introducing Colleen Anderson

about Colleen Anderson

Colleen Anderson is the executive director of San Diego Tourism Marketing District (SDTMD), a nonprofit, mutual-benefit corporation dedicated to improving lodging room night consumption in the City of San Diego. She joined SDTMD in 2018 and oversees the strategic distribution of tourism marketing district funds to produce the greatest return on investment for assessed hotels and the City of San Diego.

As a hospitality industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience, Anderson’s leadership most recently played a crucial role in helping San Diego tourism successfully navigate a robust recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In her current role, she also has grown and diversified the pool of funding applicants receiving annual grants from SDTMD. Anderson oversees SDTMD’s robust education and outreach communications program, known as Tourism Matters, and collaborates with local colleges to help mentor the next generation of San Diego’s hospitality workforce.

Prior to SDTMD, Anderson spent 15 years with Omni Hotels & Resorts and served as general manager for the Omni San Diego. During her tenure, she served as a board member for SDTMD and the San Diego Lodging Association. She also has served as a board member for California Hotel and Lodging Association Hospitality Foundation, San Diego Tourism Authority and Kid’s First Sunset View.

In 2022, Colleen was selected as one of San Diego’s Top 50 Most Influential Women Over 50 by the San Diego Business Journal for her contributions and commitment to the hospitality industry. Women in Tourism and Hospitality (W.I.T.H.) also recognized her as a 2022 award honoree.

Colleen is a graduate of State University of New York College of Oswego. She currently lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.