Mike Waterman, a veteran of the hospitality industry, has been announced as the new president and CEO for Visit Anaheim, the city’s official destination marketing organization. Waterman will begin his new position with Visit Anaheim effective April 29.
Currently serving as chief sales officer for Visit Orlando, Waterman has more than 30 years of sales and leadership experience. His previous roles also include president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor Bureau, also known as Visit Houston, and vice president of sales for the western region at Marriott.
Waterman was appointed by the Visit Anaheim board of directors, following the resignation of former CEO Jay Burress, amid allegations of misappropriated funds also involving the city’s former mayor and the chamber of commerce’s CEO. In his new role with Visit Anaheim, Waterman will develop and oversee the organization’s strategic vision. “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,” says Fred Brown, chair of the Visit Anaheim board of directors. Adds 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.”
