San Francisco Peninsula Tourism Update

John Hutar is President and CEO of the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In March 1997, Hutar moved to the Bay Area from Chicago to become the Vice President/General Manager of the Hotel Nikko San Francisco. While at Hotel Nikko, he was a Board Member of the San Francisco Convention
and Visitors Bureau, S. F. Chamber of Commerce, and the Hotel Council of San Francisco where he served as president from 2002-2004. Hutar served as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia for the State of California from 2001-2006. Recognizing his many industry accomplishments, in 2006, the Hotel Council of San Francisco honored him with their coveted “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Hutar’s career path then took him to the world of gaming with MGM Mirage, returning to the Bay as General Manager of the Sofitel in Redwood Shores, the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco and Dinah’s Garden Hotel in Palo Alto. During his tenure as General Manager of the Sofitel and Dinah’s Garden Hotel, Hutar joined the Board of the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau where he served as chair in 2015. In May 2019, Hutar took on the duties of President and CEO of the Bureau.

Hutar is passionate about all things music and loves exploring San Mateo County’s diverse food scene. He and his wife Lisa have three adult children and reside in Burlingame, CA.