Craig Davis recalled how it felt to be welcomed and entertained when he would go on family vacations as a child to the former Castle Restaurant and Inn in Olean, New York—and he grew up wanting to instill that feeling for others. Through high school, he worked on a golf course, and during summers in college, he helped run a campus conference center. By graduation, he knew the events industry was for him.
After working for hotels in Toronto, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, Davis transitioned to destination marketing at Visit Pittsburgh, where he spent some 20 years from 2000 to early 2020—first as executive director of convention sales, then as vice president of sales and marketing, and ultimately as president and CEO. In January 2020, Davis joined Visit Dallas as president and CEO, where he champions the city’s hospitality and tourism, partnering with civic, business, and cultural leaders to showcase Dallas as a premier meetings, conventions, and leisure destination that drives economic development.
“I believe travel, tourism, and hospitality make communities more open, connected, and prosperous,” says Davis. “This role lets me advance those values for a city I love by creating opportunity, welcoming the world, and telling Dallas’ story with integrity.”
Davis says multiple factors make Dallas a great destination for events, including its two major airports, vast hotel and venue landscape, and the world-class expansion of the city’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. “Dallas checks the boxes planners care about and delivers more,” says Davis. “And the difference-maker is our people, who offer sophisticated service with a genuine can-do spirit. They want your event to succeed, and it shows.”
His favorite spots around town include Bishop Arts District, with its tree-lined streets, cafes, and shops; American Airlines Center or AT&T Stadium for game day (the former is home base for the NHL’s Dallas Stars and NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and the latter is where the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys play); and the Dallas Arts District with its world-class museums and public spaces.
An interesting fact about Davis is that he’s also a private pilot with an instrument rating. “I love exploring the far corners of Texas whenever I can,” he says. “Flying keeps me curious, disciplined, and focused, which are all useful traits in this job, too.”
