Travel Nevada, the state’s official destination marketing organization, has made two key new hires to its industry development team as it begins the new fiscal year: Elsa Gomez as global market manager and Yesenia Vega as market development coordinator.
In his new role, Gomez will manage Travel Nevada’s international trade activities and day-to-day operations with global agents in Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico and the U.K., while Vega will support the industry development team through a variety of programs and trade activities, including exhibitions and sales missions.
Gomez brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry to Travel Nevada. Throughout his career, he has served as Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Leisure for some of Southern Nevada’s most well-known hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton and Caesars Entertainment. Gomez also has a strong track record of account development and management, having built relationships with key travel and trade partners in the Online Travel Agency (OTA), Wholesale/Leisure and Group Account market segments.
“Travel Nevada is pleased to expand our industry development team,” said Travel Nevada CEO Rafael Villanueva. “The Global Market Manager role is critical in engaging with international markets and monitoring tourism trends. Her extensive experience will be an asset to the team and will ensure Travel Nevada implements effective programs to increase visitation to Nevada’s destinations.”
A Las Vegas resident for over 15 years, Gomez brings her passion for leisure and travel industry sales to Travel Nevada, where she will use her expertise to develop, implement and maintain a collaborative strategic plan to ensure Travel Nevada evolves and proactively responds to current and future global market trends.
A Las Vegas native and graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Vega earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Meetings and Events Management. Vega’s career experience spans human resources development, customer service, guest experience, and convention and event coordination.
In his role, Vega will build meaningful relationships with industry partners across the state to enhance tourism engagement and will implement special programs and initiatives to support the industry development team in destination development, local marketing grant programs, and national and global market development.
“We are excited to welcome Yesenia to Travel Nevada,” said Nicole Olsua, chief industry development officer. “Her experience in education, hospitality and workforce development makes her an excellent fit for this important new role with our agency.”
Nevada trip, plans, Elsa Gomez, Yesenia Vega
