Claudia Vecchio
President/CEO of Sonoma County Tourism
A little bit about Claudia…
Claudia Vecchio brings more than 25 years in the destination and consumer marketing arena to her post as President/CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. During the four years she’s led the organization, she’s managed significant crisis situations, launched the “Life Opens Up” brand and driven the organization’s sustainability and destination stewardship platform.
Claudia comes to Sonoma County following six years as Director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs where she helped propel the state’s economy out of recession through boosting domestic and international visitation, launching an award-winning brand, increasing international sales and marketing campaigns and building both the operational and programmatic function of a newly formed statewide department.
During her career, Claudia also led the Ohio Division of Tourism and oversaw the marketing efforts of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. As an executive with global public relations agencies, Claudia managed brand launch campaigns for global brands, and executed consumer marketing and public affairs programs for travel and consumer brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Taco Bell, Frito Lay, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Illinois tourism, and the Smithsonian Institution.
In 2015, Claudia was named among the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Marketing by the Hospitality, Sales & Marketing Association International and was presented the J. Desmond Slattery award for Marketer of the Year by the Travel and Tourism Research Association. Her campaigns have been recognized by the U.S. Travel Association with an Odyssey Award for the Best State Tourism Office Public Relations Program and by the Public Relations Society of America as a Silver Anvil Winner for the agency’s innovative outreach to Millennial travelers.
Claudia has served on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Travel Association and on the national boards for the Public Relations Society of America and the Travel and Tourism Research Association.