2025 / 2026
MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES CALENDAR
Get Involved with SDTA The San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of over 1,000+ member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. As a destination sales and marketing organization, the main objective of the San Diego Tourism Authority is to promote and market the San Diego region as a preferred vacation and meeting destination. We look forward to supporting your business goals and introducing opportunities to connect with industry partners and leaders, meeting planners, global tour operators and more.
Daniel Kuperschmid PRESIDENT & CEO
Kerri Verbeke Kapich CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Kavin Schieferdecker CHIEF SALES OFFICER
Opportunity Glossary SALES CALL (TOURISM DEVELOPMENT): The Tourism Development team of the San Diego Tourism Authority conducts Sales Calls and Sales Missions in international and domestic markets. Activities include product meetings with tour operators, destination trainings / presentations with travel agents, destination seminars for MICE operators, client luncheons / dinners and more. By joining the Tourism Development team, members can present their products to key travel trade accounts and have opportunities to build relationships with them. TRADESHOW (TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND GROUP MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS): Provides visibility in a shared tradeshow booth, allowing direct interaction with travel agents, tour operators and meeting professionals through networking, conversations, and in some cases, pre-scheduled appointments. It’s a chance to showcase San Diego alongside partners and connect with potential clients in targeted markets. CLIENT EVENTS AND ROADSHOWS (GROUP MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS): These events are 3-hour luncheons or evening receptions hosted in key markets across the US, bringing together local meeting and event planners with San Diego sales partners for networking, presentations, food and beverage, raffles, and engaging activities. Designed to generate future business for San Diego, they offer partners a co-host opportunity to connect directly with potential clients. Client events consist of 1 - 2 receptions in the same city, typically on the same day, while Roadshows span multiple markets over the course of a week and may also include sales calls, though not guaranteed. CONFERENCES (GROUP MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS): This co-host opportunity offers the chance to engage with clients at a conference through a mini tradeshow, dinner or reception, while also benefiting from educational programming. It combines meaningful client connections with industry insights and visibility alongside San Diego partners.
MEMBER EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The San Diego Tourism Authority presents relevant and timely event programming for our Members and community stakeholders each year. These events are made possible by the support of our sponsors. Tourism is vital to the economic health of San Diego, accounting for one in eight jobs, and $14.3 billion in visitor spending. Taxes generated by hotel stays put more than $417 million into city and county budgets to support essential services for our community. Brian Hilemon Please Contact for Inquiries: BHilemon@SanDiego.org
ANNUAL MEETING
San Diego, CA
NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK
San Diego, CA
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS
HOSPITALITY OPEN
San Diego, CA
Members gather for a formal keynote presentation highlighting sales and marketing direction for the coming year.
Celebrate the impact of the travel and tourism industry in San Diego.
Score a hole-in-one by reaching key decision makers in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
MEMBER EVENT
MEMBER EVENT
MEMBER EVENT
EDUCATIONAL & NETWORKING SERIES Click below to access our full Sponsorship Opportunities Guide and learn how you can make the most of your membership with the San Diego Tourism Authority. San Diego, CA Learn from industry experts and expand your network at our series of events.
MEMBER EVENT
ACCESS
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Tourism Development marketing targets both travel agents and tour operators planning travel for their clients. These savvy professional travel planners deliver an estimated 2 million hotel room nights to San Diego each year—including many international visitors. The SDTA engages with an active account list and coordinates a robust outreach program both on a domestic and international level.
Benjamin Eastman SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Please Contact for Inquiries: BEastman@SanDiego.org
BRAND USA TRAVEL WEEK October 20 - 23, 2025
October 20 - October 24, 2025 Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
London Meet with U.K. & European buyers for a week of B2B meetings, networking, and education.
TRADESHOW
AUSTRALIA SALES MISSION
$4,750 registration
Appointments with major travel advisors and travel agencies in Australia.
SALES CALL
$3,000 day
ASIAN CLIENT LUNCHEON
PLEASANT HOLIDAYS CALL CENTER TRAINING
January 2026
January 2026
Networking with major Asian tour operators and travel agencies based in Los Angeles, California.
CLIENT EVENT
CONSULT FOR PRICING
Tokyo Appointments with major travel advisors and travel agencies in Japan.
SALES CALL
$2500
VIP CLIENT DINNER
Los Angeles, CA
One of the largest travel wholesalers in the US, offers vacation packages to destinations worldwide.
SALES CALL
November 10 - 14, 2025
January 2026
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
JAPAN SALES CANADA WEST CALLS COAST
CONSULT FOR PRICING
Networking dinner with major tour operators and receptive operators in Los Angeles, California.
CLIENT EVENT
CONSULT FOR PRICING
UK SALES MISSION
VCA LUXURY FORUM
March 2026
March 22 - 24, 2026
London
Lake Tahoe, CA
Appointments with major travel advisors and travel agencies in the United Kingdom.
