ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Visit Alexandria, the city’s destination marketing and management organization, has appointed Juan Carlos Rivera as director of sales. Rivera will lead destination sales strategies, develop relationships with member businesses and industry stakeholders, and promote Alexandria as a meetings and group-travel destination in key markets.
Rivera has more than two decades of experience. Before joining Visit Alexandria, Rivera was the opening director of sales and marketing at AC Hotel by Marriott Arlington National Landing, the largest AC Hotel by Marriott in North America. In that position, he led commercial strategy and managed sales teams. Rivera’s career also includes hospitality and sales leadership roles at international hotel brands and independent properties in Virginia, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“We are excited to welcome Juan Carlos to Visit Alexandria,” says Todd O’Leary, president & CEO of Visit Alexandria. “His collaborative leadership style and more than two decades of hospitality and sales experience make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our destination sales team at this pivotal moment. As we prepare to expand our focus on meetings and group business, Juan Carlos is the ideal person to help position Alexandria as a premier destination for these key market segments.”
Alexandria is positioning itself to attract meetings and event planners through its location, venue options, and accommodations. Rivera will support Visit Alexandria’s increased focus on meetings and group business, while fostering creativity, teamwork, and collaboration across the destination’s hospitality and tourism communit
“I am beyond thrilled to begin this exciting new chapter with Visit Alexandria,” Rivera says. “I’m honored to join an organization that plays such an important role in supporting the city’s hospitality industry. I look forward to building meaningful partnerships, attracting new meetings and events, and helping create opportunities that benefit our entire community.”
