Jul. 30, 2003 - Joe Terzi, vice president of operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has assumed the chairmanship of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau for a one-year period.

In his position, Terzi will head the 39-member policy-making board, which develops strategies for promoting San Diego tourism. The board works in conjunction with a paid staff to implement its plans.

Terzi said yesterday his primary mission is to secure a steady flow of funds to support tourism promotion.

Because of state and local budget shortfalls, ConVis had $1.4 million eliminated from its budget this year. With a budget of $14.8 million, ConVis spearheads marketing the region's $5 billion tourism industry.

"Promotion of the San Diego region is perhaps more important than ever today," Terzi said. "The tourism business has gotten very competitive in recent years, and other regions look at the significant business in San Diego and are trying to figure out a way they can go after some of that."

Tourism is the region's third-largest industry, according to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Terzi said he considers the region's visitor industry to be the second strongest nationally, based on hotel occupancy rates.

It is surpassed only by Las Vegas, he said.

"Tourism is a real driver of the economy in San Diego," Terzi said. "I sometimes think we don't realize how important it is to us, but we need to keep promoting the business so it's always strong."

Terzi is Starwood's regional vice president, responsible for operation of hotels in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as Las Vegas.

"When I see how other regions are struggling today, I'm glad I'm in San Diego," he said.

Joining Terzi on the ConVis board are seven new directors, who each serve three-year terms. They are Joseph Craver, Galaxie Management; Patrick Fearn, Certified Folder Display; Victoria Hobbs, Corporate Developers of America; Joe Kobryner, Broadway San Diego; Jeffrey Lin, Best Western Suites Coronado; Alan Randle, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego; and David Watson, Hecht, Solberg, Robinson, Goldberg & Bagley.

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(c) 2003, The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.