Christopher Baum is Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB), where he oversees a staff of 20 trained professionals.

A graduate of Cornell University, Baum spent 25 years in senior sales and marketing positions at Westin Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels and Sonesta Hotels & Resorts before moving into the movie theater business, as Vice President, New Business Development for National Amusements, and publishing, as Director of Travel Advertising for Conde Nast’s iconic magazine, The New Yorker. He joined the DMCVB in April of 2006.

A hot rod/muscle car/auto racing fan since the early 1960s, Baum created Detroit’s famous promotional vehicle, “The D-Rod”, shortly after arriving in Michigan. A classic 1932 Ford hot rod powered by a modern 525 horsepower Chrysler Hemi, The D-Rod has been featured in both Street Rodder and Car & Driver magazines, as well as at Autorama, Detroit’s North American International Auto Show and numerous displays promoting the attractions and events of the MotorCities National Heritage Area.

Baum is also co-creator, with MotorCities, of Autopalooza, Detroit’s summertime celebration of all things automotive, and is responsible for bringing HOT ROD Magazine’s Power Tour back to metro Detroit in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

He lives in Rochester Hills with his wife and three children.

Chris Baum
Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
211 W. Fort St. #1000
Detroit, MI 48226
www.visitdetroit.com