A 35-year hospitality industry veteran, Gary C. Sherwin, CDME, APR has served as President & CEO of Newport Beach and Company since 2013 and its tourism business unit, Visit Newport Beach, Inc. since 2006. Sherwin is responsible for overseeing the community marketing organization promoting Newport Beach, California as a premiere luxury destination.
Sherwin has also served as the Chairman of the Washington, DC-based Destinations International, the trade association for tourism marketing organizations. Sherwin is past chairman of the Orange County Visitor Association, recipient of its Legacy Award in 2015 and is the past chairman of the California Travel Association, the state’s leading umbrella tourism advocacy organization. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association.
Sherwin conceived and developed the innovative Newport Beach and Company marketing model that not only handles the city’s tourism efforts but also works with the local restaurant association, neighborhood business associations, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Newport Beach to provide a fully integrated approach to marketing the city worldwide. Sherwin also developed the Newport Bech Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to encouraging young people to participate in civic life in the city.
Prior to joining Newport Beach, Sherwin’s prior experience includes Vice President of Market Development for the Palms Springs Desert Resorts Convention & Visitors Authority, the Vice President of Marketing for the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Director of Media Relations for the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau and Director of Marketing Communications for the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau.
A nationally recognized leader and consultant in community brand development, Sherwin co-authored the international best-selling book, Destinations BrandScience™, Sherwin also serves as a faculty member for the Certified Destination Management Executive Program and was the founder of the Destinations International Hall of Fame, which recognizes the most influential figures in the destination marketing industry. He was also an adjunct faculty member at California State University, Fullerton for its Travel and Tourism course.
Sherwin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science form California State University, Fullerton and was given it sVision and Visionary Award by the university, its highest honor given to alumni. He was also named to the Department of Communications “Wall of Fame.” Sherwin also attended Stanford University’s Leading Change and Organizational Renewal Program through its Graduate School of Business. Sherwin is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (APR) and has also received his Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) credential from Destinations International.