MIKE WATERMAN
CEO
VISIT ANAHEIM
WHY: Leader of Anaheim’s destination marketing organization (DMO) that books events and promotes the city’s collection of restaurants, hotels and other businesses. City saw record 26.3M visitors in 2024.
IN THE NEWS: Extended contract with The NAMM Show through 2030. Partnered with actress Tia Mowry to launch an “Imaginagency” where kids design travel itineraries. Forecasting 30M visitors ahead of the 2028 Summer Games.
NOTABLE: Previously worked at Visit Orlando as chief sales officer for almost five years and was CEO of Visit Houston before that. Also worked at Marriott International for around 20 years.
QUOTABLE: DMO expects more than 568K room nights to be booked for next year’s slated events. “Group is king. It will be a guaranteed record year for conventions in Anaheim.”
