Features
Seattle’s Most Influential People 2019: President and CEO of Visit Seattle, Tom Norwalk
During his tenure, the region has consistently set annual records for tourism and spending
By Rob Smith November 6, 2019
This article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the November 2019 issue, as part of the Most Influential People of the Year feature. Click here to subscribe.
Tom Norwalk is in the business of selling Seattle to the world. During his 11-year tenure as president and CEO of Visit Seattle—a private, nonprofit marketing organization that essentially serves as King County’s tourism agency—the region has consistently set annual records for tourism and spending. Last year was no exception: Almost 41 million visitors came to King County, an all-time high. Tourists spent $7.8 billion, a hike of 5.8% from two years ago. “Our city is poised for continued growth and for rediscovery by many visitors to experience the exciting changes taking place,” he says.
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