Visit Seattle, the destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County, has appointed Marco Leal as its first vice president of destination development. In this newly created role, Leal will focus on tourism growth, strategic partnerships, and community impact. His appointment aims to advance inclusive and sustainable tourism strategies for the region.
Visit Seattle announced the appointment of Marco Leal as the organization's inaugural vice president of destination development. This new position underscores the group's commitment to expanding tourism initiatives in Seattle and King County through strategic collaborations and community-focused efforts.
Tammy Canavan, president and CEO of Visit Seattle, praised Leal's qualifications in a statement: “Marco’s global expertise and proven ability to build collaborative, high-impact destination strategies make him the ideal person to lead Seattle’s next chapter of tourism growth, innovation, and community partnership.” She highlighted his experience in uniting government leaders, industry partners, and local communities across continents, which aligns with Visit Seattle’s vision for inclusive, sustainable development.
Leal's responsibilities include expanding and diversifying Visit Seattle’s membership base and advancing domestic and international travel trade relationships. He will also contribute to the senior leadership team, helping shape the organization’s overall strategy and impact in the region.
With more than 20 years of experience in tourism development, international travel trade, strategic partnerships, and destination strategy, Leal brings a global perspective to the role. His career includes leadership positions across multiple continents, emphasizing shared economic goals. Most recently, he served as deputy chief executive officer at Concacaf, where he led regional operations, destination-level strategies, and major events across 41 national markets. In that capacity, he guided organizational transformation, strengthened tourism partnerships, and secured commercial agreements that boosted international visitation and revenue. Prior to Concacaf, Leal held senior roles at FIFA.
Leal expressed enthusiasm for his new position: “Seattle is a world‑class destination with an extraordinary blend of natural beauty, cultural depth, innovation, and community spirit. I’m honored to join Visit Seattle at such a pivotal moment and look forward to working with partners across the region and around the world to elevate the visitor experience, strengthen economic impact, and champion the values that make this city truly exceptional.”
This appointment comes as Seattle continues to position itself as a leading tourism hub, leveraging Leal's expertise to foster growth and sustainability.
