Chief Executive Summit

When Winter Storm Fern forced the cancellation of the original January dates for the 2026 Chief Executive Summit, the decision was clear — and incredibly difficult. With a Level 3 Snow Emergency in place and travel prohibited, safety had to come first. But what happened next speaks volumes about this community. The response from Sports ETA members was immediate and overwhelming: Reschedule it. We heard you. Thanks to the strength of this community — and the extraordinary partnership of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Hilton Columbus Downtown — we are excited to announce that the 2026 Chief Executive Summit has been rescheduled for June 1–3, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. A Summit Worth Coming Back For This year’s Chief Executive Summit was on track to be our largest yet, with record registration and an energy that reflected the momentum of our industry. That momentum hasn’t gone anywhere. The rescheduled Summit will...

It is with great disappointment that we must share an important update regarding the 2026 Chief Executive Summit in Columbus. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency earlier today, and city and county officials have issued strong warnings regarding grave risks to public safety associated with Winter Storm Fern. In addition, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office cautioned the possibility of declaring a Level 3 Snow Emergency, meaning roadways are closed and travel is prohibited unless absolutely necessary. Based on these conditions and out of an abundance of caution, Sports ETA has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 Chief Executive Summit. This decision is especially heartbreaking given the enthusiasm surrounding this year’s event. We were truly looking forward to gathering in Columbus for a Summit that had achieved record registration turnout, reflecting the strength, engagement, and momentum of our Chief Executive community. This was ...

CINCINNATI (February 4, 2025) – The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, announced today a new partnership with Team Travel Source, a leader in tournament housing for youth sports, and software company EventPipe as the official housing technology and services providers for Sports ETA events. Under the partnership, Team Travel Source will serve as the Housing Services Provider, managing customer service and support for Sports ETA members and event attendees. EventPipe will act as the Housing Technology Provider, supplying the platform for booking online reservations and streamlining the housing management process. Events included in the agreement are the 2025 Sports ETA Symposium in Tulsa, the 2025 4S Summit in Annapolis, MD, the 2026 Chief Executive Summit (location TBD) and the 2026 Women’s Summit in Phoenix. “We’re excited to work with Team Travel Source and EventPipe to e...

We are excited to announce the release of our Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the following Sports ETA events:    Chief Executive Summit - 2026    Chief Executive Summit - 2027    4S Summit - 2027 We invite qualified organizations to submit proposals for these prestigious events. Below are brief details about each event:   Chief Executive Summit Years: 2026 & 2027 Description: The Chief Executive Summit is Sports ETA’s premier event for executive level leaders in the sports tourism industry. This event equips executive leaders with the tools necessary to advance their organization's mission. CEOs of sports destinations, industry partners, and sports events are invited to learn from industry experts addressing high-level topics, including office culture, operations and leadership, crisis management, achieving goals, and more.   4S Summit Year: 2027 Description: The 4S...

SAN JOSE (February 22, 2024) — The 2024 Sports ETA Chief Executive Summit, the intersection of sports leadership and technology, wrapped up here yesterday and shattered records with an unprecedented turnout of the top leaders in the sports events and tourism industry. Hosted by the San Jose Sports Authority, it wasn't just an event – it was a pulsating celebration of the synergy between sports tourism, professional development, and the transformative impact on communities and economies. Sports events and tourism leaders representing CVBs, sports commissions, rights holders, and industry partners gathered from February 20 and 21 to share trends and learn best practices on various topics, including technology, business, and management. Attendees enjoyed an evening at the SAP Center, where they were surprised with an appearance by NFL legend and Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. Not only did he pass around his impressive collection of rings, but he also shared the im...

We are excited to release our Request for Proposal (RFP) to partner and host the Sports ETA Chief Executive Summit in 2023 and 2024.  VIEW RFP The last day to submit a proposal is February 28, 2022. About the Chief Executive Summit CE Summit equips Sports Events and Tourism C-level executives with the tools necessary to advance the mission of their organization. CEOs of sports destinations and sports events are invited to learn from subject matter experts addressing high-level topics including office culture, leadership and management, crisis management, and achieving goals to name a few. The intimate setting is geared toward open dialogue and exchanges among high-level peers. Questions? If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Janis Breedlove.

Are you the president, CEO, or executive director of your organization? If so, we want to see you in Las Vegas this January at the 2022 Chief Executive Summit! What is the Chief Executive Summit? The CE Summit equips Sports Events and Tourism CEOs with the tools necessary to advance the mission of your organization. CEOs of sports destinations and sports events are invited to learn from industry experts addressing high-level topics including office culture, leadership and management, crisis management, achieving goals, and more. REGISTRATION Sports ETA Member Rate: $499 Non-Sports ETA Member Rate: $699 (contact info@sportseta.org to register) The registration deadline is January 21, 2022. Register Now HOTEL The Signature at MGM Grand 145 Harmon Avenue  Las Vegas, NV 89109 The online reservations portal will open on December 1, 2021. The hotel room block closes on December 27, 2022. Official accommodations for the 2022 Chief Executive&n...

Women’s Summit: March 31 - April 2, 2021 hosted in San Antonio, Texas Sports Facilities Summit: April 26-27, 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama  Symposium: April 26-29, 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama 4S Summit: October 19-21, 2021 in El Paso, Texas The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) announced today its 2021 slate of programs, which includes four signature events designed to bring the national membership and sports events and tourism industry leaders together for educational and networking opportunities. The Women’s Summit, planned for March 31-April 2 hosted in San Antonio, Texas, is developed by top female leaders in the sports events and tourism industry to help women achieve their career goals. Attendees will take away tools and resources to elevate their personal brand and become more valuable to their organization. Registration is open now: https://www.sportseta.org/events/womens-summit The Sports ETA Symposium, which will be...

CINCINNATI (March 20, 2020) – Sports ETA,  the association for the sport tourism industry, announced its revised schedule of 2020-21 programs to bring the national membership and sports events leaders in the industry together for educational and networking opportunities.   The Annual Symposium has been moved to August 2-5, 2020, remaining in Kansas City, Missouri, and will bring hundreds of sports events and tourism professionals and industry partners together to exchange resources, strategies and more. The Symposium features dozens of education sessions, networking opportunities, and business development discussions, all to help Sports ETA members elevate their sports events and improve their work in their destinations. Registration for 2020 is open. The 2021 Annual Symposium will be held April 26-29 in Birmingham, Alabama.   Attendees can focus on the four S’s of sports events and tourism: strategy, service, sales, and sponsorship at this year&rsqu...

Leaders in the world of sports events and tourism just wrapped up another great Chief Executive Summit in Louisville. These great minds came together to address topics of leadership management, business strategy, and crisis management, all while getting to know the city of Louisville and their colleagues. “Leadership is a constant learning process and our industry executives can benefit from top business professionals,” said Al Kidd, President and CEO of Sports Events and Tourism Association. “Our Chief Executive Summit gave sports tourism leaders and executives the chance to hear from others in business and learn best practices from leaders in higher education, horse racing, and technology, among others.” One of the highlights of the Summit was keynote speaker Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, president of the University of Louisville. She discussed principles of leadership and management styles. Jonathan Paris, the executive director of sports tourism at Visit M...