For nearly 100 years the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau has worked on behalf of its members to promote San Francisco as the destination of choice for conventions and leisure travel. The Bureau is an outgrowth of the San Francisco Convention and Tourist League, a non-profit, local business association founded in 1909 to reclaim the City's position as a world-class destination in the wake of the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire.

The Bureau continues that mission today, aggressively marketing and selling San Francisco to attract visitors. The Bureau is a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)6 membership organization, headed by a Board of Directors made up of 45 business leaders from various companies, elected by the membership. Additionally, in 2003, the Bureau established a 501(c)3 foundation to raise scholarship funds for students enrolled in local hospitality management programs and to produce educational programs.

In 2006, San Francisco hosted 15.8 million visitors who spent $7.8 billion during their stay - that's more than $21 million a day. That makes tourism one of our most important industries.

Some 1,800 Bay Area businesses are Bureau members making our membership base one of the largest of any convention and visitors bureau worldwide. Members also make the Bureau one of the largest and strongest business associations in San Francisco. Member companies partner with the Bureau in selling San Francisco as a destination for domestic and international association and corporate meetings planners and group and individual travelers - efforts that help make San Francisco a vibrant place to do business.