The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Daniel Kuperschmid as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Kuperschmid, a 30-year Hyatt Hotels executive, previously served as Vice President Global Asset Management at Hyatt Hotels Corp., where he managed a global portfolio of 42 hotels. 

His appointment as SDTA President and CEO follows a comprehensive four-month national search led by SearchWide Global in partnership with an executive search committee comprised of regional tourism and business leaders. Kuperschmid will assume his role March 24.

“Tourism is a critical economic engine of our city, generating $22 billion in economic activity and shaping our future growth,” said Shawn Dixon, SDTA Board Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Daniel’s experience and leadership will further unite our tourism community and elevate our destination, strengthening San Diego’s position as a world-class destination."

Kuperschmid began his career as a sales manager at Hyatt New Orleans, advancing through sales and marketing roles across multiple U.S. markets within the company. He later served as general manager at Hyatt properties in Arizona, New Mexico and California. From 2018 to 2024, he led the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego as Area Vice President and General Manager, overseeing eight hotels in the Southern California market, including Hyatt Regency properties in Mission Bay and La Jolla, as well as the Andaz San Diego in Downtown.  

During his Hyatt tenure, he drove significant revenue growth and group sales production, oversaw major property renovations, and championed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, implementing programs that fostered a more inclusive workplace culture across the organization's properties while increasing both guest and employee satisfaction.  

“After 30 years with Hyatt, I am incredibly grateful for the experiences and relationships that shaped my career in hospitality and tourism,” Kuperschmid said. “Hyatt taught me the power of exceptional service, collaboration and innovation — values I look forward to continuing at the San Diego Tourism Authority. The team at SDTA has done an outstanding job in making San Diego one of the top destinations in the U.S., and I am honored to build upon their efforts.”

Kuperschmid has been an active volunteer in San Diego’s travel industry, having served on the SDTA Board of Directors, including as Board Chair from 2019 to 2023. During his time as Board Chair, he was instrumental in selecting Julie Coker as SDTA’s President and CEO, who led the organization from 2020 to 2024. Alongside Julie and the SDTA Board of Directors, Kuperschmid played a vital role in guiding San Diego’s tourism community during the pandemic and in the recovery period. His community leadership extends to serving on the advisory committee for the Yes for a Better San Diego campaign, supporting the San Diego Convention Center expansion, and the San Diego Tourism Marketing District Board of Directors from 2023 to 2024.

“Daniel brings a wealth of expertise in tourism, and is an enthusiastic advocate for our travel industry, understanding its economic impact on San Diego's economy,” said Annie Fitzgerald, SDTA’s Vice Chair and General Manager of the Westgate Hotel. “His extensive background in marketing and sales, combined with his proven record in building high-performing teams and managing multifaceted operations, positions him perfectly to lead SDTA into its next chapter of success.”

Kuperschmid takes the helm as San Diego’s tourism community reaches record levels. In 2024, San Diego welcomed 32 million visitors, who contributed a record $14.6 billion in direct spending locally. With visitors steadily coming to the San Diego region, local hotels also achieved higher occupancy rates countywide, cementing its position as a top-performing hospitality market in the country and “Best in the West” for hotel occupancy rate. According to STR, the global leader in hospitality data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insight, San Diego County ranked third among the top 25 U.S. markets for hotel occupancy, reaching 74.3% — a 1.1% increase year-over-year, only trailing Oahu and New York, while finishing ahead of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco.  

“Tourism is a powerful economic engine that creates jobs and enriches both our visitors and residents,” Kuperschmid said. “I’m grateful for SDTA’s Board of Directors confidence in me, and I look forward to working with the talented SDTA team to further establish San Diego’s position as a premier global destination.”  

Kuperschmid earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Johnson & Wales University.