Dan Stefanson is a tourism and hospitality professional whose leadership extends to some of British Columbia’s most influential tourism organizations. Over a 16-year career as a senior executive, Stefanson served four terms as chairperson of the B.C. Destination Management Organization Association, and two terms as treasurer of the Council of Tourism Associations of B.C. Appointed in 2014 as the vice-president of strategic services with Consumer Protection B.C., Stefanson is collaborating with a range of stakeholders on the provincial regulatory authority’s strategic business plan.
Experience
During his tourism and hospitality career, Stefanson served as the executive director of Northern B.C. Tourism, and in the same capacity for 11 years with Tourism Abbotsford, where he focused on the development of corporate strategy, long-term business and financial plans, annual marketing and facility management. Stefanson was part of the provincial taskforce that led to the formation of Destination B.C. His leadership in industry projects included the recent Fraser Valley destination development initiative between Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
During his tenure with Tourism Abbotsford, the organization received a B.C. Tourism Award for Community Sport Tourism Development. The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce further recognized Tourism Abbotsford as an Established Business of the Year, and the Tourism Industry Association awarded the organization a DMO Professional Excellence Award.
Education
2014
Senior executive industry program, focus on facility management
Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration
1993
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
University of Victoria