The Pacific Northwest has long been celebrated for its breathtaking natural landscapes, thriving culinary scenes, and dynamic economic growth. At the heart of marketing this region to the world is Cliff Myers, a highly respected and innovative hospitality executive who currently serves as the President and CEO of Visit Vancouver WA. Under his strategic guidance, the city of Vancouver, Washington, has successfully transitioned from a quiet neighbor of Portland, Oregon, into a premier, standalone destination for leisure travel, sports tournaments, corporate conventions, and cultural tourism.
With more than two decades of executive experience in destination management, operational design, and strategic marketing, Cliff Myers in Vancouver, WA, represents the gold standard of modern tourism leadership. Known for his collaborative approach, commitment to team empowerment, and deep understanding of community-driven growth, his career offers an exceptional blueprint for economic development through destination branding. This comprehensive biography explores the early childhood, career milestones, personal life, and lasting legacy of one of Washington State’s most influential tourism visionaries.
Quick Biography
| Profile Aspect | Details |
| Full Name | Cliff Myers (CMP, CDME) |
| Profession | President & CEO of Visit Vancouver WA |
| Current Residence | Vancouver, Washington, USA |
| Primary Location Focus | Vancouver, WA & Clark County |
| Key Certifications | Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) |
| Former Roles | Director of Administration at Virginia Beach CVB |
| Estimated Net Worth 2026 | Retained as Private Professional Assets |
| Nationality | American |
| Industry Influence | Immediate Past Chair, State of Washington Tourism |
Early Life, Childhood, and Foundational Background of Cliff Myers
Long before managing multi-million dollar tourism budgets, Cliff Myers learned the core principles of hard work, adaptability, and personal accountability through humble beginnings. His very first entry into the workforce was as a dishwasher at Piccadilly Cafeteria. This foundational experience instilled in him a profound, lifelong respect for the food service and hospitality industries. He has frequently advocated that working in a restaurant environment is a transformative experience that teaches invaluable human skills, problem-solving, and operational patience.
During his formative years and throughout his early career development, Cliff Myers cultivated a strong connection to family. He shares a close bond with his father, who resides in the Seattle area, making his eventual professional transition to the Pacific Northwest a meaningful homecoming. This blend of structured family values and practical, entry-level service work helped build the relational intelligence that defines his executive style today.
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An interesting and quirky highlight from his childhood and youth is his unique physical coordination—he proudly maintains that he still knows how to ride a unicycle, a fun testament to his persistent, balanced, and adventurous outlook on life.
Career Beginnings and the Virginia Beach Foundation
Before shaping the tourism landscape of Clark County, Washington, Cliff Myers spent more than 14 years rising through the ranks at the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in Virginia. His tenure in Virginia Beach served as a masterclass in destination marketing scale, public-private sector partnerships, and multi-faceted operational management.
At the Virginia Beach CVB, Myers proved himself to be a versatile asset across several high-impact roles:
- Convention Sales Manager: Directing targeted outreach to bring large-scale regional and national associations to the coast.
- Assistant General Manager: Stepping into operational oversight, refining infrastructure logistics, and expanding stakeholder networks.
- Director of Administration: Serving on the executive leadership team where he mastered strategic planning, corporate finance, human resource governance, and executive policy creation.
By combining his sales expertise with strict administrative, fiscal, and organizational discipline, he positioned himself as an elite choice for destination marketing organizations nationwide looking for visionary leadership.
Executive Leadership: Becoming the President & CEO of Visit Vancouver WA
In August 2019, following a rigorous national talent search led by an enthusiastic board committee, it was officially announced that Cliff Myers had accepted the role of President & CEO of Visit Vancouver USA (now branded as Visit Vancouver WA). Stepping into the position officially in September 2019, Myers inherited an agency poised for massive growth amid regional waterfront redevelopments.
As the chief executive, Myers coordinates the comprehensive management of both the Tourism Office and the Vancouver USA Sports Commission. His executive responsibilities include:
- Budget Development and Fiscal Oversight: Maximizing tourism marketing investments using public lodging taxes and private stakeholder funds.
- Community and Government Relations: Aligning city, county, and state legislative goals with local economic development initiatives.
- Destination Stewardship: Promoting sustainable travel that protects local heritage while driving immediate economic returns for small businesses.
When he took the helm, Board Chair Mike McLeod praised Myers for his thorough professionalism, distinct visual clarity for the brand, and unmatched enthusiasm for the Pacific Northwest destination.
Overcoming Global Industry Hurdles and Strategic Transformations
The true measure of any executive is how they handle unprecedented disruption. Just months after Cliff Myers arrived in Vancouver, WA, the global travel and tourism industry faced a near-total shutdown due to the health crises of 2020.
Instead of retreating, Myers engineered an agile recovery framework focused on hyper-local tourism and community resilience. He leveraged regional marketing campaigns like “Dine the Couve” to stimulate immediate economic relief for local restaurateurs, boutique hotels, and independent storefronts. By positioning Vancouver as an accessible, safe, and vibrant drive-market alternative to larger metropolitan hubs, he kept visitor spending active when national travel was stagnant.
