Visit Laguna Beach, the marketing organization responsible for promoting the city’s tourism sector of local businesses, has appointed hotel executive Joanna Bear as its new chief executive. Â
Bear was most previously the general manager at the Surf & Sand Laguna Beach hotel. She first joined the property as resort manager in 2013. Â
That same year, Bear became a board member at Visit Laguna Beach and was later appointed chairwoman in 2024. Â
“Her extensive experience in hospitality, along with her proven track record of success at Surf & Sand Laguna Beach, will be invaluable as Visit Laguna Beach continues to evolve and innovate as a stewardship-first organization,” the organization’s Founding Member Karyn Philippsen said in a statement. Â
Bear succeeds Visit Laguna Beach’s previous CEO Rachel O’Neill-Cusey, who left in October 2024. Â
