In this special edition of What One Thing?, Smart Meetings flips the script and “interviews” the city of San Francisco by talking with two of the people who define its spirit. First, Anna Marie Presutti, CEO of SF Travel, shares her journey from Midwest roots to boutique hotels, culminating in her leadership of the city’s destination marketing efforts. She discusses how San Francisco shaped her as a leader, why inclusivity has always been the heart of the city and the surprising Charles Barkley moment that turned into a powerful lesson in civic pride. Presutti also highlights the city’s resurgence, from Union Square’s revival to major events like the World Cup, Super Bowl and the strongest convention season since the pandemic.
Then, we hear from Gary Murakami, vice president of global sales and industry relations at Teneo Hospitality Group and a longtime champion of Northern California’s hospitality community. Murakami reflects on why San Francisco has always been his “North Star,” how its neighborhoods and hotels continuously reinvent themselves and why authenticity and belonging remain the city’s greatest assets. Together, their perspectives offer a vibrant portrait of a place that is constantly evolving yet unmistakably itself.
Host: JT Long
Producer: Eming Piansay
