Mayor Walsh announces new director of tourism, sports and entertainment

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Ken Brissette will serve as Boston’s new Director of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment. The announcement was made this past Saturday evening, at the 2014 Men’s Event to benefit Fenway Health.

“I’m pleased to welcome Ken Brissette to the economic development team,” said Mayor Walsh. “Brissette has the experience and public and private sector contacts to attract new energy and investment in the City of Boston and invite the world to experience our city.”

“I’m honored and excited to market such a lively and robust city,” said Brissette. “Boston is already host to hundreds of top notch events, but there are more opportunities to bring new attractions that will further enliven the City.”

In his role, Brissette will work to bring major athletic and cultural events, conventions and conferences to Boston, and aggressively market the City nationally and internationally. The newly-created position is reflective of Mayor Walsh’s campaign promise to separate the City’s tourism strategy from its arts and culture strategy so each can focus on their respective missions.

Brissette brings more than a decade of municipal marketing and tourism experience to the job. Since 2007 Brissette has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. In his position he worked with the Massachusetts Sports Partnership and Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau to attract the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship, the Women’s Frozen Four, the National Governor’s Conference, and the annual Gay & Lesbian Travel conference to Massachusetts, boosting the state’s national and international visitor profile.

Brissette also has experience inside the tourism industry. From 1995-2001 he worked at several companies focused on travel industry marketing, management and business development. In these positions he developed tour programs, and directed tours throughout the South Pacific, Canada, and the United States.