Bureau's New Board Chairman Discusses the Year Ahead

The Bureau installed Susie McCormick, executive publisher of 7X7 Magazine, as chairman for fiscal year 2006-2007 at the Bureau’s Annual Luncheon meeting in June.

McCormick has served on the SFCVB executive committee since 2000 and served on the board of directors from 1992 to 1995.
Involved in publishing in the Bay Area for more than 30 years, McCormick was one of the first women publishers of a city or regional magazine in the United States. She has been publisher of both San Francisco Focus and Where magazines, the latter of which she re-launched in 1992.

In 2001, McCormick helped launch 7X7 Magazine, which is named for the 49 square miles San Francisco occupies.
Recently, McCormick shared her thoughts on her year ahead as Chairman of the Bureau’s Board with Cablegram.

Cablegram: How will you leverage your knowledge and experience during your term as SFCVB Chairman?

McCormick: “My experience is deep in marketing and relationship building, and I see that as an area we can give some attention to. Marketing means a lot of different things: visibility, image, perception, accessibility.”

Cablegram: From your perspective as a publisher/communications executive, what’s the most important message the Bureau and its membership need to convey?

McCormick:“That we are here to serve the City and business by promoting tourism. The Bureau is accessible. We work hard and we have a tremendous impact. We are in existence to help the City and its economy.”

Cablegram: How can Bureau members help to effectively get the word out that tourism drives the San Francisco economy?

McCormick:“Talk about tourism and the Bureau…to friends, business associates, politicos, whomever. And know what you’re talking about. Know the numbers…celebrate them. Attend the Bureau functions and spread the word. Take part and use your membership and in doing so you help the Bureau.”

Cablegram: What do you see as San Francisco’s and the Bureau’s greatest opportunity/challenge during the year ahead?

McCormick:“The political arena always poses a challenge. And therein lies opportunity. We can take our message to the streets…..to the neighborhoods. We can tell our story and have a strong local voice. It’s at the ground level that things get done.

Cablegram: How important is it to extend the Bureau’s Only in
San Francisco brand?

McCormick: “It’s important to extend our brand period. Westfield’s San Francisco Centre opening is great. We’re adding 550 new hotel rooms. Business is picking up. Of course we need to clean up our streets and pay attention to our homeless problem, but we’re going into a good time. And we have the best brand available…San Francisco.”