Julie Coker-The State of San Diego’s Tourism Sector

Julie Coker is the President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA). SDTA’s mission is to drive visitor demand to economically benefit the San Diego region. Prior to the pandemic, San Diego welcomed over 35 million visitors to the region who generated $11.6 Billion in visitor spending. 1 in 8 San Diegans are employed by the Tourism sector. Come hear how this business sector has been severely impacted by COVID 19 and how it will recover.

Last June, Julie took over as the new president and CEO of SDTA as the organization began to enact its recovery plan for the local tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

Coker, a hospitality industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, cane to San Diego after serving as the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Originally, Coker was to begin her new role with the SDTA in March but delayed her start date so she could help the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau navigate the ongoing pandemic. During that transition, Coker gave up her salary so hourly team members could continue to work.

Despite the challenging times, Coker said she is excited to help San Diego’s tourism industry get back to business and cement its reputation as one of the country’s premier destinations.