OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. – Mike Carrier, president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), has announced his retirement after a 35-year career in the hospitality industry.
Carrier has led the CVB, operated by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, since 2007.
“Mike was the right leader for our community as we developed, planned, and built our new convention center,” said Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “His extensive background combined convention sales and facility management and made him the ideal candidate. He has proven to be a leader that could dig in and bring our community’s vision to life.”
Carrier has led the bureau during a time of tremendous growth in the region’s hospitality industry. The economic impact of tourism in Oklahoma County has grown from $2.1 billion a year to $2.45 billion a year during his tenure.
Growth can be seen in multiple metrics, as the number of hotel rooms is up by 31 percent and hotel motel tax revenues are up by 44 percent.
“I was so fortunate to close my career in such a dynamic environment. This community understands the potential meetings and tourism bring for the economy and for presenting Oklahoma City to the world,” said Carrier. “The work we have all done together, our staff, the attraction and hotel community, our elected leaders, the business community, and our citizens, we have built a world-class destination. I am so proud to have been a part of creating America’s next go-to meetings destination.”
Carrier’s hospitality career began in 1984 after 11 years working in university student activities.
He spent four years in hotel sales before moving to the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau. He went on to lead the convention and visitors bureaus in Greenville, SC; Columbia, SC, and Knoxville, Tenn., before opening and operating a new convention center in Shreveport, La.
He will officially retire from the CVB on Sept. 30, 2020.
