What you need to know
According to a news release, Bass, a San Antonio native, has over 30 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, with having held key roles in major markets across New York, Florida and Texas.
Bass was first selected as interim president and CEO of Visit San Antonio in April. Prior to his term as interim president, Bass served as executive vice president and chief strategy officer since July 2024, having previously served for over five years, with his previous role as chief sales officer. During his tenure as executive vice president and chief strategy officer role, Bass oversaw five departments—Destination Sales, Destination Experience, Events, Membership and River Walk Operations.
Backstory
According to a news release, during his earlier tenure at Visit San Antonio, Bass achieved the highest annual room night production in the organization’s history, transformed the Destination Experience Department from a reactive resource into a proactive industry thought leader and capitalized on emerging business segments post-pandemic with a recovery deployment and engagement plan.
Prior to rejoining Visit San Antonio, Bass served as chief operating officer at Visit Orlando, where he managed internal operations, led and implemented strategic initiatives and developed annual business plans. Additionally, Bass built a robust, multi-market career in hotel sales and marketing with Marriott International.
Quotes of note
- “After thoughtful consideration of possible candidates, our Board of Directors is thrilled to announce Mario’s appointment to lead Visit San Antonio and our industry into a future of growth and evolution,” said Hope Andrade, outgoing chair of the Visit San Antonio Board. “Mario’s extensive experience in the tourism industry coupled with his deep understanding of our community and culture make him uniquely qualified to lead San Antonio’s tourism and hospitality through the current uncertain times, period of impressive local development and ensure long-term success.”
- "I’m grateful to the Board for their confidence in my vision to prioritize San Antonio’s greatest asset—our people—as we continue to elevate our home as a premier destination for both leisure and meetings,” said Bass. “San Antonio presents an exceptional blend of culture, history, cuisine, affordability, diverse accommodations and state-of-the-art convention options. Combined with our warm, welcoming community, the Alamo City truly stands out as a must-experience destination."
Visit San Antonio is a 501(c)6 and serves as the sales and marketing arm for San Antonio. In 2023, San Antonio welcomed approximately 35.6 million visitors.
Hospitality is one of the top five industries in the city, contributing $21.5 billion to the local economy annually and employing more than 147,000 residents.
For more information about Visit San Antonio, head over to VisitSanAntonio.com.
