CHRISTINE LAWSON JOINS DISCOVER SANTA CLARA(R) AS PRESIDENT & CEO

January 31, 2023

Sales and marketing leader and Bay Area native plans to bring the Silicon Valley destination to the forefront for conventions, group, and leisure travel.

Christine Lawson, President and CEO of Discover Santa Clara(R)

Jan. 30, 2023 – Christine Lawson has joined Discover Santa Clara(R), the
official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Santa Clara, CA,
as President and CEO.

Discover Santa Clara(R) markets and promotes Santa Clara and the Santa
Clara Convention Center is the destination of choice for national,
regional, and local organizations and as a premium destination for
conventions, meetings, trade shows, athletics, and group leisure events.

Lawson brings 30 years of travel industry experience, including
executive and senior vice president positions with Aparium Hotel Group,
Cvent, Loews Hotels, and more than 25 years with Kimpton Hotels &
Restaurants.

“There truly is a lot to discover in Santa Clara for all kinds of
travelers – conventions, groups, and leisure,” Lawson said, adding, “It
has everything needed for big success on a scale that allows for maximum
flexibility, customization, and individualized service.”

For meeting planners, the Santa Clara Convention Center [1] has
300,000 square feet of flexibility. Levi’s(R) Stadium [2] is both a
mind-blowing event venue and the home of heart-pounding sporting events
like 49ers football.

“Our hotels fly some of the most respected brand flags in the industry,
all with copious meeting space, top-level, hassle-free service and
heartfelt hospitality,” Lawson said.

In addition to Levi’s(R) Stadium, Santa Clara’s attractions include
California’s Great America [3] amusement park, Intel Museum [4], and
the Triton Museum of Art [5]. The campus of the renowned Santa Clara
University [6] is also the location of the historic Mission Santa Clara
de Asis [7], and the de Saisset Museum [8].

“There’s recreation, history, culture, and rich diversity, a combination
that makes the city both fascinating and inviting. It’s all
conveniently located between two outstanding international airports –
San Jose and San Francisco,” Lawson said.

Lawson’s vision for the organization as part of the Santa Clara business
community includes attributes that she has practiced during her entire
career: “Being responsive and responsible, proactive, and productive.
Embracing diversity and sustainability. Engendering trust and
transparency, collaboration, and creativity.”

“Our innovative partnership with Discover Santa Clara(R) will focus on
attracting conventions and visitors to Santa Clara and throughout
Silicon Valley will have tremendous long-term and positive
impact,” said Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, “With Christine’s
strong leadership, Discover Santa Clara(R) is poised to promote Santa
Clara as a destination to take us into the future.”

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lawson holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of
Washington.

Doing business as Discover Santa Clara(R), Silicon Valley/Santa Clara
DMO, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(6) organization, with a
nine-member board of directors and three full-time staff. It is
contracted by the City of Santa Clara and funded by the Santa Clara
Tourism Improvement District (SCTID), comprised 11 hotels near the
Santa Clara Convention Center: AC Hotel Santa Clara, Avatar Hotel – a
Joie de Vivre Hotel, Delta Hotel by Marriott, Element Santa Clara by
Marriott, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Santa Clara, Hyatt Centric
Silicon Valley, Hyatt House, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Marriott Santa
Clara, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Jose Santa Clara.

SCTID activities are funded by a 2% assessment on gross short-term (30
days or less) room rentals (10 rooms or more) on lodging businesses and
ensures funding for Discover Santa Clara(R).

The official DMO for Santa Clara, CA, Discover Santa Clara(R) (Silicon
Valley/Santa Clara DMO, Inc., a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(6)
organization) partners with 11 top hotels, the 260,000+ sq. ft. Santa
Clara Convention Center [1] and Levi’s(R) Stadium [2]. Santa Clara’s
attractions include California’s Great America [3] amusement park, Intel
Museum [4], and the Triton Museum of Art [5]. The campus of the renown
Santa Clara University [6] is also the location of the historic Mission
Santa Clara de Asis [7]. Served by two international airports – San
Jose and San Francisco – Santa Clara is located at the forefront of
innovation in the heart of Silicon Valley. www.discoversantaclara.org
[9]