Visit Omaha has a new leader—one who’s a familiar face. The official tourism authority for the City of Omaha and Douglas County announced today that Deborah Ward is the new executive director. Ward, who has been with Visit Omaha for 14 years, has served as the interim director since July 2020.
"During the most challenging year for the tourism and hospitality businesses, Deb managed the OCVB and did a tremendous job," said Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert in a press release. "She is innovative, connected and respected—qualities I believe are critical to this position. As Omaha reopens, she has the experience and long-standing relationships to position Omaha as a prime destination for events, conventions and leisure travel."
Prior to the start of the pandemic, Ward led a strategic effort to bring more people to Omaha, which involved implementing award-winning marketing campaigns, resulting in a 25% increase in visitation from cities around the region, according to Visit Omaha.
“This last year has been a reminder to all of us how important tourism is to our city,” Ward said in a press release. “With the success of the U.S. Senior Open, NCAA Men’s College World Series and U.S. Olympic Swim Trials under our belt, recovery has now begun.”
This article is based off of information from a press release from Visit Omaha.
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