Loren Christie brings more than 30 years' experience in tourism and hospitality to his role as Managing Director of BestCities Global Alliance. In this role, he works with 13 premier destinations and their community of clients and partners as they collaborate to ensure that business events are a force for positive impact.

Previously, he held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17-year career there, including Director of Sales for International Congress, Business Transient and Leisure Sales at the Toronto Metro Market. From 2017 to 2020, Loren moved to Destination Toronto, the destination management organization for Canada's largest city, where he led the International Congress and Canadian sales teams.

For the past five years, Loren has also run his own consulting and project management company, working with clients including IAPCO, #Meet4IMpact and Canada's Queer Chamber of Commerce. He sits on the Technical Advisory Committee for the GDS and is the Vice-Chair of the Board for Ontario's Regional Tourism Organization 9. Loren is also a recognized TV personality in Canada appearing as the travel contributor on CTV's Morning Show for the past 25 years.