After 15 years with Visit Seattle, Tom Norwalk will retire as president and CEO on March 31, 2022.
Among Norwalk’s many contributions to the organization, such as setting records for tourism visitation and spending and leading the city’s pandemic recovery efforts, he oversaw the creation of Seattle Tourism Improvement Area, a marketing effort funded by guests at downtown Seattle hotels designed to keep the city competitive in the leisure travel market.
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“It’s been the journey of a lifetime and the greatest professional honor to promote and market the city that I love. The Visit Seattle organization is home to some of the most talented, passionate and brilliant minds in the industry,” Norwalk said. “While there’s no great time to say goodbye, I am confident we have the right team in place to keep Seattle’s momentum going. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues through the next six months to ensure our continued growth through this critical and exciting time in our city’s history.”
The organization’s board of directors will be conducting a nationwide search for a new president. An announcement is expected in early 2022.
