SPEAKER BIOS
Jay Burress
President & CEO, Visit Anaheim
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As President and CEO of Visit Anaheim, Burress leads the organization and oversees day-to-day management of all convention, tourism and destination marketing programs. He also plays a key role in Anaheim and Orange County product and visitor industry business development, as well as future expansion plans for the Anaheim Convention Center.
Burress is a member of the Orange County Visitors Association (OCVA) Executive Committee and works closely with Visit California to further enhance exposure of Anaheim and Orange County as a premier travel and leisure destination. Burress began his career in the travel industry as Projects Coordinator in the tourism department of the Dallas Visitor & Convention Bureau in 1988. While in Dallas, Burress held a number
of executive positions in both convention sales and tourism sales. His experience also includes international marketing, management of seven international representation offices and five domestic sales offices. Additionally, Burress was a member of the host committees for Super Bowl XLV, National Tour Association, International Pow Wow and Meeting Professionals’ International’s World Education Congress.
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Prior to joining Visit Anaheim, Burress was President and CEO of Experience Arlington for five years. During his tenure, the city hosted the NBA All Star Game, Super Bowl XLV, US Open of Bowling, two World Series games and a successful move of the AT&T Cotton Bowl to AT&T Stadium. Under his leadership Experience Arlington adopted the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program. He also established a new Partnership program (Advantage Arlington) and a new organization name.
Burress also helped develop the Arlington Cultural Tourism Council to build awareness of the cultural offerings in Arlington.
Raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Burress majored in Business Administration at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He has relocated to Orange County with his wife and their three children. Burress is an avid sports fan and enjoys participating in and watching sports with his children.