MPISCC Member Feature: Scott White

MPISCC: Tell us about YOU!

SW: I grew up in Monterey, California. Our neighbor had a boat, and I was lucky to go fishing on the weekends. When I was 14, I worked as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat, and then the next summer I worked on a charter boat. They were tough jobs, but great memories! During high school and community college I worked in restaurants and hotels. At 20, I was fortunate to get hired as a sales manager at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. My boss had no idea I wasn’t old enough to drink until we had our first client dinner together; she was quite embarrassed. She said, “Don’t tell the GM!” Fortunately, it wasn’t long before I turned 21. From there I moved to Palm Springs, California, and was on the opening team of the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort (it was a Stouffer back then). In 1996, I transferred to the Renaissance Madison Hotel in Seattle, Washington, as DOSM, where I had a great regional VP (Bob Lander) who joined the Phoenix, Arizona, CVB and recruited me into the CVB world. I was in Phoenix from 1998 until 2006.There, I was very fortunate to work for Dave Radcliffe and Steve Moore. While in Phoenix, I met my wife, Rachel. She had moved to Arizona from Scotland to work for Troon Golf. She now represents the Gleneagles hotel in Scotland. In 2006, we moved to San Antonio, Texas, where I had accepted a position as the executive director of the CVB. We loved San Antonio, but our hearts were out west in California. In 2010, we moved to Palm Springs—and love it! It is like an island resort destination, but instead of being surrounded by water we are surrounded by mountains. We love being outdoors: walking, hiking, golfing, and enjoying outdoor concerts. We also love to travel; it feeds the soul and keeps us grounded. We have always had rescue Labradors, and last year we rescued a black lab named Dexter. He keeps us moving and active!

MPISCC: How did you become involved with the MPI and the Southern California Chapter? What has encouraged you to stay involved?

SW: I got involved as a sales manager a long time ago! I still have friends from that era; many have moved around, but we all stay in touch. Our industry is so big, yet so small. I love the networking and education that MPI provides. I learn so much from the networking opportunities and sharing of experiences. I haven’t been as active in the past few years, since a lot time is dedicated to finding our organization new revenue streams and working with our nine cities.

MPISCC: What are your proudest moments or accomplishments?

SW: When we moved to Palm Springs, I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Rachel and I were matched with a 10-year-old boy named Joshua and his 11-year-old sister, Mia. Their father, Joe, was a single parent and needed help. I was fortunate to stay matched to Joshua until he graduated and encouraged him to considering serving in the military. After he graduated from high school, I connected him with a recruiter to learn more. Joshua has decided to join the Navy and will be deployed mid-November to Chicago. It was exciting to watch him grow up and make sound decisions about his future. Professionally, I am most proud of our team at Visit Greater Palm Springs. We have accomplished a lot together and feel we are helping our region succeed and grow to new heights.  
 

MPISCC: What advice would you share with new members about getting the most out of their membership?

SW: You get what you give. Be willing to share your ideas for success and help others along the way. I encourage and support all of our team members to be involved in MPI Chapters around the country.  Be honest and follow through on your commitments! 

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