Last week, alongside nearly 250 members of the region’s travel and tourism community, we celebrated Pittsburgh Tourism On the Move at the 86th VisitPITTSBURGH Annual meeting at The Westin Pittsburgh.

There was so much energy in the room. From the return of British Airways service between Pittsburgh and London, to the launch of new visitor experiences, the growth of large-scale events and so much more – Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are gearing up for a tremendous 2022, and it was a thrill to embrace the energy and excitement that surrounds our region. A full recap of the Annual Meeting can be found here and in the video link below.

Throughout the program, we noted how positive traveler sentiment points to a continued rebound for our tourism economy. We also shared our plans to holistically develop the region’s tourism economy. And, we reaffirmed VisitPITTSBURGH’s mission to tell the Pittsburgh story daily to sports event planners, meeting planners and leisure travelers with the goal of bringing them into our region. We will continue to tell the Pittsburgh story and emphasize that our region is a must-see destination with so much to offer visitors.

Included in our presentation was a community conversation with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. All three community leaders highlighted Pittsburgh’s strength as a destination for business events, sports events and leisure travel, as well as shared their outlooks for our community.

Additionally, three of our valued business partners shared taped messages, including:

Ron Ashburn, Executive Director of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology
Tim Keating, co-Owner and Executive Director of GK Sports
Janis Burley Wilson, President and CEO, August Wilson African American Cultural Center

I thank our community leaders and partners for sharing their time and excitement for our county’s tourism sector.

Also that afternoon, Meredith Meyer Grelli (Co-Founder/Co-Owner, Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider & Mead) was named Chairperson of VisitPITTSBURGH’s Board of Directors.

The 2022 VisitPITTSBURGH officers are:

Meredith Meyer Grelli, Chairperson (Co-Founder/Co-Owner, Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider & Mead)
Michele Meloy Burchfield, Vice Chairperson (Co-Founder and CEO, Blume Honey Water)
Troy Schooley, Treasurer (CEO, P3R)
Perry Ivery, Secretary (General Manager, The Oaklander Hotel, Marriott Autograph Collection)
Timothy Q. Hudak, Esq., Immediate Past Chairman (CEO & Member, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC)

Perry Ivery, General Manager, The Oaklander Hotel, Marriott Autograph Collection, was also named as a new board member of VisitPITTSBURGH along with Laila Brock, Vice President, Sponsorship Sales & Operations of JMI Sports.

We have a distinguished group of volunteer board members who provide us with sound guidance and support. They are critical to our collective success, and I look forward to working with Meredith and our entire board as we continue to build back the travel economy for Allegheny County.

A complete financial overview, as well as a recap of business conducted in 2021, is available in the VisitPITTSBURGH 2021 Annual Report.

Please see the link below for the full video recap of the 2022 VisitPITTSBURGH Annual Meeting.

Celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day 2022

The MeetPITTSBURGH team, as well as the Pittsburgh chapter of Meeting Professionals International, will join organizations across the globe in support of the annual Global Meeting Industry Day (GMID) on Thursday, April 7. This annual moment spotlights the importance and benefits of in-person professional meetings and events, a critical segment of our travel industry.

You are invited to join the MPI Pittsburgh Chapter at a community event that afternoon, from 2-6 p.m., at the National Aviary Garden Room. Community leaders from the Pittsburgh travel sector will discuss the overall impact that the meetings and event industry has on the local economy, as well as cover the profound ripple effect of losses over the last few years and expectations for future rebound.

Registration is now open. Tickets for MPI members are $35, while non-members may purchase tickets for $45. Students are admitted for $15 each (MPI members) and $20 (non-MPI members).

Led by the industry advocacy collation, Meetings Mean Business, and the US Travel Association, GMID was established to showcase the proven value that business meetings, conference, conventions, incentive travel, trade show and exhibitions bring to people, businesses and communities.

Jerad Bachar

President & CEO, VisitPITTSBURGH