Nikki Gustafson, CFEM, CGMP
Nikki Gustafson, CFEM, CGMP, is the Director of Sales at the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she has dedicated over 13 years to promoting Greater St. Cloud as a premier destination for conferences, meetings, and large-scale events. She began her career journey at St. Cloud State University in central Minnesota, earning her degree in Public Relations and Travel & Tourism—a brand-new program at the university at the time. During her junior year, she took an internship at the Minnesota State-Run Travel Information Center, where she enjoyed interacting with travelers and sharing knowledge about destinations across the state. Her initial part-time work distributing visitor guides for the St. Cloud CVB eventually led to a full-time career at the organization, where she has worn multiple hats and gained comprehensive knowledge of the industry.
With over 20 years in hospitality and 12 years in sales, Nikki has developed deep expertise in destination marketing, client success, and event planning. She has built lasting relationships with area venues, hotels, and service providers, helping hundreds of meeting planners host events with 250+ attendees. Since stepping into her role as Director of Sales in 2021, she leads a small team of sales representatives, acting as both mentor and cheerleader while advocating for Greater St. Cloud as a top choice for conferences and meetings. Her leadership ensures that clients receive expert guidance throughout the planning process and that her team consistently exceeds expectations.
Nikki’s career has been marked by recognition and accolades, including the 2025 Sam Gilmer Supplier of the Year and MPI Minnesota Chapter’s Meeting/Event of the Year award. Beyond professional achievements, she is passionate about mentoring young professionals entering hospitality, fostering community connections, and championing the industry as a whole. Nikki combines her extensive knowledge, relationship-building skills, and enthusiasm for service to elevate both her team and the events she supports, while continuing to advocate for Greater St. Cloud as a vibrant and welcoming destination.
• Extension Courses- Festival & Event Management, Tourism and Travel Services Management
• St. Cloud State University - BS, Public Relations, Travel & Tourism
• 2025 Sam Gilmer Supplier of the Year Award (Society of Government Meeting Professionals - National)
• 2023 Rising Star Award (MPI Chapter)
• 2023 Meeting and Event of the Year Award (MPI Chapter)
• 2022 Top Young Professional for Government Meetings (Society of Government Meeting Professionals)
• MN MPI Volunteer of the Quarter
• Pandemic Compliance Advisor Certification
• SGMP 2019 President’s Award
• SGMP 2019 Supplier of the Year
• SGMP 2016 Supplier of the Year
• Festival and Event Management Certification
• SGMP 2015 Service Partner of the Year
• SGMP 2014 Spirit Award
• Leadership Graduate of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
• Society of Government Meeting Professionals
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
• Mental health advocacy - speaking with individuals and parents of adolescents struggling with mental health challenges
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my entire journey that it took to get to where I am today. I've been in the field for 21 years, and my entire career has been in hospitality and destinations. I started out distributing visitor guides and now I'm the Director of Sales, and I love advocating and mentoring for my team. I'm there to ensure that I manage monthly programming and event logistics as the Director of Education for MPI. I'm also a big advocate for the health and wellbeing and mental health with my teammates. Receiving the 2025 Sam Gilmer Supplier of the Year Award along with various chapter awards with MPI and the Society of Government Meeting Professionals has been validating. Sometimes it's hard for me to take a step back and be proud of my own accomplishments because I really like to just cheer on other people, but in that moment when I received the national award, it felt really good and validating that the work that I'm doing is making a difference. I absolutely love what I do and love helping others advance in their career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You can have a career in a field that you love and be successful with hard work and dedication.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can have a fun and healthy career in this field and be able to stay on top of your mental health.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Having been in this role for the past 21 years, I have navigated the evolving landscape of my field while striving for excellence, which has been recognized through honors such as the 2023 Rising Star Award from the MPI chapter and the 2022 Top Young Professionals for Government Meetings. Staying at the forefront requires me to continuously adapt, anticipate industry trends, and embrace opportunities for innovation, all while maintaining the high standards that my role demands.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being able to work hard in the field while also spending time with my family and friends is really important to me. I love listening to audiobooks, coloring, and reading as my escape. I'm a big advocate for mental health, both with my teammates and in my personal life, having gone through mental health challenges with my own kids. I believe in being the best parent you can be in the moment and supporting your child when they need you. I also value being a good advocate for the industry and mentoring young professionals who are just coming into hospitality.