Visit Fort Worth, the DMO that represents the 10th-largest city in America, has named Mitch Whitten as its president & CEO. A 13-year veteran of Visit Forth Worth, Whitten has been its COO for the past five years.
With the retirement of Bob Jameson, Whitten takes the helm at a critical moment for the Fort Worth’s meetings and hospitality industry: The Fort Worth Convention Center is in the midst of a $700 million expansion and renovation that’s expected to be finished in 2030.
Hired by Jameson in 2013 to lead the DMO’s marketing team, Whitten helped shape the city’s destination brand and elevate Fort Worth among meeting and convention planners, visitors and industry partners. Whitten and Jameson worked closely together as Whitten took on expanded leadership responsibilities over time.
“After a significant national search, Mitch was the clear choice to lead Visit Fort Worth,” said Susan Alanis, Visit Fort Worth’s board chair who led the search committee. “His track record in putting Fort Worth on the map through innovative marketing and organizational leadership will serve us well in the years ahead.”
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“This is an important moment for Fort Worth, and I am proud of the team we have assembled to accelerate our progress on the national stage,” Whitten said. “The city’s investments in the convention center and in other hospitality venues and attractions create a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver jobs and support local business.”
Convention Center Project Details
Phase 1 of the Fort Worth Convention Center modernization, completed in December 2025, was a $95 million expansion that added various food and beverage facilities, an atrium-style southeast entrance, and four new loading docks. It also realigned Commerce Street to accommodate a future convention hotel.
The centerpiece of Phase 2 coming in 2030 is a new, four-story glass structure featuring a central tower, an elevated ballroom and native green spaces. This addition will nearly double the center's exhibit space (presently 208,000 square feet) and meeting space (presently 59,000 square feet). The iconic 1968 arena, dubbed the "flying saucer," is slated for demolition in early 2027 to clear space for the new building.
The convention center will remain fully operational throughout the duration of the project. The massive overhaul is funded in part by a hotel occupancy-tax increase approved by voters in mid-2024.
