in the convention center, in Dickies Arena and in other hospitality venues and attractions create a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver jobs and support local business.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitten, who has worked at Visit Fort Worth for 13 years, said he plans to build upon dramatic growth in the hospitality industry as the city works to expand the convention center in 2030.<\/p>\n Susan Alanis, chair of the Visit Fort Worth\u2019s board of directors, led the search for Jameson\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a significant national search, Mitch was the clear choice to lead Visit Fort Worth,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cHis track record in putting Fort Worth on the map through innovative marketing and organizational leadership will serve us well in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n William W. \u201cBill\u201d Meadows, president and co-chair of the Fort Worth Report board, said Visit Fort Worth chose a strong leader.<\/p>\n \u201cThe board of Visit Fort Worth has made an excellent choice in selecting Mitch Whitten as its new CEO,\u201d Meadows said. \u201cMitch is a proven leader whose creativity and leadership have already helped make Visit Fort Worth an outstanding organization. As the new CEO, he\u2019ll take Visit Fort Worth to new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitten remains a Report board member although he has indicated he would consider stepping down if a conflict arose, Meadows said.<\/p>\n Wes Turner, interim Report CEO and co-chair of the organization\u2019s board of directors, compared the leadership of Whitten and Jameson to the famed baseball partnership of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.<\/p>\n \u201cVisit Fort Worth made an excellent choice in picking Mitch Whitten as their next president,\u201d Turner said. \u201cThe city of Fort Worth and tourism are in very capable hands.\u201d<\/p>\n As CEO, Whitten will work with Fort Worth civic and hospitality partners to expand the city\u2019s reputation as a fast-growing tourist destination.<\/p>\n Tourism has a $3.6 billion annual economic impact to the city with about 11.7 million visitors recorded each year. About $280 million is generated in state and local taxes while supporting 30,000 jobs, according to Visit Fort Worth data.<\/p>\n Whitten initially joined the marketing team of Visit Fort Worth and helped shape and elevate the city among visitors, meeting planners and industry partners, the organization said. Whitten\u2019s team created the Fort Worth Film Commission, the Fort Worth Sports Commission, the Hear Fort Worth music association and Fort Worth showcases at the international SXSW events in 2018 and 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n In recent years, Whitten expanded his leadership responsibilities under Jameson to promote the city\u2019s Western heritage, world-class arts facilities and the local music scene.<\/p>\n A Fort Worth resident for 30 years, Whitten is a former Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter and Pier 1 Imports communications director who graduated with degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Virginia.<\/p>\n Before joining Visit Fort Worth, Whitten was executive director of integrated marketing at SMU. He led marketing efforts in University Park for SMU\u2019s $1 billion capital campaign and the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.<\/p>\n Whitten, the father of two sons, most recently served on the boards of KERA and the Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival.<\/p>\n Disclosure: Mitch Whitten, Bill Meadows and Wes Turner are founding members of the Fort Worth Report\u2019s board of directors. At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n