Travel Portland Names Megan Conway New President and CEO

 

Travel Portland named its current chief strategy officer, Megan Conway, as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective January 1.

Conway follows the tenure of Jeff Miller, the organization’s longtime leader who announced in June his intention to retire from the role after 19 years. The organization conducted a nationwide search for Miller’s replacement beginning in August.

According to a press release from Travel Portland, Conway stood out for her ability to generate results, bring innovative and strategic thinking to life and draw on deep expertise in the hospitality industry.

“Megan has been an integral member of the Travel Portland executive team since 2020, helping guide our region’s vital hospitality industry during the most challenging period in its history,” Miller said in the release. “Her unmatched leadership, insight and expertise—combined with her complete faith in Portland as a compelling destination—leave no doubt that she is the right individual to champion economic growth for Portland and the surrounding region through tourism.”  

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Conway joined Travel Portland in 2010 as vice president, communications and public relations, before being promoted to the executive leadership team in 2017. In her current role as chief strategy officer, she directed communications and public relations, international tourism, the Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP), policy and research, events and visitor-facing staff while also managing agency partnerships.  

“Being trusted to lead Travel Portland into our next chapter is an honor, and I look forward to continuing the good work of Jeff Miller, our amazing staff and all our partners as we build momentum and return Portland to its rightful place among can’t-miss destinations in the U.S.,” Conway said. “As president and CEO, I will continue to prioritize innovative and inspirational initiatives that build up not only our tourism community, but our city as a whole.”

Portland is expected to see continued growth in tourism under Conway’s leadership. The promising return of visitors to the city this year made it the best summer tourism season in Portland since before the pandemic. Both occupancy and foot traffic numbers reached their highest point since 2019, with 2.4 million visitors in June and July.

These strong numbers are extending to meetings and conventions, too, as the Travel Portland Convention Sales Team has booked approximately 300,000 future room nights for upcoming conventions. 

Read more about moves and appointments in the meetings and events industry