Deepening Topical Authority: Strategic Milestones and Regional Integration
The successful transformation of a secondary travel market into a primary regional hub requires structural foresight. Under the leadership of Cliff Myers in Vancouver, WA, the local destination marketing organization (DMO) transitioned its messaging to fully capitalize on massive infrastructure expansions along the Columbia River.
By closely aligning marketing campaigns with major regional developments, such as the multi-million dollar Vancouver Waterfront project, Myers successfully re-anchored the city’s tourism identity. Rather than positioning Vancouver as merely an affordable lodging alternative to Portland, Oregon, his strategic messaging highlighted the city’s exclusive Pacific Northwest assets: a walkable urban waterfront, a boutique wine and craft brewery scene, and direct historical depth via the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Pivotal Destination Projects Under Executive Supervision
- The American Empress Partnership: In March 2022, Cliff Myers, alongside Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, officiated the launch of the Pacific Northwest river cruise season. Serving as the primary homeport for the American Empress riverboat, Vancouver secured a highly lucrative footprint in the premium overnight cruise sector, drawing thousands of high-spending travelers through the Columbia River gorge.
- Academic and Community Collaboration: Proving a deep commitment to sustainable industry talent pipelines, Myers and his team partner actively with higher education. In early 2026, Myers collaborated with Washington State University Vancouver (WSU Vancouver) marketing programs. By assigning real-world destination management scenarios—such as creating strategic fan experiences for regional international sporting events—Myers directly integrated fresh academic perspectives into actionable marketing pipelines.
- The FIFA Fan Zone Development: Demonstrating elite-tier organizational positioning, Visit Vancouver WA facilitated the integration of market data and local infrastructure to prepare the region for massive global footprints, capitalizing on Washington State’s positioning as an official host region for major sporting festivals.
State-Level Industry Influence and Regional Board Governance
Beyond his daily responsibilities guiding Clark County tourism initiatives, Cliff Myers acts as a vital voice for the broader Pacific Northwest tourism economy. His extensive experience in destination management led to his appointment to the executive leadership team of State of Washington Tourism (SWT).
Within this statewide framework, Myers advanced to serve as the Immediate Past Chair of the organization. In this governance role, he has actively collaborated with key industry stakeholders across the state to guide destination management, promote environmental stewardship, and maximize structural legislative advocacy.
Professional Accreditations and Industry Standards
An essential element of Cliff Myers’ professional profile is his rigorous commitment to industry education and standardized excellence. He holds two of the most prestigious designations achievable within the global hospitality and travel fields:
- Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME): Recognized as the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement, this credential focuses on advanced strategy, cross-functional leadership, and complex community governance.
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP): A globally recognized mark of excellence in convention sales, meeting design, and large-scale event logistics, which directly supports Vancouver’s capacity to win competitive bids for corporate conventions and state associations.
The Financial Framework: Understanding the Economic Impact and Net Worth of Tourism Initiatives
When the community searches for data regarding Cliff Myers’ net worth or executive compensation, it is important to analyze the parameters through a public administration lens. As the executive leader of a non-profit 501(c)(6) destination marketing organization, his professional financial footprint is tied to public accountability, transparent governance, and the overall volume of the regional tourism economy.
Rather than looking at personal wealth, industry analysts evaluate a DMO director’s value based on the Total Economic Return on Investment (ROI) generated under their leadership.
| Key Economic Indicator | Multiplier Impact under Strategic Leadership |
| Lodging Tax Optimization | Direct conversion of transient lodging taxes into hyper-targeted marketing campaigns. |
| Small Business Stimulus | Visitor spending distributed directly into local restaurants, independent retail, and transport. |
| Job Creation & Retention | Sustaining thousands of hospitality, food service, and recreational jobs across Clark County. |
Through the maximization of group sales leads—such as the 68 new corporate and association pipelines developed through recent community marketing initiatives—the fiscal health of the region remains highly secure under his oversight.
Personal Life, Community Integration, and Everyday Lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is central to Cliff Myers’ executive philosophy. Living and working in the Pacific Northwest allows him to fully immerse himself in the lifestyle that his organization markets to the world. He is an avid appreciator of the region’s diverse culinary landscape, regularly supporting local coffee roasters, farm-to-table diners, and local culinary events that give Vancouver its distinct flavor.
His personal values are deeply tied to community engagement, open accessibility, and mentorship. Whether he is reviewing data with university students, testifying on regional economic initiatives, or networking with local hoteliers on the Visit Vancouver WA Board of Directors, he approaches his role as a hands-on community partner. This grounding ensures that the growth of Vancouver’s tourism sector remains respectful of the local residents’ quality of life.
What Lies Ahead for Visit Vancouver WA under Cliff Myers?
As the tourism sector looks to the future, the strategic roadmap designed by Cliff Myers prioritizes continuous innovation, deep market diversification, and tech-driven visitor engagement. By positioning Vancouver, Washington, as a premier destination for green travel, sports tournaments, and riverside business conventions, his office continues to outpace traditional regional growth benchmarks.
Through a meticulous balance of administrative skill, passion for hospitality, and structured state-level collaboration, Cliff Myers has firmly established himself as a definitive architect of modern Pacific Northwest tourism. His journey—from managing the fast-paced environment of a restaurant dishwashing station to guiding the multimillion-dollar economic trajectory of Clark County—serves as an enduring inspiration for the next generation of hospitality executives nationwide.
