Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
In the vibrant world of tourism, few voices are as compelling as Leslie Wright's. Appointed President and CEO of the Minneapolis Northwest Tourism Board (MNTB) in early 2023, with more than two decades of experience in the industry, she is redefin- ing the landscape of travel and tourism in the Minneapolis Northwest region. Wright's dynamic leadership and deep understanding of tourism's impact on local economies and communities make her uniquely qualified to guide Minneapolis Northwest (which includes Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Maple Grove) into a new era, post- COVID-19. Wright brings a much valued blend of experi- ence, vision, and passion. A Veteran in the Tourism Industry Before taking on her current position, Leslie Wright spent 23 years at Marriott International, working in multiple sec- tors and roles, with the majority of her time focused on sales. It was her success in sales that ultimately brought her to Minneapolis, where she became the Director of Marketing and City Sales at the Marriott in Minneapolis. However, the constant moving took a toll on her family, and she started pondering her next career move. With a husband and a child, she decided that she didn't want to keep relocating for work, so when an opportunity arose at Meet Minneapolis, the city's convention and visitors bureau, she embraced it. Wright took on the role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Services, where she remained for under five years. After a brief pause to reflect on her career direction, Wright realized she wanted to be more connected with the community and made the shift to the nonprofit sector. She accepted a role as Director of Community Engagement at Greater Twin Cities United Way, where her passion for community service was ignited. She enjoyed five fulfilling years working on a variety of nonprofit projects but eventually felt the pull to return to the sales side of business. This led her to Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she served as Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations for nearly four years. After leaving that role in April, Wright again took time to consider her next move, debating whether to retire or pur- sue something more passion-driven. "It's what younger peo- ple do, and older people are like, 'nobody has ever given me that opportunity.' And I wanted to take that opportunity," she reflects. Though her pause was supposed to last until the end of the year, the opportunity to lead Minneapolis Northwest Tourism came up, and Wright decided to go for it. "I thought, 'I'd be crazy not to.' If I didn't get it, no harm, no foul, but if I did, it would be a tremendous accomplishment," she says. She land- ed the position of President and CEO, serving the communi- ties of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. "One of the great things about Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center is the diversity in the nonprofits, the community at large, and the local government, where we promote tourism. I'm getting the best of both worlds." Minnesota's Tourism Post-COVID-19 Minnesota's long winters, compounded by the impact of COVID-19, led to a devastating blow to the tourism industry. With 19 Fortune 500 companies halting most travel, vibrant downtown areas and communities shifted to remote opera- tions. The restaurant, hospitality, and tourism sectors suffered BY ZYAN AVRAHAM B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 15 23 years at Marriott International, working in multiple sec tors and roles, with the majority of her time focused on sales. It was her success in sales that ultimately brought her to Minneapolis, where she became the Director of Marketing and City Sales at the Marriott in Minneapolis. However, the constant moving took a toll on her family, and she started pondering her next career move. With a husband and a child, she decided that she didn't want to keep relocating for work, so when an opportunity arose at Meet Minneapolis, the city's convention and visitors bureau, she embraced it. Wright took on the role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Services, where she remained for under five years. realized she wanted to be more connected with the community and made the shift to the nonprofit sector. She accepted a role as Director of Community Engagement at Greater Twin Cities United Way, where her passion for community service was ignited. She enjoyed five fulfilling years working on a variety of nonprofit projects but eventually felt the pull to return to the sales side of business. This led her to Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she served as Vice President of Development B Z A A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H L E S L I E W R I G H T : S H A P I N G T H E F U T U R E O F M I N N E A P O L I S N O RT H W E S T T O U R I S M