Cynthia Gonzalez has been appointed the first director of sales for Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. She will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of long-term sales strategies and tactics with the objective of attracting overnight group business to the Santa Ynez Valley.
Gonzalez will head the organization’s sales efforts in promoting and selling the destination to meetings, small groups, and leisure tour/travel markets in an effort to maximize the economic impact for Santa Ynez Valley tourism and related stakeholders.
Gonzalez also will lead the promotion of a group sales action plan designed to deliver value to Santa Ynez Valley’s customers and additional group business to the organization’s tourism partners.
“We are excited to have Cynthia join the team as our first designated salesperson. Her wealth of experience and Central Coast knowledge will be an incredible asset as our organization moves to the next level,” said Shelby Sim, CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.
Gonzalez has nearly two decades of hospitality and tourism experience from a range of business segments including leisure travel, online travel distribution, luxury programs, meetings and events.
A Central Coast native, Gonzalez attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration. At UNLV, she gained sales experience in trade show shipping and exhibition logistics services.
Post-graduation, Gonzalez transitioned into the Las Vegas hotel industry, working at various properties along the Las Vegas Strip, eventually becoming a sales executive for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where she spent time traveling overseas to promote Las Vegas as a destination.
After 14 years in Nevada, Gonzalez returned to the Central Coast, working The Kimpton Goodland hotel in Goleta, as well as the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton, then shifting to Hotelbeds, where she expanded her contract and sales management skills. Most recently, Gonzalez worked as director of sales for Visit SLO CAL in San Luis Obispo County.