VisitPITTSBURGH Names Tom Loftus Chief Marketing Officer

VisitPITTSBURGH, the official tourism promotion agency for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, announced the promotion of Tom Loftus to the newly created position of chief marketing officer. This position came about as part of a strategic realignment to capitalize on the strength of the organization’s marketing, digital marketing and communications departments; Loftus will oversee the three departments.

Loftus joined VisitPITTSBURGH as vice president of communications in 2015, and brought with him more than 30 years of strategic public relations, marketing, media relations and crisis communications experience, from five different industries.  

 “Tom has demonstrated a strong commitment to success at VisitPITTSBURGH with his leadership and management experience,” said Craig Davis, president and CEO. “In this position, he’ll use that experience to enhance our marketing and communications efforts to position VisitPITTSBURGH as an industry leader and continuously keep Pittsburgh in the national spotlight.”

Loftus has significant experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. From 1992-2002, he was the director of corporate communications for Pittsburgh-based Interstate Hotels Corporation, which managed more than 300 hotels worldwide. He created an internal and external corporate communications department for Interstate, as well as initiating communications strategies as the hotel company went through an IPO, spin-off and merger.

Loftus has also worked in the legal, manufacturing, public utility and spaceflight industries in a variety of marketing and public relations positions.

Currently, Loftus is pursuing the Certified Destination Marketing Executive credential from Destination Marketing Association International. He is a Disaster Public Affairs volunteer for the Red Cross of Western Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Writing. He is a PIAA Basketball official, has three children, one granddaughter and recently moved to the Strip District, where he serves on the board for Strip District Neighbors.

As the official tourism promotion agency for Allegheny County, VisitPITTSBURGH is dedicated to generating convention, trade show and leisure travel business for the Pittsburgh region.