CLEVELAND, Ohio -- David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, has been named the winner of the 2025 Leadership Award from City Nation Place, an international organization that supports tourism marketing and talent attraction efforts around the world.

Gilbert, who has led the region’s tourism bureau since 2011, was recognized for his work in “delivering a measurable impact on civic pride among Clevelanders across the city, demonstrating the value of a community-first approach to place branding,” said Clare Dewhirst, director of City Nation Place.

This is only the second time the London-based organization has presented the Leadership Award. The inaugural honor went to Maria Lypiatska, CEO of Brand Ukraine last year.

Cleveland attorney Jon Pinney, chair of Destination Cleve

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