NYC Tourism + Conventions, the tourism promotion organisation of New York, has announced a major change in leadership as its current President and CEO Fred Dixon steps down to take over as CEO of Brand USA. NYC Tourism + Conventions says its CMO Nancy Mammana has been named Interim CEO as Search Committee forms to fill the role permanently.
NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Dixon will leave the organisation in June as Dixon has been tapped to lead Brand USA, the national destination marketing organisation responsible for promoting the US as a premier travel destination.
In a press statement, NYC Tourism + Conventions says that its Chief Marketing Officer Nancy Mammana has been named Interim CEO. It adds that Mammana, who has been with NYC Tourism + Conventions since 2018, including five years as CMO, led the company’s 2023 rebrand. She oversees organisational strategies touching all five boroughs of New York City, including domestic and international promotional campaigns, media strategies, digital initiatives, creative and content plans, events, partnerships, licensing and global tourism development efforts.
The statement adds that Dixon will remain in the role until June 5. A search committee has been formed to lead the process of identifying and selecting a new CEO.
Dixon is the current Chair of Destinations International, serves on the New York Convention Centre Operating Corporation Board, the board of IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, the United States Travel Association Executive Committee and is an Officer of the Board for the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee.
“This is a bittersweet moment for NYC Tourism + Conventions and the City’s tourism industry. For nearly 20 years, Fred Dixon has been synonymous with New York City tourism, the industry’s continued success and its impact on New York City,” says NYC Tourism + Conventions Board Chair and Shubert Organisation Executive Vice President Charles Flateman.
“His leadership and expertise created a template for excellence in destination marketing and the team of talented individuals who make the work possible. We are thrilled beyond measure for him in this new role and know that he will always be a champion for NYC,” he adds.
The statement adds that Dixon joined the organisation in 2005 as Vice President of Tourism and became the CEO in 2014. With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, he has been leading NYC’s tourism, meetings and events strategy, and programming to grow business and leisure travel globally. During his tenure, international visitation has more than doubled to over 13 million travellers.
The board says that in the early months of the pandemic, Dixon had organised the Coalition for NYC Hospitality and Tourism Recovery, which brought together industry leaders across all five boroughs to plan a path back. In July 2020, New York City Tourism + Conventions and the coalition published “All In NYC: The Roadmap for Tourism’s Reimagining and Recovery,” which was implemented with the support of a USD 30 million investment from the City of New York for recovery messaging and promotion.
According to the board, NYC attracted more than 62 million travellers, generated over USD 74 billion in economic impact, and supported over 380,000 leisure and hospitality jobs in 2023.
The board says that in 2025, New York City expects to welcome over 68 million travellers, exceeding pre-pandemic visitation levels and paving the runway for continued growth as the City readies to host a slate of world-class events including America250 and the FIFA World Cup 26.
