Visit Mesa's Marc Garcia Inducted into Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame

For Immediate Release
MESA, Ariz. (Aug. 14, 2026) – Visit Mesa President and CEO Marc Garcia was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame on Thursday during the Governor's Tourism Awards celebration at the 2026 Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism in Tucson. Visit Mesa’s Ashley Stwertnik, producer of multimedia projects and host of the City Limitless® Podcast, was also honored with a Rising Star Award.

Presented annually by the Arizona Office of Tourism, the Hall of Fame award recognizes an individual whose sustained leadership and contributions have left a lasting mark on Arizona’s visitor economy. Garcia was honored for his nearly three decades of leadership advancing the state’s visitor industry and positioning Mesa as a nationally recognized destination.

“Induction into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame celebrates people who fundamentally change the industry, and Marc Garcia’s far-reaching impact on Mesa speaks for itself," said Alix Skelpsa Ridgway, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. "Through his unwavering commitment to increasing accessibility, strategic brand building and ongoing engagement with community stakeholders, Marc has positioned Visit Mesa both as a premier destination marketing organization and a leader within the Mesa community. We’re excited to recognize his lasting impact on Mesa and see what he does next.”

Garcia joined Visit Mesa as president and CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, booked room nights and related visitor expenditures have grown by more than 891%, while Visit Mesa's operating budget has increased by more than 300%. That growth has generated tens of millions of dollars in economic impact, supported thousands of jobs, strengthened local businesses and expanded opportunities throughout Mesa and across Arizona.

In 2019, Garcia led Mesa’s effort to become the nation's first Autism Certified City through a partnership with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The initiative grew from a personal mission into a model for accessible travel programs nationwide, with thousands of Mesa hospitality employees, city personnel and community members trained in autism awareness. Garcia also helped establish the Mesa For All foundation and guided partnerships with Wheel the World, Aira, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, Threshold 360, AbleVu, the Kyah Rayne Foundation and TravelAbility, positioning Mesa as one of the most accessible destinations in the country.

His statewide advocacy has included supporting the 2026 passage of Arizona legislation authorizing municipalities and counties to establish tourism improvement areas. The new law opens the door for lodging-supported investment in destination promotion, creating new opportunities to strengthen visitor demand, support local businesses and advance economic development across Arizona.

Before joining Visit Mesa, Garcia spent 15 years with Visit Phoenix, formerly the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau. He played a significant role in advocacy efforts that helped transform Phoenix Civic Plaza into today’s Phoenix Convention Center and bring the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown to the city’s urban core. Following the passage of SB 1070 and the resulting boycotts in 2010, Garcia also helped lead efforts to rebuild Arizona’s national reputation as a welcoming destination. Working for several years alongside The Real Arizona Coalition and other community and industry organizations, he helped restore confidence in the state and bring meetings and conventions back to Valley hotels and event venues. Garcia also helped lead regional hosting efforts for the NFL Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, WrestleMania XXVI and MLB All-Star Game.

“It is an absolute honor to be inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame and join a long list of leaders who have contributed to the growth of our state's visitor industry,” said Garcia. “Every campaign, partnership and program we've built over the years has been a team effort with staff, city stakeholders, community members, partners and other destination marketing organizations. From growing our city’s economic footprint to expanding what accessibility in travel can look like, I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and I'm grateful to work in an industry that keeps pushing destinations like Mesa to think bigger. There's still a lot ahead for Mesa and for Arizona's visitor industry, and I'm looking forward to being part of it.”

Garcia's leadership has earned recognition at the state, national and international levels. He received the 2023 Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure, the 2022 Destination Organization Leadership Award from Destinations International and the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association's 2022 Trailblazer Award. He was also named to PHOENIX magazine's Great 48 in 2023 and twice recognized as the Valley's Most Influential Visitor Industry Professional by AZ Foothills Magazine.

Stwertnik received the Rising Star Award, which recognizes emerging visitor industry professionals who demonstrate exceptional drive, determination and initiative in their work. As producer and host of the City Limitless® Podcast, she brings Mesa’s story to life through conversations with the people shaping the destination and notable guests visiting the city. The podcast recently earned a Telly Award and was named the big-market winner as the best Destination Social Media Account in the 2026 Arizona Travel Awards, presented by PHOENIX magazine.

Learn more about Visit Mesa and its destination marketing initiatives at VisitMesa.com.

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ABOUT VISIT MESA:
Visit Mesa is the official destination marketing organization responsible for positioning and promoting Mesa, Arizona, as a top regional destination for leisure and business travel. Learn more about Visit Mesa and its mission to promote the value and vitality of Mesa’s visitor economy to create a better community at visitmesa.com.

CONTACTS:
Zoey Knoebel, Communications Manager, Visit Mesa
Direct: 480-682-3654, E-mail:  [email protected]  

Alicia Boe, Director of Communications, Visit Mesa  
Direct: 480-825-7695, E-mail: [email protected]