SALES CALL
CONSULT FOR PRICING
GETAWAY TODAY CALL CENTER TRAINING May 2026
CONSULT FOR PRICING
IPW
CONSULT FOR PRICING
CANADA SALES CALLS June 2026
Largest Travel Trade event in US. More than 5000 attendees including 1400 International buyers and media.
TRADESHOW
CONSULT FOR PRICING
GERMANY SALES MISSION June 2026
Toronto & Montreal Appointments with major travel advisors and travel agencies in Toronto and Montreal, Canada.
$500 / day
Hamburg, Hannover & Cologne Visit and train product managers and sales agents at major German tour operators selling vacations to the US.
SALES CALL
Appointments with major tour operators and travel agencies in Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca.
SALES CALL
$500 / day
AGENT KAI LUNCHEON June 2026
Ft, Lauderdale, Florida
Travel Agency leader on family vacation packages. Call center training.
SALES CALL
Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca
May 18 - 22, 2026
Ogden, UT
SALES CALL
April, 2026
Meet 1-on-1 with travel agents selling luxury vacations and educate them on your product.
CLIENT EVENT
MEXICO SALES MISSION
CONSULT FOR PRICING
Los Angeles, CA Appointments with major Japanese tour operators and travel agencies in Los Angeles, California.
CLIENT EVENT
CONSULT FOR PRICING
GROUP MEETINGS & CONVENTION OPPORTUNITIES
The San Diego Tourism Authority Sales Department creates relationships with meeting and event professionals, C-Suite executives and stakeholders at some of the largest corporations and organizations all over the world. San Diego is the perfect mix of beauty and brains for business travelers who want to extend their trip and take in all the region has to offer. After reviewing the calendar, please submit an interest form to let us know which events you are interested in attending next year (section 2) and/or which local events you are interested in hosting (section 3).
Kali Knaack
Interest Form
DIRECTOR OF EVENT MANAGEMENT
Please Contact for Inquiries: KKnaack@SanDiego.org
MIDWEST ROADSHOW January 26 - 30, 2026
February 2026
Minneapolis, MN and Kansas City, KS
ROADSHOW
ARIZONA RECEPTION
$3,000
SOUTHEAST ROADSHOW March 2026 Atlanta, GA & Nashville, TN
February 24, 2026
Scottsdale, AZ
New York City, NY
This event focuses on third party planners from HelmsBriscoe and HPN.
CLIENT EVENT
$2,250
MEETING INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF COLORADO
$3,000
CONFERENCE
March/ April 2026
Denver, CO
Chicago, IL
TRADESHOW
$2,000
$1,500
CUBS HOME OPENER
March 12 - 13, 2026
Opportunity to foster the growth of the meetings and events industry.
ROADSHOW
NYSAE MEET NY
Chicago Cubs game
CLIENT EVENT
$4,000
PACIFIC NORTHWEST RECEPTION April 2026
CALSAE ELEVATE
August 15 - 18, 2026
April 12 - 15, 2026 Newport Beach, CA
Seattle , WA
ASAE ANNUAL MEETING
Indianapolis, IN Thousands of associations and industry partners gather to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, solutions, and more.
ROADSHOW
$2,250
NORCAL ROADSHOW September 2026
NORTHEAST ROADSHOW
$3,000
Late October 2026
ROADSHOW
$3,500
COLORADO RECEPTION
CLIENT EVENT
IMEX AMERICA
The largest trade show for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
TRADESHOW
$7,875
SIGNATURE SPA EVENT November 2026 Washintgon, D.C.
Denver, CO
$3,000
$3,500
Las Vegas, NV
Late October 2026
Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
TRADESHOW
October 13 - 15, 2026
Manhattan, NY and Philadelphia, PA
SOCAL ROADSHOW
ROADSHOW
$2,500
September 2026
Sacramento & San Francisco, CA
ROADSHOW
TRADESHOW
$2,250
CLIENT EVENT
$2,500
HOLIDAY BREAKFAST December 2026
SITE SOCAL HOLIDAY EVENT December 2026
Chicago, IL
ASSOCIATIONS WEST (CALSAE) December 15 - 16, 2026
Southern California- TBD
Sacramento, CA Premier networking event for the association community on the West Coast!
CLIENT EVENT
$850
CLIENT EVENT
$2,100
TRADESHOW
$2,000
* Fees, locations, and event dates are subject to change. Co-host fees do not include travel / accommodations, unless otherwise noted. Co-hosted client events and roadshows may also include sales calls organized by the National Sales Director.
750 B STREET, SUITE 1500 SAN DIEGO, CA 92101 P. 619. 232. 3101 SANDIEGO.ORG
As of October 2025