Meet the VWS Sales and Services Team: Christian Schroeder
Get to know Visit Winston-Salem's Senior VP of Sales and Services, Christian Schroeder!
With over 20 years of experience in tourism and hospitality, Christian is dedicated to promoting the greater Winston-Salem area as a premier destination for meetings and conventions, group tours, and sporting events. He volunteers with several industry and community organizations and is a past president of the Körner's Folly Foundation and Meeting Professionals International-Carolinas Chapter.
He is a recipient of the Meeting Professionals International-Carolinas Chapter Hall of Fame Award and the Winston-Salem <40 Leadership Award. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing and watching sports, and attending music and theatrical performances.
Where is your hometown and college alma mater?
I have lived in Winston-Salem most of my life. I was raised in Winston-Salem, left to attend Appalachian State University, and after graduation, lived in South Carolina. After 8.5 years, I returned home to Winston-Salem and was amazed at the investment and transformation of downtown. There are so many things to explore and delicious meals to enjoy!
What’s a major win on the horizon for meetings and conventions in Winston-Salem?
The Benton Convention Center had a record revenue year, and we are excited about the clients’ desires to make Winston-Salem, home for their programs by signing multiple-year agreements. We have conventions booked into 2030 and have proposals being considered through 2035.
What are your top recommendations for team-building activities in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has a strong creative community, and we are fortunate to offer a variety of team-building activities. Some popular ones that have been enjoyed by teams of all sizes at Graylyn or in our downtown are scavenger hunts, geocaching, craft draft crawls, sip & paints, and Segway tours.
What’s an authentic Winston-Salem experience you recommend to first time visitors?
There are too many to just pick one!
- Visit Winkler Bakery- located within Old Salem Museums & Gardens- for some Moravian cookies and sugar cake
- Explore, shop, and stroll at Reynolda House and Reynolda Village
- Enjoy an outdoor movie or live performance at Bailey Park while admiring our downtown skyline, including the iconic Reynolds Building—now Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
- Art Crush in the Downtown Arts District
- Beer school at Foothills Brewing
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