Executive Team
David Whitaker
President & Chief Executive Officer
(305) 539-3001For more than three decades, David Whitaker has distinguished himself as a respected industry leader, both in the communities he has served, and on the global travel, tourism and convention industry stage.
Named President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2021, the appointment was a homecoming for Whitaker, who previously held GMCVB leadership positions from 1990 to 2007. As Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, he is credited with accelerating the GMCVB’s efforts to build and execute successful marketing strategies, each year growing domestic and international travel to the destination. During his time as CMO, Miami’s “brand” as a lifestyle destination skyrocketed.
As a veteran of the destination’s tourism and hospitality industry, Whitaker has been at the forefront of attracting renowned events and marquee initiatives to Greater Miami and Miami Beach, from helping Miami secure and host Super Bowls in 1995, 1999 and again in 2007, to hosting two U.S. Travel Association IPW Global Conferences in 1994 and 1999.
In 2026, Miami will be a host city to over a dozen marquee events including the College Football Playoff National Championship, the National Hockey League Winter Classic, the World Baseball Classic, seven (7) FIFA World Cup matches in June and July and the return of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway this fall. The GMCVB directly assisted in the bidding and logistical planning of each.
Miami will be featured with its 4th annual Michelin Guide in 2026. Bon Appétit named Miami as their “Food City of the Year” in 2022 and Tavel & Leisure magazine promoted Miami as its top food city in 2025. All this underscores Whitaker’s commitment and the GMCVB’s role in positioning Miami-Dade County as a true “live, work, and play” destination for visitors and residents alike. Under Whitaker’s leadership, the GMCVB has also taken on significantly increased responsibility to successfully market and book future conventions and events at the newly imagined and expanded Miami Beach Convention Center including the new 800-room Grand Hyatt set to open and begin hosting major conventions in 2028.
In 2025, Greater Miami and Miami Beach hotels enjoyed the fourth highest ranking nationally in terms of “Revenue Per Available Room” which is a combination of occupancy and average daily rate. Year-to-date in 2026, Miami has maintained this momentum and continues to grow.
The GMCVB has had the responsibility of developing leads, initiating bids and supportive sales efforts to secure future bookings of conventions, tradeshows and events to be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center and dozens of host hotels.
The sales goal for 2026 is to secure eighteen (18) future large conventions or tradeshows combined with the current 20-plus conventions and tradeshows that meet annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The GMCVB also collaborates with dozens of partners, event planners, organizations and major event promoters seeking to do business in Miami.
The GMCVB launches major advertising campaigns, public relations and promotions, international engagement with tour operators and travel suppliers, all designed to generate awareness and stimulate travel to Miami-Dade County and its 34 municipalities.
Previously, the industry veteran served as President & CEO of Choose Chicago, President & CEO of Tourism Toronto, and Chief Marketing Officer for Brand USA. He began his professional career in Miami serving on the Executive Staff of the United Way of Miami-Dade.
Throughout his career, he’s been honored for many accomplishments, and more importantly, those of the destinations he represented: in Chicago, where he promoted and sold the largest convention center in the U.S., the destination was named in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards as “Best Big City” to visit an unprecedented five consecutive years; in Toronto, both the visitors bureau and convention center were voted North America’s best.
Committed to both his community and industry, Whitaker currently serves or has served in leadership roles on the boards of US Travel, the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Orange Bowl Committee, Florida TaxWatch, Camillus House, Curley’s House of Style, Kristi House, Neat Streets Miami and South Florida Workforce Investment Board.
Whitaker is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication & Public Relations; he is an avid boater and long-time supporter of the performing arts; and resides in South Miami with his wife Lily.
Rolando Aedo, CDME
Chief Operating Officer
(305) 539-3090Rolando Aedo has been a senior staff member of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) since 1994. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and works closely with the President and CEO on all operational aspects of the GMCVB including governmental relations and stakeholder engagement and support.
As the acting Chief Marketing Officer, he also leads the overall marketing strategy and brand development to drive consumer and business demand for Greater Miami and the Beaches as a preferred destination for vacation, meetings, conventions and major events. He also oversees several areas that help drive private revenue to the organization including an 1,100-member partnership division.
Mr. Aedo has degrees from Miami-Dade College and Florida International University and an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami. He is also a Certified Destination Management Executive and was recognized as one of the top 25 “extraordinary minds” in sales and marketing by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia to Cuban parents, he came to Miami at a very early age where he has spent most of his life and is professionally and civically active. He currently serves on the boards of the Miami Dade County Taxi Advisory Group, Miami Bayside Foundation and the Education Fund among others.
Joseph Yarzabal, C.P.A.
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
(305) 539-3090JYarzabal@GMCVB.com
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has named Joseph Yarzabal chief financial officer and senior vice president. The long-standing industry veteran now joins senior leadership at Miami-Dade County’s official destination marketing organization, reporting directly to President & CEO David Whitaker and the GMCVB’s Finance Committee and 38-member board of directors.
