Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Anaheim, announced today that Mike Waterman has been appointed the President and CEO of the organization, effective April 29, 2024. Waterman, a hospitality veteran with over 30 years of leadership and sales experience, previously served as Chief Sales Officer at Visit Orlando.
“I am honored and excited to accept this amazing opportunity. My wife and I raised our family in Southern California and are very much looking forward to this next chapter,” said Waterman. “I am eager to work with the talented Visit Anaheim team and its local stakeholders to fulfill our mission and create new economic opportunities for the community.”
Prior to Visit Orlando, Waterman was the President & CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GHCVB) also known as Visit Houston. Waterman started his career at Marriott International, where he last served as Vice President of sales for the Western region overseeing 100 properties, including a grouping of Marriott hotels in Los Angeles’ convention district known as L.A. Live.
“Mike brings extensive experience and a long history of leadership, innovation and success in the hospitality and tourism industry, making him the ideal candidate to guide our organization into the future. We are very excited to welcome Mike and look forward to working alongside him to benefit the residents and businesses of Anaheim and the surrounding region,” said Fred Brown, Chairman of the Visit Anaheim Board of Directors.
As President and CEO, Waterman will be the strategic and visionary leader responsible for developing, directing, and overseeing Visit Anaheim. Waterman will lead Visit Anaheim’s efforts to draw conventions and visitors to the Anaheim area to bring economic growth to the community.
