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CEO Leaving ConVis

An official announcement March 16 stated that San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO David Peckinpaugh would not seek a renewal of his contract, which expires June 30, because it was in his best interest, as well as that of his family and the organization.

But the main reason for his departure is that his leadership was called into question for failing to come up with an effective plan to market the destination after the stock market’s steep tumble in October, industry sources said.

Even before that, Peckinpaugh had been expected to change the bureau’s course of direction and clean house after taking over from longtime CEO Reint Reinders, who retired in 2006. But it was just more of the same, one source said, particularly since Chief Strategy Officer Christine Shimasaki made most of the important decisions.

Then when it was announced in February that Shimasaki, Sal Giametta, vice president of public affairs, and some underperforming salespeople in bureau offices outside San Diego would be let go, it was “too little too late,” another source said.

Reinders had made some enemies in political ranks and rubbed a few hoteliers the wrong way with his marketing philosophies, but he stepped up to the plate with an effective destination marketing plan in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that initially took a toll on leisure visitation and convention attendance.

Peckinpaugh handled the firestorms of 2007 well from a tourism standpoint, assuring the nation that the county would recover, yet one source said he’s been dragging his feet in response to the current economic situation, which has brought double-digit declines in occupancy rates and room revenue at inns across the county.

Even the federal government is bashing corporate meetings, another source said.

“This is war, so a war general is needed, not a peacetime general,” he said.

ConVis is projected to receive a budget of $22.5 million for fiscal 2009, which ends June 30, 73 percent more than its fiscal 2008 budget, when the bureau was dependent on a supplement from the city.

The Tourism Marketing District that self-assesses a 2 percent fee on local hotels to raise marketing money took effect in fiscal 2009.

Peckinpaugh, 50, was previously an executive with Conferon Global Services of Ohio. Shimasaki leaves May 1 and Giametta on March 20.

Sources said that Joe Terzi, formerly a regional vice president with Starwood Hotels, would be asked to step in as the bureau’s interim CEO.

, Connie Lewis

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