Manny’s: How Travel & Hospitality Can Inspire The Future of San Francisco

95% of San Franciscans say tourism and hospitality is important to our city. For every $100 visitors spend on a hotel, they spend $200 in our community, boosting small businesses, supporting jobs, and enhancing our city’s cultural fabric. But what role can and should tourism and hospitality play in our future? Join us to learn from travel and hospitality leaders in our city about what’s going on now – and how we can all work together to use hospitality to welcome people and create the next chapter of San Francisco’s story.

Come with your questions and ideas as we discuss what the future can look like for all of us!

Hosted by Ali Wunderman – Award-winning freelance travel journalist & Josiah Mackenzie – Host & Producer of Hospitality Daily

Manny’s never turns away anyone for lack of funds. To receive a complementary ticket just email the word “grapefruit” and the title of this event to angelina@welcometomannys.com.

Want to support community members? By purchasing a “Pay It Forward” ticket you will allow us to provide free tickets to those who may not be able to afford entry otherwise and ensure we can create a diverse socio-economic audience that represents San Francisco.

About the Speakers:

Lynn Bruni-Perkins, CDME (Certified Destination Management Executive)

Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Lynn leads San Francisco’s Travel’s marketing division, including the global marketing communications, public and media relations, global partnership, and arts marketing departments. She serves as the creative voice and brand steward for the organization and the city, and oversees all efforts related to marketing San Francisco to its core global audiences (visitors, meeting planners, travel trade, airlines, meeting planners and San Francisco Travel members and partners.)

Silas Valentino

SFGATE Travel Editor

Silas Valentino is SFGATE’s Travel Editor. He was born in Bakersfield and raised in Marin County.

Alex Bastian

President & CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco

Alex Bastian, a San Francisco native, is the President and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. Prior to this position, he was a Special Advisor to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. Preceding that job, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff and an Assistant District Attorney for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for nearly twelve years.

Michelle Jensen Session

Co-Founder of Aquarius Hospitality Solutions

Prior to founding Aquarius Hospitality Solutions, Michelle spent the last decade as the Principal in charge of operations and strategy for Kensington Investment Group, a family company that owns, renovates, and manages a mix of commercial and hotel properties. She is an owner and an operator who was raised in the hospitality business, and a 15-year veteran of the industry with additional experience in strategic planning, budgetary oversight, investor and banking relations, program and project management, staff and organizational development, human resources, environmental sustainability, and more.