April 20, 2026
Arts, Culture, and Tourism: Exploring the Feel of a Community
For the second-to-last seminar of the 2026 Impact program, the cohort spent the day exploring Arts, Culture, and Tourism and the elements that help shape the identity, energy, and feel of a region.
Hosted at the new Arts District Liberty Station space, the day began with a welcome from Lisa Johnson, President and CEO of Arts District Liberty Station, who introduced the cohort to the organization’s work and vision for cultivating creativity, connection, and community in San Diego. Arts District Liberty Station continues to serve as a hub for artists, cultural organizations, and community engagement in a place layered with history and possibility.
The morning opened with a presentation from Gaby Gonzalez Martinez of the Policy & Innovation Center, who shared findings from the region’s Creative Economy report. The report found that the creative industries generate $10.8 billion in economic impact and support nearly 170,000 jobs across the county. It analyzed 71 creative industries, showing how arts and culture are not just enriching parts of civic life, but also major economic drivers.
From there, the cohort moved into an arts and culture panel moderated by James Haliday, VP & Chief Advancement Officer for Arts District Liberty Station, and featured Bilal Bikile, Founder & Curator, Deixis Gallery; Thao Huynh French, Muralist and Educator, Co-Founder of Mindful Murals; and Juan Carlos Ruiz, Project Manager, obrARCHITECTURE, a Lionakis Company.Together, the panel reinforced that arts and culture are not extras in a thriving region, they are central to how people experience belonging, expression, and place.
After lunch, the focus shifted to tourism and the many ways San Diego welcomes and serves visitors while also supporting residents, jobs, and local business ecosystems. Leaders from the tourism industry shared how San Diego’s appeal as a friendly, accessible, and experience-rich destination translates into real economic impact. San Diego’s hotel market led California in occupancy in 2025. At the same time, the San Diego Convention Center continues generating major regional returns despite being smaller than some peer facilities; in fiscal year 2025, Convention Center events generated an estimated $1.6 billion in regional impact.
The tourism panel, “Visiting America’s Finest City,” was moderated by Colleen Anderson, Executive Director, San Diego Tourism Marketing District, and featured Letty Canizalez, Vice President of Sales, San Diego Tourism Authority; Rip Rippetoe, President & CEO, San Diego Convention Center; and Fred Tayco, Executive Director, San Diego County Lodging Association. Their conversation highlighted how tourism supports hospitality jobs directly while also fueling the broader ecosystem of restaurants, attractions, venues, transportation, and neighborhood businesses that benefit from visitor activity.
The final presentation of the day came from Mark Neville, President and CEO of Sports San Diego. Mark shared both the history of the organization and his own professional journey, from starting as an intern to now serving as CEO. His remarks brought humor and candor, along with memorable stories from along the way, including being unexpectedly asked to announce a rugby game and finding creative ways to use sports as a driver of tourism and regional pride. His story illustrated how leadership often grows through saying yes, staying curious, and being willing to evolve with opportunity. Sports San Diego continues to position major sporting events as a key part of bringing visitors to the region and showcasing San Diego on a world stage.
To close the day, Lisa Johnson and 2025 Impact graduate Kate Rubalcava led the cohort on a walking tour through the Arts District. They introduced the cohort to tenants, shared stories behind the murals and buildings, and highlighted opportunities for collaboration across the district.
This seminar reminded the cohort that arts, culture, and tourism are not separate from civic life, they are deeply tied to how a region expresses itself, builds connection, creates jobs, and invites people in.
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