Board Member, Appointed by Mayor, City of San Diego
Daniel Kuperschmid is the President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), leading the organization’s strategic efforts to position San Diego as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, leisure and business visitors and international travelers.
Board Member Kuperschmid joined SDTA in March 2025 following a distinguished 30-year career with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Global Asset Management, based in Chicago. From 2018 to 2024, he was Area Vice President and General Manager of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, overseeing operations at the 1,628-room landmark hotel, as well as the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, the Andaz Scottsdale Resort, and five additional Southern California properties.
Over the course of his career, Board Member Kuperschmid has held leadership roles at Hyatt properties across the United States, including in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and California. He also served as Regional Vice President of Sales for Hyatt Hotels in Chicago, overseeing sales strategy and performance for 23 properties along the West Coast. His expertise spans sales and marketing leadership, revenue growth, executive team development, large-scale hotel renovations and enhancing customer and employee satisfaction.
A dedicated and engaged business leader, Board Member Kuperschmid has played an active role in the communities he has served. He sits on the board and committees for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. He is a past Chair of the SDTA Board of Directors (2019-2023) and has served on the boards of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District, California Hotel & Lodging Association, San Diego County Lodging Association, San Diego Working Waterfront, Reality Changers, and Collins College at Cal Poly Pomona. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise to advisory committees for the San Diego Convention Center expansion (Measure C), Experience Scottsdale, and Northern Arizona University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.
The Mayor of San Diego appointed Mr. Kuperschmid to the Board on March 17, 2026, for a term ending on January 31, 2027.
Lydia Ball – Board Member – Appointed by Mayor, City of San Diego
Whitney Benzian – Board Member – Appointed by South County Mayors
Daniel Kuperschmid – Board Member – Appointed by Mayor, City of San Diego
Monica Montgomery-Steppe – Board Member – Appointed by the Chair of the Board of Supervisors
Rafael Perez – Board Member – Appointed by the Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Esther Sanchez – Board Member – Appointed by North County Coastal Area Mayors
James Sly – Interim Board Chair – Appointed by East County Area Mayors
Steve Vaus – Board Member – Appointed by North County Inland Mayors
Marni Von Wilpert – Board Member – Appointed by Mayor of San Diego with San Diego City Council confirmation
Ex Officio Members:
Ann Fox – Ex-Officio Member
Col. Erik Herrmann – Ex-Officio Member
Michele Perrault – Ex-Officio Member
Atif Saeed – President & Chief Executive Officer
Amy Gonzalez – General Counsel
Lee Parravano – Chief Auditor