Maria Grasso appointed vice-president of PHLCVB’s convention division

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) announced, 8 October, that Maria Grasso has been appointed senior vice-president of its convention division. Grasso will lead the convention sales and services team, while aiming to position Philadelphia as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and events. A more than 20-year veteran of the organisation, Grasso joined the PHLCVB in 1999 as senior director of national accounts, establishing herself as the organisation’s top-producing sales director. Grasso most recently served as vice-president of sales and convention services, a customer-facing role focusing on organisational growth. Grasso is actively involved in Philadelphia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 and serves as the hotel accommodations expert representing the PHLCVB in direct contact with FIFA and US Soccer. Grasso has served in similar capacities for other events including the 2015 World Meeting of Families, 2016 Democratic National Convention and the 2017 NFL Draft. Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the PHLCVB, said: “For more than 20 years, Maria has been the driving force behind the PHLCVB’s citywide sales efforts and has played a major role in securing many of the global events that have come to our city in the last decade. Maria is respected by both our stakeholders and customers, and she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Philadelphia’s hospitality ecosystem.” Grasso added: “I look forward to serving the organisation, our close partners and our customers in this new role as we advance our strategies for securing meetings and convention business in Philadelphia.”