Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 25, 2024

The San Francisco Travel Association has appointed Anna Marie Presutti as its new President and CEO, making her the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s 115-year history. Presutti, who had been serving as interim President and CEO since mid-May, officially steps into this leadership role, overseeing San Francisco Travel’s global efforts to market the city as a prime destination for conventions, meetings, and leisure travel.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of San Francisco’s economy, contributing $9.3 billion in total visitor spending and generating nearly $610 million in tax revenues in 2023. With 23 million annual visitors, tourism supports nearly 63,000 jobs in the city.

"After an extensive national search, we found the best candidate was already leading the charge. Anna Marie is a dynamic and bold advocate for San Francisco," said John Anderson, Chair of San Francisco Travel’s Board. "Her deep familiarity with the organization, coupled with her passion for the city, makes her the ideal leader to take San Francisco Travel to new heights."

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Presutti has over two decades of experience in San Francisco’s tourism and hospitality industry. Before assuming this role, she served as Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Nikko San Francisco, where she became the first female vice president for Nikko Hotels International in 2006. Her impressive career includes leadership roles at Kimpton Hotels, ITT Sheraton, Hilton Hotels, and Sunstone Hotel Properties.

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As the newly appointed President and CEO, Presutti aims to rejuvenate San Francisco’s convention business and highlight the city’s culinary scene, arts, and cultural strengths. “I am passionate about this city and its future. We are on the brink of a significant recovery, and my focus will be on building momentum to restore San Francisco’s status as a top global destination,” said Presutti.

Her accomplishments have earned her several accolades, including being named one of “The Most Influential Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times and receiving the Hotel Council of San Francisco’s Peter Goldman Award of Excellence.

San Francisco Travel, the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco, continues to play a pivotal role in promoting the city’s vibrant tourism industry as one of the top US destinations for tourism and business travel.


Innu Lama Appointed Cluster L&D Manager for Hilton Bengaluru Portfolio

Innu Lama Appointed Cluster L&D Manager for Hilton Bengaluru Portfolio

By Hariharan U

Published on April 15, 2026

Hilton has announced the appointment of Innu Lama as Cluster Learning & Development Manager for its Bengaluru portfolio. Her role will span multiple properties, including Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks, Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Tech Village, and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Tech Village.

Innu Lama brings extensive experience in learning and development across both luxury hospitality and healthcare sectors. She most recently served at Conrad Bengaluru as Learning & Development Manager, where she led leadership training programmes, structured onboarding initiatives, and compliance-focused learning frameworks.

Her career journey also includes key roles at Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, and Sheraton Grand Bengaluru. Across these organisations, she contributed to enhancing service standards, strengthening quality assurance, and building high-performing teams.

Recognised for her strategic outlook and collaborative leadership style, Innu has consistently focused on embedding learning into business outcomes while elevating guest experience standards.

In her new role, she will lead the cluster’s learning strategy, with a strong emphasis on leadership development, talent progression, and cultivating a robust service culture. Her responsibilities include designing and implementing training programmes aligned with Hilton’s global brand standards, while ensuring operational excellence and audit readiness across properties.

This appointment reflects Hilton’s continued commitment to investing in people development and fostering a culture of continuous learning across its Bengaluru cluster.

Part of a global hospitality network, Hilton operates more than 6,800 properties across 122 countries. Its dual-branded presence at Embassy Manyata Business Park, launched in 2022, stands out as one of South India’s largest hotel complexes, offering expansive convention facilities and strategic connectivity within the city.


Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati Appoints Samata Danday Chand as Hotel Manager

Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati Appoints Samata Danday Chand as Hotel Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 14, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati, which opened in April 2026, has announced the appointment of Samata Danday Chand as Hotel Manager. This move reflects a strong focus on leadership as the property looks to establish itself as a preferred stay for pilgrims, leisure travellers, and corporate guests visiting Tirupati.

In her new role, Samata will lead overall hotel operations, shape guest experiences from the beginning, and guide the property’s growth during its early phase and beyond.

With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Samata brings deep expertise in operations, guest engagement, and team leadership. She is known for building strong teams and maintaining consistent service standards across roles.

She began her journey with IHCL Taj Hotels, where she spent close to ten years as an executive housekeeper. During this time, she handled several pre-opening projects and major renovation initiatives, building a strong base in operations and execution. She later moved into Learning & Development, where she focused on improving team skills and strengthening workplace culture.

Over the years, Samata has taken on senior leadership roles such as operations manager and director of rooms, where she managed overall hotel operations. Most recently, she served as Executive Assistant Manager – Rooms at JW Marriott Bengaluru Golfshire, contributing to guest experience and operational performance.

Speaking on her appointment, Samata Danday Chand said,

"Tirupati is a destination that holds profound meaning for millions of people. As a team, we feel a deep sense of responsibility to match that significance with an experience that is seamless, warm, and truly memorable. Our goal is to ensure that every guest, whether a pilgrim seeking solace, a family on a cherished trip, or a corporate traveller on the move, enjoys a stay that is comfortable, effortless, and exceptional in every sense. That is the standard we are setting for ourselves from day one."

Known for her people-first leadership style, Samata brings a balanced approach to her role. She is also passionate about travelling, long-distance driving, and practices yoga regularly, reflecting a disciplined yet mindful way of leading teams.

With Samata Danday Chand leading the operations, Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati is set to build a strong presence in the region and deliver a consistent and comfortable stay experience from the very beginning.


Marriott Executive Apartments Hyderabad Promotes Vishal Singh as Assistant F&B Manager

Marriott Executive Apartments Hyderabad Promotes Vishal Singh as Assistant F&B Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on April 13, 2026

Marriott Executive Apartments Hyderabad has announced the promotion of Vishal Singh as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing talent and strengthening internal leadership.

With over eight years of experience in the hospitality industry, Vishal steps into his new role with a strong foundation in food and beverage operations, team leadership, and guest engagement. Having been an integral part of the property, he has consistently contributed to delivering high-quality dining experiences while enhancing operational efficiency.

Vishal’s professional journey reflects diverse experience across leading hospitality brands. Prior to this promotion, he has worked with Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre Hyderabad, Pullman New Delhi, and Fairfield by Marriott Goa, gaining a well-rounded perspective on service excellence and operational management. He began his career with an internship at JW Marriott Kolkata, laying the foundation for his growth in the industry.

Known for his hands-on leadership style and keen understanding of evolving guest preferences, Vishal has played a key role in enhancing the property’s food and beverage offerings. His ability to balance operational efficiency with guest-centric service has been instrumental in driving consistent performance.

In his new capacity, he will oversee food and beverage operations across the property, ensuring seamless service delivery while continuing to innovate and elevate guest experiences in line with global standards set by Marriott International.

This promotion underscores the property’s focus on people-first leadership and its commitment to developing talent from within.

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