Experience Scottsdale President & CEO Rachel Sacco has been an integral part of the highly regarded Arizona destination marketing organization since 1986.

She joined the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce that year to lead its tourism division, which became the convention and visitors bureau in 1987. In 2001, Experience Scottsdale – then known as the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – officially separated from the Chamber to become a stand-alone, non-profit organization with Sacco as its first president and CEO.

Over the years, Sacco has been inducted into Scottsdale’s History Hall of Fame, the Arizona State University College of Public Programs’ Alumni Chapter Hall of Fame, the Arizona Governor’s Tourism Hall of Fame, and the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. She has been named one of the “50 Most Influential Women” by Arizona Business Magazine, and Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine recognized her as one of the most successful women leading destination offices in the U.S.

She has also been recognized for her community service and leadership in the city, being awarded the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Volunteer Legacy Award, Scottsdale Rotary Club’s Corporate Club Member Service Above Self Award, and Scottsdale Leadership’s Drinkwater Leadership Award.

Sacco is a national board member for the U.S. Travel Association, and also serves on the executive committee of the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association and the boards of directors of the Fiesta Bowl, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Charro Foundation.