[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11960]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF THE CAREER OF STEVE HAMMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2017

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Steve Hammond 
on the occasion of his retirement as CEO of Visit Sacramento, the City 
of Sacramento's innovative tourism bureau. I ask all my colleagues to 
join me in honoring Mr. Hammond for his leadership and commitment in 
the community to promoting Sacramento and refining its image as a 
tourist destination.
  Since being appointed to the position of CEO in 1999, Mr Hammond has 
overseen a hugely successful campaign to re-brand Sacramento as a major 
attraction to visitors. He has encouraged businesses to hold events and 
conventions in Sacramento, capitalized on the city's sports and 
entertainment opportunities, and spearheaded an inventive campaign to 
brand Sacramento as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital. By taking advantage 
of Sacramento's unique location in the heart of California's Central 
Valley, Mr. Hammond launched a movement that has revitalized 
Sacramento's restaurant scene and boosted business for local hotels and 
farmers.
  In great part due to Mr. Hammond's dedication to his agency, Visit 
Sacramento's budget has grown from $2 million to $11 million, and its 
staff has more than doubled. In addition, Mr. Hammond is an 
extraordinarily active member of the community: He sits on the Boards 
of the Sacramento Downtown Partnership, the Sacramento Metropolitan 
Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Regional Sports and Education 
Foundation, and the Sacramento Hotel Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand to pay tribute to Steve Hammond, outgoing CEO of 
Visit Sacramento, as his friends and colleagues celebrate his well-
earned retirement. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring his 
tenacity and dedication on behalf of the people of Sacramento, as well 
as his creativity in building up my beloved hometown as a destination 
for business, food, and culture.

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