ORLANDO, Fla.—Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for the country’s No.1 meetings and travel destination, announced Lisa Messina as its new chief sales officer.
Messina’s career spans three decades in leadership roles at leading organizations in the meetings and events industry. Most recently, Messina served as the chief sales officer for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which owns and operates Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Lisa Messina is a powerhouse in the meetings and conventions industry, has a tremendous reputation and a diverse hospitality background,” says Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Her rich experience in leading high-performance teams, focus on driving results, passion for the industry, and alignment with our company culture are exactly what our organization and destination need right now for this critical role.”
Messina will oversee several departments, including the meeting and conventions sales and experience team, travel industry sales, membership, and support services. She joins the organization at a crucial time, as Orange County Convention Center is set to embark on an expansion project to the North-South building, opening up opportunities for new businesses to the region.
“What drew me to Orlando is the outstanding leadership at Visit Orlando, the vibrant organizational culture, and the incredible product that constantly grows and evolves each year,” says Messina. “I look forward to getting to know the team members and the community partners who make this such a remarkable destination and to reconnecting and serving clients on behalf of this outstanding organization.”
