Visit Pasadena Appoints New National Sales Manager

Jessica Arredondo joins the organization to help expand meetings, conventions, and group business in Pasadena.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Hotels

Bold vector editorial illustration depicting a sunlit architectural plaza with a fountain, representing convention hospitality in Pasadena. — Visit Pasadena has appointed hospitality veteran Jessica Arredondo as its new national sales manager to boost convention and group event attendance. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support prioritizing local marketing to attract conventions and large group business to your city?

Visit Pasadena has named industry veteran Jessica Arredondo as its new national sales manager. She will lead efforts to attract conventions and group events to the city by coordinating with local lodging and meeting facilities.

Why it matters

The appointment aims to boost group tourism and convention attendance in Pasadena. Arredondo will leverage her experience to build relationships with meeting planners and maximize the use of the city's event infrastructure.

Pasadena features 2,700 total hotel rooms citywide, including 1,650 rooms located within walking distance of the 130,000-square-foot Pasadena Convention Center.

The players

Jessica Arredondo

She is the newly appointed national sales manager for Visit Pasadena with two decades of experience in the hospitality sector.

Visit Pasadena

This is the official destination marketing organization tasked with promoting Pasadena as a location for tourism, meetings, and conventions.

The details

Arredondo brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to the role, having previously generated $4 million in annual revenue as a senior sales manager at The Westin Long Beach. She will be responsible for managing key industry partnerships and coordinating with local properties to draw more business to the region.

Arredondo started her career at Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport in 2004.
Arredondo joined The Westin Long Beach in 2009.
Visit Pasadena recorded 42,316 definite room nights during fiscal 2025.
The hiring of Arredondo was officially announced on October 20, 2026.

Travel Outlook

This appointment aligns with the post-pandemic recovery of the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector. By securing experienced talent, Pasadena aims to maintain competitive positioning against other regional destinations vying for convention business.

Business travelers and event organizers can expect more integrated service offerings between the Pasadena Convention Center and local hotels as the new leadership takes hold. Meeting planners looking to secure dates for large-scale events in the city should monitor updated availability calendars for upcoming fiscal cycles.

The takeaway

Success in the group travel market often depends on the strength of long-standing professional relationships within the industry. By hiring a manager with a proven $4 million track record, the city is signaling a strategic pivot toward aggressive revenue growth in its convention sector.