Shaun Yates tapped to lead tourism development efforts
Oklahoma City (May 28, 2026) – The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber announces the selection of Shaun Yates as the new senior vice president of tourism development. As SVP, Yates will have a significant role in leading the Visit Oklahoma City (Visit OKC) work, which is a key priority of the Greater OKC Chamber.
“This leadership position plays a critical role in advancing Oklahoma City’s visitation economy and supporting more than 35,000 hospitality jobs across our city,” said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater OKC Chamber. “Shaun’s expertise has elevated Oklahoma City as a convention destination, and he is the right leader for this era of growth for our city.”
Yates provides continuity in building on OKC’s momentum.
“After speaking with Convention & Visitor Commissioners, Chamber executive committee, city leadership, and key industry and civic stakeholders, it is clear that Shaun’s steadiness and diverse background will fuel continued continued advancement of our tourism priorities,” said Gillenwater. “More than 24 million annual visitors invigorate our local economy and generate tax revenue that supports our city while enhancing the quality of life for residents. I’m excited to witness Shaun’s future contributions in shaping our vibrant community.”
Yates has served as Visit OKC’s vice president of convention sales & services for the past three years, bringing large-scale meetings and conventions to Oklahoma City by promoting the destination’s wide range of new and growing convention offerings. He brings 25 years of hospitality and convention industry experience, with a background spanning hotel sales, catering and convention services.
After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Yates began his career in hospitality and went on to hold sales leadership roles at top-tier convention and resort properties, including the Waldorf Astoria Orlando & Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Caesars Palace and Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, among others. He also spent seven years in Austin, TX, working at a downtown convention hotel and later served as director of sales for Kalahari Resorts & Conventions.
“We have tremendous momentum in Oklahoma City,” said Shaun Yates, senior vice president of tourism development. “From hosting elite sports and equine events to our growing convention and leisure visitation, I look forward to continuing to amplify awareness of our destination as we build on the success of our dynamic team and industry partnerships.”
With several significant tourism drivers on the horizon, such as the OKC Thunder’s NBA Playoffs and the LA28 Olympic Games, coupled with new venues and tourism assets breaking ground, OKC is rising as a global destination. Yates will be instrumental in maximizing these opportunities and driving the destination forward.
About the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is the vision-setting organization of the region and drives economic growth and vitality by uniting business leaders to foster collaboration, belonging and regional prosperity. As the voice of the OKC business community for more than 135 years, the Chamber supports its members and the region through a varied body of work, including economic development, education, government relations and promoting OKC as a first-class visitor destination. The Chamber’s family of brands includes Visit Oklahoma City, Greater Oklahoma City Partnership, OKC Sports, Life Science Oklahoma and OKC Film & Creative Industries.
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