Philadelphia native, author and Visit Philadelphia President/CEO Jeff Guaracino died Dec. 28, following a long battle with cancer. He was 48.
Guaracino worked to boost the economies of both his hometown and Atlantic City as head of the region’s official tourism marketing agency, Forbes noted. Since 2018, he was not only in charge of drawing visitors to the city’s landmarks, hotels, and restaurants, but was known around the world as an advocate for LGBTQ tourism.
In a statement, Mayor Jim Kenney called Guaracino “a fierce champion and promoter of his hometown.”
Guaracino’s family announced his passing in a Facebook post Dec. 29, stating that he died peacefully at home in Society Hill.
He wrote travel articles for many publications, including Windy City Times. In addition, he wrote 2007’s Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide to Marketing; and 2017’s Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice, a collaboration with Ed Salvato.