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Todd O’Leary has been appointed president and CEO of Visit Alexandria.

 

“Todd’s vision for the future of Visit Alexandria will be critical as the organization prepares for its next phase of growth.”

— Visit Alexandria board chair Kate Ellis

Todd O’Leary, a 27-year veteran of the travel and tourism industry, has been named the president and CEO of Visit Alexandria. O’Leary officially took the reins of the city’s destination marketing organization July 8, succeeding Patricia Washington who served in that capacity for over a decade.

“We are delighted to welcome Todd as the next president and CEO of Visit Alexandria,” said Visit Alexandria Board of Governors Chair and General Manager at Hotel Indigo Kate Ellis in making the announcement. “Todd’s ample experience across the travel and tourism industry matched with his personable demeanor and vision for the future of Visit Alexandria will be critical as the organization prepares for its next phase of growth.”

O’Leary has experience across three destination marketing organizations, including Sonoma County Tourism, San Francisco Travel Association and VISIT Milwaukee. His leadership has been recognized by various travel industry associations, and he was most recently honored as one of the 2022 Hospitality, Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in the hospitality industry.

O’Leary will oversee all operations for Visit Alexandria, including the organization’s strategic plan, community stakeholder communications and efforts to strengthen Alexandria’s generation of revenue in the industry.

O’Leary began his career in the tourism industry in 1997 when he interned at Walt Disney World and completed Disney’s College Training Program. In 1998, he interned at VISIT Milwaukee, and over the next 13 years, worked his way up to director of marketing. In 2013, O’Leary was hired to become the vice president of global partnerships and strategic alliances for San Francisco Travel. He joined Sonoma County Tourism in 2018 where he served as the vice president of marketing and communications, overseeing all marketing and public relations activities.

O’Leary is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning and Marketing. He and his husband Mark enjoy gardening, entertaining, food and wine, and traveling the world. They have two cats: Bella and Lola.

“I am deeply honored and excited to be appointed president and CEO of Visit Alexandria,” O’Leary said in a statement. “Alexandria is an incredible destination with a solid reputation that I’ve long admired. I’m excited to work with the members, board, staff and community at large to further the positive impacts of Alexandria’s tourism industry.”