Jack Ferguson

Jack Ferguson has 40 years experience in the hospitality business. As executive vice president for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), Ferguson oversaw a staff of 25, which includes the sales and the convention services departments. In 2011, he began serving his elected term as PCVB  President & CEO.

As the sales and marketing arm for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, each year, the PCVB Convention Division includes sales and services. Under Ferguson’s leaderhsip, the PCVB has booked nearly $1 billion in Pennsylvania Convention Center business and 700,000 room nights into Philadelphia area hotels.

Ferguson was instrumental in partnerships with Select Greater Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to connect conventions with local business opportunities. He also spearheaded a Bring it Home campaign, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, to encourage local decision makers to bring meetings and conventions to Philadelphia. In calendar year 2009 an investment of $135,000 in marketing has yielded $4.7 million dollars in business booked from the campaign. Ferguson has also worked to maximize international attendee participation.

An entrepreneur, Ferguson’s career has seen him head national and international sales staffs of 2,200 sales people for such companies as Promus Hotel Corp., Doubletree Hotels, and Guest Quarters Suite Hotels. He previously served as senior vice president and partner of LearnSystem, which has the capability to deliver to hundreds of thousands employed in the hospitality industry to improve job performance and customer service skills via web-based training and evaluation.

Ferguson served as co-chair of the regional branding program that led to positioning the 11-county region as Forever Independent. He was also responsible for driving the PCVB's 2007 Strategic Plan, which resulted in From 30,000 Feet: A Strategic Plan to Take Philadelphia's Hospitality Industry to New Heights, 2008-2012.

In addition, Ferguson has held key executive sales and operational management positions with Westin Hotels & Resorts and Adam’s Mark Hotels & Resorts.

A native of Philadelphia, Ferguson received degrees in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Paul Smith’s College in New York. He continued his executive education at Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Ferguson and his wife, Jo, reside in Upper Gwynedd, PA. They have three adult children.

Memberships include: Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Planners International (MPI), and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).

Also, Ferguson is currently serving on Destination Marketing Association International's (DMAI) Sales & Marketing Committee and is on the board of Widener University’s School of Hospitality Management. In 2008, Ferguson was a Cabinet Member of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.