Discover Long Island CEO Kristen Reynolds poised to lead Chicago tourism group
Discover Long Island CEO Kristen Reynolds speaks at an event last March in Melville. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Long Island’s top tourism official is in line to lead Chicago’s convention and tourism bureau.
Kristen Reynolds, CEO and president of Discover Long Island, said Friday that she plans to leave the Island after nearly 10 years and has interviewed to become CEO and president of Choose Chicago.
“Choose Chicago is still in the process of finalizing the position, so until then I can only confirm that I’m a candidate,” Reynolds told Newsday. “I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to represent one of the most iconic and dynamic tourism destinations in the country.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has agreed to Reynolds’ hiring after initially supporting his economic development chief in a hiring process that pitted the mayor against the city’s business community for months, according to a reportby the Chicago Sun-Times last week.
A Choose Chicago representative told Newsday on Friday that a leadership announcement would be forthcoming.
“We’re still in the final stages of our process,” said spokeswoman Cynthia McCafferty.
Choose Chicago has been without a permanent CEO since the January 2024 resignation of Lynn Osmond. She was paid $546,065 in 2023, according to the nonprofit's federal income tax return.
Discover Long Island paid Reynolds $267,650 in the same year, based on its tax return.
Choose Chicago, also known as the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, is among the largest tourism promoters in the country, with yearly revenue of $33 million, according to its spokeswoman. Discover Long Island has yearly revenue of about $5 million, based on its tax return.
Mitch Pally, chairman of the Discover Long Island board of directors, said it was only natural that Reynolds would want to move to a larger market.
“It’s a great move for her professionally. They are one of the leading tourism promotion groups in the country,” he said.
Reynolds’ decision to leave Long Island comes about 18 months after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman cut the county's ties to Discover Long Island, saying the agency was promoting Suffolk County more than Nassau. His administration then transferred a $1 million tourism promotions contract to the Glen Head advertising firm RRDA LI Inc.
Pally said on Friday, “The Nassau County situation was not at play here."
Reynolds was hired by the old Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission in 2015 from a field of more than 80 candidates. She had been working in Arizona for years, including as senior vice president of the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, according to the hiring announcement.
Long Island, after New York City, is New York State's top tourist destination. Visitors spent $7.5 billion in 2023 and supported more than 76,000 jobs, according to the most recent data from the consulting firm Tourism Economics.
Under Reynolds, Discover Long Island has used data from Tourism Economics and other sources to promote the region's attractions to visitors from out of state. The group has a podcast featuring Reynolds and chief operating officer Sharon Wyman, a mobile app and YouTube channel, a mobile visitors center and an online store stocked with merchandise with the "Long Island: Where You BeLong" advertising slogan.
Long Island’s top tourism official is in line to lead Chicago’s convention and tourism bureau.
Kristen Reynolds, CEO and president of Discover Long Island, said Friday that she plans to leave the Island after nearly 10 years and has interviewed to become CEO and president of Choose Chicago.
“Choose Chicago is still in the process of finalizing the position, so until then I can only confirm that I’m a candidate,” Reynolds told Newsday. “I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to represent one of the most iconic and dynamic tourism destinations in the country.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has agreed to Reynolds’ hiring after initially supporting his economic development chief in a hiring process that pitted the mayor against the city’s business community for months, according to a reportby the Chicago Sun-Times last week.
A Choose Chicago representative told Newsday on Friday that a leadership announcement would be forthcoming.
“We’re still in the final stages of our process,” said spokeswoman Cynthia McCafferty.
Choose Chicago has been without a permanent CEO since the January 2024 resignation of Lynn Osmond. She was paid $546,065 in 2023, according to the nonprofit's federal income tax return.
Discover Long Island paid Reynolds $267,650 in the same year, based on its tax return.
Choose Chicago, also known as the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, is among the largest tourism promoters in the country, with yearly revenue of $33 million, according to its spokeswoman. Discover Long Island has yearly revenue of about $5 million, based on its tax return.
Mitch Pally, chairman of the Discover Long Island board of directors, said it was only natural that Reynolds would want to move to a larger market.
“It’s a great move for her professionally. They are one of the leading tourism promotion groups in the country,” he said.
Reynolds’ decision to leave Long Island comes about 18 months after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman cut the county's ties to Discover Long Island, saying the agency was promoting Suffolk County more than Nassau. His administration then transferred a $1 million tourism promotions contract to the Glen Head advertising firm RRDA LI Inc.
Pally said on Friday, “The Nassau County situation was not at play here."
Reynolds was hired by the old Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission in 2015 from a field of more than 80 candidates. She had been working in Arizona for years, including as senior vice president of the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, according to the hiring announcement.
Long Island, after New York City, is New York State's top tourist destination. Visitors spent $7.5 billion in 2023 and supported more than 76,000 jobs, according to the most recent data from the consulting firm Tourism Economics.
Under Reynolds, Discover Long Island has used data from Tourism Economics and other sources to promote the region's attractions to visitors from out of state. The group has a podcast featuring Reynolds and chief operating officer Sharon Wyman, a mobile app and YouTube channel, a mobile visitors center and an online store stocked with merchandise with the "Long Island: Where You BeLong" advertising slogan.
James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.
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