Mario J. Bass, a San Antonio native, took the helm as Go to San Antonio’s president and CEO on Monday. He had been serving as interim chief since April.
Bass began his 30-year tourism profession in resort gross sales and advertising and marketing with Marriott Worldwide. He labored for the resort large throughout a number of markets earlier than becoming a member of Go to San Antonio as chief gross sales officer. Bass had a quick stint as chief working officer of Go to Orlando earlier than returning to advertise San Antonio in 2024 as govt vice chairman and chief technique officer.
“Mario’s intensive expertise within the tourism trade, coupled along with his deep understanding of our neighborhood and tradition, make him uniquely certified to steer San Antonio’s tourism and hospitality by means of the present unsure occasions,” stated Hope Andrade, outgoing chair of the Go to San Antonio Board.
Bass steps into his everlasting position as San Antonio faces each rapid alternatives and challenges. Town will welcome roughly 3,000 occasion professionals for Cvent Join on June 9-12. The convention is projected to generate $6.8 million in financial impression, up from $6.3 million final yr, in line with Go to San Antonio. Town will probably be wanting to persuade the various planners attending to deliver their occasions to Texas.
Cvent Join is returning to San Antonio, following a number of years in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, Cvent has already introduced the occasion will probably be heading to Nashville for the 2026 version.
Final week, San Antonio suffered a big setback with the postponement of the InCyber Discussion board. The worldwide cybersecurity convention anticipated to attract 5,000 attendees June 17-18. Organizers cited unpredictable political and financial situations within the U.S. as the rationale for the delay. The occasion would have included a commerce present and knowledgeable panels, and marked the primary U.S. version of the convention.
Go to San Antonio spent greater than a yr securing the occasion. Town promotes itself as Cyber Metropolis USA attributable to its sturdy cybersecurity operations in protection, business, and municipal sectors.
“We perceive there are variables past our management, however are hopeful that financial and geopolitical uncertainty is short-lived so economies, ours and everybody’s, can proceed to thrive by means of the engine that’s conferences and conventions,” stated Bass.
