John LaFortune

President & CEO, Team San Jose

Tourism and Hospitality Columnist

Columns contributed fourth Monday of every month

John LaFortune is the president & CEO of Team San Jose and oversees all facets of business at the economic development organization.

He leads Visit San Jose, the official destination marketing organization for the city and the surrounding Silicon Valley region. In addition, LaFortune heads up venue management strategies for the city-owned San Jose McEnery Convention Center and the collection of performing arts and cultural facilities known as the San Jose Theaters.

LaFortune previously served as the COO of Team San Jose and has over 30 years of hospitality experience, 25 of them with Hilton properties across the country. Before working in San Jose, LaFortune was the VP of operations at Highgate, overseeing the company’s diverse hotel brand portfolio in California and Hawaii. LaFortune holds a B.A. from Chico State University in Sociology and Business.

Originally from Anaheim, LaFortune spent his latest and longest hotel tenures in San Francisco and, together with his wife, has raised his now adult children in the Bay Area for over 20 years. LaFortune is an avid baseball fan and has a personal goal of visiting all MLB ballparks in the nation.

Columns

November 25, 2024November 25, 2024by John LaFortune

LaFortune: San Jose makes the best whiskey sour in the world

This holiday season, Visit San Jose, in partnership with Vine Hospitality, is telling the story of San Jose through your taste buds — for a limited time only. We are proud to introduce San Jose’s first-ever signature drink, The San Jose Sour, created with Silicon Valley innovation and a nod to our city’s rich agricultural...

Columns

October 28, 2024October 25, 2024by John LaFortune

LaFortune: San Jose is scary

As we officially start our roll into the long holiday season, it is my pleasure to point out just how quirky, funny, joyful and creepy San Jose can be. This month, let’s have some Halloween fun and visit some scary places we love. If you haven’t been in a while, it is time to go...

Columns

A group of people stand outside wearing bright safety vests

September 23, 2024September 20, 2024by John LaFortune

LaFortune: Team San Jose’s new position focuses on community

Team San Jose’s staff traditionally concentrated our communications and conversion efforts on groups and travelers from across the state, the country and around the globe. When we host the world’s most influential thought leaders, change-makers and companies in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, they make a huge impact on our local economy and, in...

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