New York, NY – Fred Dixon officially took over the reins as president and CEO of NYC & Company at the tourism organization’s annual meeting in New York.
Dixon had been interim president & CEO since December when George Fertitta stepped down. Dixon was also executive vice president, market development for NYC & Company with responsibility for the development of the city’s international convention industry.
Dixon was appointed to the new post by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who called him “a star since he joined NYC & Company” in 2005. Dixon had been an executive with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Dixon led an aggressive expansion of the New York’s international marketing efforts. With a strategic focus on growing visitation and visitor spending, NYC & Company expanded the city’s presence from six strong origin markets to 18 in just over two years, covering 25 countries such as Australia, Brazil, China and India. From 2005 to 2013, international visitation in New York increased by 68% to more than 11.4 million a year. The total economic contribution of the industry is now over $55 billion annually, supporting over 370,000 jobs and contributing over $3.5 billion to local taxes.
Dixon has served on boards including the National Tour Association (NTA), Tourism Cares, Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), U. S. Travel Association/IPW Planning Committee and was the city’s appointment to the Board of the Javits Center Operating Corporation.
George Fertitta, who was appointed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run NYC & Company in 2006, accepted a position with the former Mayor to run Bloomberg Associates, a high-powered consulting group that helps reshape cities around the world at no charge to the client.
Reach Fred Dixon at (212) 484-1293 or fdixon@nycgo.com
