Chief Tourism Officer

Chief Tourism Officer

The Chief Tourism Officer is a senior leadership role at Visit South Padre Island that unites strategic communication, destination development, visitor experience, and community alignment to impact local businesses, visitor spend in community, and the future of South Padre Island. This position is responsible for guiding the Island's public narrative, managing community relations and stakeholder messaging, and leading special events planning and engagement initiatives that enhance the overall visitor experience and increase tourism related revenue.

This individual serves as VSPI's primary community strategist and spokesperson, working in close partnership with the Chief Marketing Officer to ensure consistent, aligned messaging across all earned, owned, and shared marketing channels and inclusion of stakeholder businesses on marketing channels. The Chief Tourism Officer manages relationships with local businesses, oversees media engagement, and crafts storytelling that elevates South Padre Island's unique brand and values and brings them to life through stakeholder businesses.

This role is highly collaborative across CVB departments, Island partner businesses and organizations, and the tourism industry.

• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of local lodging, restaurants, attractions, and event schedules to inform visitors accurately.
• Act as the primary contact for local partners, conducting regular meetings, site visits, and presentations to share CVB initiatives and gather feedback.
• Coordinate with Marketing to collect photos, videos, and event updates from partners to promote the destination through owned channels and social media.
• Collaborate with local businesses to ensure an exceptional, seamless experience for tourists, convention attendees, and sports groups.
• Partner with stakeholders to develop new local experiences, packaging, and itineraries that increase overnight stays and community engagement.
• Coordinate with Marketing to ensure local representation in familiarization (FAM) trips, influencer visits, and press tours, working closely with local businesses and city departments.
• Manage input into editorial calendars, seasonal storylines, and destination narratives that highlight new attractions, events, and Island stories.
• Lead Visit South Padre Island's crisis communication efforts in collaboration with the CEO and City of South Padre Island public safety officials/officers.

• Serve as the lead strategist in the development of a Special Events calendar for VSPI which supports the South Padre Island brand and drives revenues in off peak seasons.
• Manage the Special Events fund, working with promoters to submit applications for funding, obtain permits, seek required approvals, and validate return on investments based on overnight visitation.
• Research, solicit, and develop relationships with local, regional, and national partners to host high quality, on brand events for the Island.
• Build and manage relationships with city departments and local vendors and serve as the primary liaison for promoters.
• Monitor hotel occupancy metrics, track event books, and prepare reports to evaluate event success.

• Manage the day to day operations of the official Visitor Center(s), ensuring a welcoming, clean, and stocked environment for guests.
• Recruit, train, and evaluate Information Counselors.
• Oversee the prompt response to visitor inquiries and manage the inventory of brochures, visitor guides, and promotional materials.
• Serve as the organizational lead for strategic destination development initiatives, working with public and private partners to enhance visitor amenities, placemaking, and infrastructure.
• Lead the execution and management of strategic tourism development programs and certifications, such as the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), Certified Tourism Ambassadors (CTA), Tourism Friendly Texas, Texas Film Friendly Community, and Wheel the World's Destination Verified program, ensuring South Padre Island meets industry standards for sustainability, accessibility, and…