The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) today announced the appointment of Ashlee Ciora as senior director, Tourism, where she will be responsible for overseeing strategy and programming for half of L.A. Tourism’s international markets in coordination with Stephanie Nakasone, who will continue to oversee the other half. Ciora will report to Kathy Smits, vice president, Tourism.
Most recently, Ciora served as vice president of Travel Industry Sales for the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. During her six years in Palm Springs, Ciora was responsible for the domestic and international marketing and product development for the Travel Industry Sales department.
“Ashlee brings to the team deep experience in the tourism industry, an unbridled passion for our business and strong, existing relationships with many of our key stakeholders,” stated L.A. Tourism Vice President of Tourism Kathy Smits. “We feel she’s an excellent addition and will help the team elevate the profile of Los Angeles in our key markets.”
Ciora has spent her entire career with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), beginning with the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau where she managed the travel agent and wholesale market for the U.S., Canada and eventually Germany, United Kingdom and Mexico.
Ciora is well known and respected in the industry; she was chair for the Visit California Rural Region Committee and sits on Visit California’s International Marketing Committee. Her love affair with tourism began in college at Arizona State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management and Tourism and completed a program with the Netherlands Institute of Travel and Tourism. Her experience will benefit L.A. Tourism at an exciting and fast-paced time as the destination broke tourism records for the fifth consecutive year in 2015 by welcoming 45.6 million visitors from around the world.