“Joe has always been an important advantage for our organization,” said Whitaker. “He’s not only seen the destination become what it is today, he’s been instrumental in the financial stability and success of the GMCVB. It’s a privilege working alongside him in this new chapter.”
Yarzabal, who most recently served as vice president of financial services, joined the GMCVB in 1990 as director of financial services. Throughout his tenure, he’s overseen development and management of the 1,000-member organization’s accounting policies and internal controls, ensuring the GMCVB maintained its financial management obligations and clean audit findings of more than 30 years. An experienced member of GMCVB senior management, Yarzabal has also helped lead the finance team through significant industry challenges, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992, 9/11, 2008’s global financial crisis and the recent COVID-19 pandemic recovery. Miami has been his home since he was a young child. The Miami-Dade College graduate went on to receive Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and hotel, food & travel services from Florida International University and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1991. He is also a member of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Travel & Tourism Advisory Council and serves as treasurer for the Black Hospitality Initiative.
Gisela Marti
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Tourism
(305) 539-3080
GMarti@GMCVB.com
Gisela Marti is Senior Vice President of Marketing & Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), where she leads the strategic direction for global leisure and convention marketing for Greater Miami and Miami Beach.
With more than three decades of experience in travel and hospitality, Gisela oversees integrated marketing disciplines including brand strategy, creative development, digital platforms, social media, content strategy and advertising. She manages GMCVB’s global representatives, internal teams and agency partners, guiding multi-channel campaigns that drive visitation, strengthen the destination’s global brand and support Miami-Dade County’s tourism economy.
Gisela champions digital innovation across the organization, including the advancement of data-driven marketing, emerging platform strategy and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence tools within marketing operations.
Since joining GMCVB in 2007, Gisela has held multiple leadership roles across the organization. She previously oversaw the membership division, led global leisure sales strategy and served as Miami International Airport’s tourism liaison, supporting international air service development and strategic airline partnerships. Prior to GMCVB, she spent 20 years with a major cruise company in progressive sales leadership roles, developing global market strategies and cultivating international trade relationships.
Gisela pursued business studies at Miami Dade College. Her career reflects a deep commitment to experiential storytelling, cross-cultural engagement and the continued growth of Miami as a world-class global destination.
Professionally and civically active in the community, Gisela is passionate about travel, art history and cooking, and enjoys exploring global cultures through cuisine and cultural heritage.
Carol Motley
Senior Vice President, Convention Sales & Services
(305) 539-3020Carol Motley joined the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau as Senior Vice President of Convention Sales & Services in 2021. She is excited to lead the team as it works to bring meetings and conventions to the Reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center and other amazing venues in Greater Miami & Miami Beach.
She has nearly 30 years of direct experience selling convention and meeting destinations for CVBs, convention centers and hotels during her distinguished career.
Carol relocated to Miami from Washington, DC, where she served as Director of Convention Sales at Destination DC for seven years. She and her team developed sales programs to foster a strong relationship between Destination DC and the hotel community, as well as the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, to yield the maximum number of events and room nights for the city to generate positive economic impact.
Prior to that, she was the Senior National Account for Visit Orlando for five years. She was responsible for strategically placing citywide business in the Orange County Convention Center. Her focus was on soliciting new and repeat business from the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia markets.
Before joining Visit Orlando, Carol was Senior Sales Manager for the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, where she was responsible for all citywide business. She has also served as Director of Sales for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and National Sales Manager for the Baltimore Convention Center.
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Carol is a graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Studies with a concentration in Business. She is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
Connie Kinnard
Senior Vice President, Multicultural Tourism & Development
(305) 539-3123Connie W. Kinnard is Senior Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). Ms. Kinnard leads the department’s efforts in promoting multicultural neighborhoods, attractions, and events in Miami. The Multicultural & Tourism department not only leads efforts internally, but under Connie's leadership, the department spearheads business development programs for small businesses around tourism capacity building along with a cultural program called Art of Black Miami. Art of Black Miami is a marketing platform that highlights all forms of art, artists and galleries in Miami that touch the African Diaspora. Her portfolio has expanded to include oversight of the GMCVB’s non-profit the VIC which focuses on scholarship, education and talent development. This non-profit has an executive director, but Connie’s role is to serve in a general leadership capacity on behalf of the GMCVB with the VIC to maintain internal and external alignment.
Connie has worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years and holds a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She is active with numerous civic/service organizations and has served on various professional boards or participated in volunteer organizations throughout her career to include Destinations International (Foundation Board, Social Impact and Governance committees), Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Christian Community Services Inc., National Museum of African American Music, Nashville City Club, Women of Tomorrow, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Prior to joining the GMCVB in 2015, Ms. Kinnard worked for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (NCVC) for 19 years and held the position of SVP of Multicultural Sales & Development. She also served administratively as the National Museum of African American Music’s, Chief Administrator respectively from 2003-2008 in addition to but in tandem with her responsibilities at the NCVC.