Veteran Hyatt Hotels Executive Selected to Lead San Diego’s Sales and Marketing Tourism Operation
SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego Tourism Authority [4] (SDTA) announced
today that its Board of Directors [5] has appointed Daniel Kuperschmid
as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Kuperschmid, a 30-year Hyatt Hotels executive, previously served as Vice
President Global Asset Management at Hyatt Hotels Corp., where he
managed a global portfolio of 42 hotels.
His appointment as SDTA President and CEO follows a comprehensive
four-month national search led by SearchWide Global [6] in partnership
with an executive search committee comprised of regional tourism and
business leaders. Kuperschmid will assume his role March 24.
“Tourism is a critical economic engine of our city, generating $22
billion in economic activity and shaping our future growth,” said Shawn
Dixon, SDTA Board Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the San Diego Zoo
Wildlife Alliance. “Daniel’s experience and leadership will further
unite our tourism community and elevate our destination, strengthening
San Diego’s position as a world-class destination.”
Kuperschmid began his career as a sales manager at Hyatt New Orleans,
advancing through sales and marketing roles across multiple U.S. markets
within the company. He later served as general manager at Hyatt
properties in Arizona, New Mexico and California. From 2018 to 2024, he
led the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego as Area Vice President and
General Manager, overseeing eight hotels in the Southern California
market, including Hyatt Regency properties in Mission Bay and La Jolla,
as well as the Andaz San Diego in Downtown.
During his Hyatt tenure, he drove significant revenue growth and group
sales production, oversaw major property renovations, and championed
diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, implementing programs that
fostered a more inclusive workplace culture across the organization’s
properties while increasing both guest and employee satisfaction.
“After 30 years with Hyatt, I am incredibly grateful for the experiences
and relationships that shaped my career in hospitality and tourism,”
Kuperschmid said. “Hyatt taught me the power of exceptional service,
collaboration and innovation — values I look forward to continuing at
the San Diego Tourism Authority. The team at SDTA has done an
outstanding job in making San Diego one of the top destinations in the
U.S., and I am honored to build upon their efforts.”
Kuperschmid has been an active volunteer in San Diego’s travel industry,
having served on the SDTA Board of Directors, including as Board Chair
from 2019 to 2023. During his time as Board Chair, he was instrumental
in selecting Julie Coker as SDTA’s President and CEO, who led the
organization from 2020 to 2024. Alongside Julie and the SDTA Board of
Directors, Kuperschmid played a vital role in guiding San Diego’s
tourism community during the pandemic and in the recovery period. His
community leadership extends to serving on the advisory committee for
the Yes for a Better San Diego [7] campaign, supporting the San Diego
Convention Center expansion, and the San Diego Tourism Marketing
District [8] Board of Directors from 2023 to 2024.
“Daniel brings a wealth of expertise in tourism, and is an enthusiastic
advocate for our travel industry, understanding its economic impact on
San Diego’s economy,” said Annie Fitzgerald, SDTA’s Vice Chair and
General Manager of the Westgate Hotel. “His extensive background in
marketing and sales, combined with his proven record in building
high-performing teams and managing multifaceted operations, positions
him perfectly to lead SDTA into its next chapter of success.”
Kuperschmid takes the helm as San Diego’s tourism community reaches
record levels. In 2024, San Diego welcomed 32 million visitors, who
contributed a record $14.6 billion in direct spending locally. With
visitors steadily coming to the San Diego region, local hotels also
achieved higher occupancy rates countywide, cementing its position as a
top-performing hospitality market in the country and “Best in the West”
for hotel occupancy rate. According to STR, the global leader in
hospitality data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insight, San
Diego County ranked third among the top 25 U.S. markets for hotel
occupancy, reaching 74.3% — a 1.1% increase year-over-year, only
trailing Oahu and New York, while finishing ahead of Los Angeles, Orange
County and San Francisco.
“Tourism is a powerful economic engine that creates jobs and enriches
both our visitors and residents,” Kuperschmid said. “I’m grateful for
SDTA’s Board of Directors confidence in me, and I look forward to
working with the talented SDTA team to further establish San Diego’s
position as a premier global destination.”
Kuperschmid earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from
Johnson & Wales University.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO TOURISM AUTHORITY
San Diego Tourism Authority [9] is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit
corporation composed of more than 950 member organizations, businesses,
local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through
the visitor industry. San Diego Tourism Authority members include
tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts,
attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as
other companies indirectly involved in tourism. Visit sandiego.org [10]
to learn more.
