Visit Seattle has appointed Chris Connelly as senior director of sales, effective March 13, 2023. In this role, Connelly will be involved in the day-to-day activities of the organization’s convention sales team. Additionally, Connelly will work collaboratively with sales leaders at the Seattle Convention Center, area hotels, venues, and attractions to accomplish shared goals while maintaining close connections to customers and the hospitality industry on a national level.
Reflecting on Connelly’s hiring, Kelly Saling, Visit Seattle’s SVP and CSO, says, “We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to fold Chris into our team. He has been in our Seattle market for the last three years and he will be an immediate asset for our team, our community, and our customers.”
Connelly arrives at Visit Seattle with 11 years of hospitality sales experience behind him. He has held a number of roles at Hyatt’s properties in Chicago, San Francisco and San Diego. Most recently, he was the area director of group and transient sales at Hyatt’s three downtown Seattle locations: the Hyatt Regency, the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Olive 8.
On joining the Visit Seattle team, Connelly says, “After 11 years as a hospitality sales professional, I’m excited to bring my experience and skills to Visit Seattle as a senior director of sales. I’ve had the privilege of working extensively with the Visit Seattle team in my current role and can’t wait to join what is already an organization of intelligent and deeply passionate professionals. I’ve been captivated with the culture, beauty, and attitude of Seattle since moving here in 2020 and will work hard in my new role to ensure travelers and attendees have every opportunity to experience our beautiful city.”
An Illinois native and Purdue University graduate, Connelly enjoys traveling, baseball and sampling from the Pacific Northwest’s renowned beer scene.
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