Director of Sales
Arlington Convention and Visitors Service
Portia Conerly is a highly accomplished leader in tourism, travel, and economic development, with over two decades of experience spanning sales, transportation, and event logistics. A native of New Orleans, Portia began her career as a Sales Manager for New Orleans Tours, where she quickly distinguished herself through her leadership, team development, and problem-solving skills, ultimately holding various management roles for nearly a decade.
In 2002, Portia relocated to Virginia and became Operations Manager for The Convention Store, overseeing large-scale events and transportation logistics across the Washington, DC, Virginia, and Baltimore region. She managed business relationships, wrote bid proposals, and tailored solutions for clients, and continues to serve as a trusted advisor to the company.
Portia later joined the Arlington Convention and Visitor Center as a Visitor Counselor, where her expertise and dedication led to her promotion to Senior Destination Sales Manager. Currently, she serves as Director of Sales and Visitor Services for Arlington County, representing the region at conferences and trade shows, and driving new business opportunities both domestically and internationally.
Her achievements include being named Sales Manager of the Year, lead booking manager in transportation, and recipient of the Arlington Economic Development Director’s Award for outstanding performance. Portia holds a degree in Mass Communications and Marketing from the University of New Orleans.
Residing in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband Ado Conerly, Jr., Portia is active in her community as a Sunday school teacher and as a member of the NTA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group.
