Big news for Baltimore: The city’s destination marketing organization, Visit Baltimore, announced the appointment of Kireem Swinton as its permanent president and CEO in early April. Swinton has served as interim president and CEO since last July, after the departure of former President and CEO Al Hutchinson in June.
“The board has full confidence that Kireem is the ideal leader to guide Visit Baltimore into its next chapter,” says Chuck Tildon, chair of the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board (Visit Baltimore’s board), in a prepared statement. “During his time as interim president and CEO, Kireem demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep understanding of our industry, and an unwavering commitment to Baltimore. His efforts have been crucial in maintaining our city’s trajectory as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, and leisure travel. We are thrilled to make his appointment permanent.”
Swinton has been part of the Visit Baltimore team since 2017, previously serving as vice president of sales and customer experience before stepping into the interim president and CEO role last year. During his tenure, Swinton has helped secure major events like the 2033 American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Exposition and the extension of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament through to 2029.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to permanently lead this talented team and represent a city I care so deeply about,” says Swinton. “Baltimore is a city of resilience, innovation, and rich culture, and its story is one I am proud to tell. I look forward to continuing our work with city partners and community members to amplify our positive narratives, attract new and repeat visitors, [bring in] citywide conventions, and ensure that tourism benefits every corner of our great city.”
