Timothy R. Hemphill is the Chief Commercial Officer. In this capacity, Hemphill is charged with strategic planning and oversight of the event services, sales, marketing and communications initiatives for the Convention Center. A Certified Venue Professional, Hemphill has served over 30 years in the meeting, convention and travel industry that included the involvement with various types of destinations and the design and management of several public meeting facilities. He oversaw one of the largest CVB budgets in the country and received numerous awards for excellence in sales, marketing, and public relations and serves the industry on a variety of boards and committees.

During his fifteen-year tenure at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, he has been responsible for several unique initiatives including the acquisition of a UPS Store franchise, and launching a department to produce trade shows and conferences. Under his oversight ResCon, a global summit on resilience, was launched and most recently formed a partnership with the National Governors Association to co-produce the event. ResCon and the other owned shows are intended to fill need months and generate a new source of revenue.

Hemphill’s career in the industry also includes service with CVBs in Fort Worth and Beaumont, Texas; Bakersfield, California; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was selected as a delegate to the White House Conference of Tourism. Hemphill holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University. He is or has been an active member of Professional Convention Management Association, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Meeting Professionals International, Travel Industry Association of America and the American Society of Association Executives. He serves on the Board of the International Association of Venue Managers and is the Director for its Region 5. He is a past two-time President of the Board of Directors for the Skal International Club of New Orleans. In 2022, he was named to the CityBusiness “Power 20” list.