Susan Valen

Susan Valen offers a wide range of experience and expertise in the meetings,

events, tourism, and visitor industry. With several decades of experience, Susan

started her career working for the family’s bus transportation company learning

all areas of the business, and found her passion in sales. After the business was

sold, Susan went to work in hotels as a sales manager with a focus on the

international inbound travel markets and had the opportunity to travel to

Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and Asia representing hotels in

the Anaheim / Buena Park area. When the owner of Planet Hollywood was

looking for someone to start a group sales division, Susan was hired as the first

Marketing Director and challenged to develop tour marketing programs in

addition to managing celebrity events, movie premiers, and other high-profile

events. As someone that thrives on starting new projects, Susan was hired by the

Improv Comedy Clubs to develop their group sales efforts for three locations.

After that, she returned to the hotel business working for Hilton Hotels & Resorts

and Marriott Hotels in various sales roles in Southern California and Arizona.

Susan has been self-employed as a Meeting & Event Planner and spent several

years as a National Sales Director with the Long Beach Convention & Visitors

Bureau representing the destination to city-wide convention, sporting,

association, and corporate groups. She solidified the city selection and contracting

for the convention center and multiple hotels generating positive economic

impact in the city from a multitude of customers and organizations.

Susan is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and is a member of SITE – Society

of Incentive Travel Excellence and has been involved with the Southern California

chapters of PCMA and MPI as a member and committee volunteer.

An Orange County native, Susan enjoys spending time outdoors horseback riding,

beach time with her dog Lillie, golfing, hiking, and yoga. She supports the

Surfrider Foundation; Red Bucket Equine Rescue and is an equestrian volunteer

for the L.A. County Sheriffs Equestrian Posse with her horse Sassy. Her adult son

Austin is an Animation Artist for Walt Disney Animation Studios and lives in

Burbank.