Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541144
B M & T ••• November/December 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 17 P ortland's visitor economy is being steered by a leader who refuses to waver on principle. James Jessie, Chief Operating Officer of Travel Portland, oversees convention sales and services, marketing, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. While the national climate has shifted and new laws have sought to strip DEI from the public agenda, Jessie's vision is rooted in its permanence. For him, inclusion is not a political stance but the framework for a healthy industry and a thriving community. With more than three decades in hos- pitality leadership across Phoenix and Portland, he now applies that resolve to restoring confidence in a city tested by crisis. His steady focus comes into sharper relief as Portland prepares to host the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals in 2025, a stage where his commitment will be on full display. James Jessie's path to the helm of Travel Portland has been shaped not by ease, but by adversity. He calls himself "the right person in the wrong place," a phrase born of navigating industry storms that reshaped entire destinations. During his 18 years in Phoenix, Jessie confronted a statewide boycott sparked by discriminatory legislation. Years later, he carried those lessons into Portland just as the pandemic shut down meetings and erased the city's tourism momentum. For him, these moments were not setbacks but training grounds. Over three decades, Jessie has developed a philosophy rooted in foresight and endurance. He does not wait for crises to define a city's narrative. Instead, he leans on the discipline of open communication, collaboration, and the hard-earned trust of partners. "Every five or six years our industry is test- ed," he reflected, "and you have to be ready to lead from the front, not chase from behind." Now, only four months into his role as Chief Operating Officer, Jessie draws from that life- time of experience. Portland gains not a new face at the table, but a strategist forged by thirty years of challenges who knows how to turn recovery into opportunity. Few cities endured a more complex recovery than Portland. The pandemic arrived alongside social unrest, mag- nifying negative perceptions and leaving the city vulnerable to narratives it did not author. Jessie stepped into leadership with a clear-eyed view: restoring confidence would require honesty, coalition building, and measurable change. He and his team confronted those perceptions directly, acknowledg- ing the setbacks while uniting hoteliers, small businesses, civic leaders, and neighborhood advocates under a shared strategy. Eighteen months later, the shift is visible. Sentiment sur- veys that once registered doubt now trend upward, signaling regained trust. Jessie is careful to note that progress is not permanent. It requires vigilance and continued investment. "Our commitment had to be proven, not promised," he explained. That proof came in the form of transparent dialogue with stakeholders and a visible recom- mitment to safety, livability, and inclusion. Looking forward, Jessie defines success not in slogans but in sustained trust. If planners return next year to find Portland stronger than its pre-pandemic peak, he will meas- A CONVERSATION WITH J A M E S J E S S I E PORTLAND MEANS BUSINESS U N D E R BY ZYAN AVRAHAM J A M E S J E S S I E "We know our indus try is stronger when every voice belongs at the table."