CVBs

Charles Ahlers has announced that he will retire his position as president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau at the end of the year. Ahlers has served as president of the bureau since 1992. He had worked for the VCB as a convention sales manager early in his career, from 1972-79, before working for CVBs in Phoenix, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. He will stay involved with the Anaheim/Orange County VCB as an advisor.

Jeffrey Hentz has been appointed president and CEO of the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Hentz most recently served as the executive director of Destination Yosemite and the Mariposa (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Bill Bohde senior vice-president of sales and marketing. Bohde has 39 years of sales and marketing experience in the hospitality industry and was most recently vice-president of convention sales at the Kansas City (Missouri) Convention & Visitors Association. Prior to that, he was director of marketing at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.  

The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Lorne Edwards director of sales. Edwards spent the past 16 years with the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, most recently as director of sales and marketing for two Boston-area hotels. His background also includes working as associate director of sales at the Hyatt Regency/Denver at Colorado Convention Center. 

The Albuquerque (New Mexico) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two recent appointments. Tom Caradonio has been named senior director of sales, and Serena Sullivan has been promoted to national sales manager for the Southeastern U.S. and SMERF markets. Caradonio was previously president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Sullivan was previously the Albuquerque bureau’s sales support manager. 

LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, has appointed Nancy McFadyen national director of hotel sales for the Midwest. McFadyen spent the past three years as a senior national sales executive for Visit Orlando in Florida. Prior to that, she was senior sales manager for the five Hilton Hotels in Chicago.

The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Yvette Orozco to the position of national sales manager. Orozco has been with the organization for seven years, where she has worked as executive assistant to the executive director and as an account technician. She also formerly worked at the Omni La Mansion del Rio Hotel on San Antonio’s River Walk. 

Visit Charlotte (North Carolina) has appointed Ned Blair national sales manager. Blair worked previously for the Delaware Tourism Office as tourism development leader for meetings and conventions. 

The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Tracy Jackson as national sales manager for the Midwest. Jackson has held previous sales positions with the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale; the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix; and the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

James Sabatier has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Destination Hotels & Resorts. Previously, Sabatier was a senior executive with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. And, prior to that, he was a senior member of the investment banking division for Montgomery Securities. He succeeds Charles Peck, who has retired after leading the company for 15 years.

The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, has appointed Stuart Williams as its new executive vice-president of sales and marketing. Williams, who is also president of the Greenbrier Lifestyle Asset Group—which produces the resort’s own series of executive-level conferences—was most recently a full-time adviser to a private family and its portfolio of companies. 

Hilton Worldwide has appointed Sherry Romello as senior director of Hilton meetings and product management. Romello previously served as vice-president of meetings and conventions for the National Association of Convenience Stores. 

The Fairmont/Chicago-Millennium Park has appointed Mark Huntley as general manager. Huntley first joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1986 and has been resident manager of the Plaza Hotel in New York City; regional vice-president and general manager of the Fairmont/San Francisco; and regional vice-president and general manager of the Savoy Hotel in London. 

Charles Beirne has been named general manager of the Long Beach (California) Convention & Entertainment Center. Beirne, who was previously the center’s interim general manager, has also worked as regional general manager for the Atlantic City (New Jersey) Convention Center and as interim general manager for the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.  

The Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona, has named David Yamada general manager. Yamada has more than 15 years of hospitality experience and most recently managed the Wyndham/Kingston in Jamaica.  

Rick Blackburn has been named executive director of sales and marketing at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West in La Quinta, California. Blackburn was previously director of intermediary sales for Marriott International’s Global Sales Organization. Prior to that, he was director of sales and marketing for the Ritz-Carlton/Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. 

CVBs

VisitPittsburgh has promoted Craig Davis to president and CEO. Davis, the chair-elect of the Destination & Travel Foundation, has been with the organization for 11 years, initially as its executive director of convention sales, before transitioning to vice-president of sales and marketing. He succeeds Joe McGrath, who will become the CVB’s executive chairman and focus on state, national and international tourism issues.

Brent DeRaad has been appointed president and CEO for the Metropolitan Tucson (Arizona) Convention & Visitors Bureau. DeRaad, who has worked in the meetings and tourism industry for 14 years, succeeds Jonathan Walker, who announced his retirement in September after 18 years with the bureau. DeRaad will take over this month. He most recently served as executive vice-president of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Karen Williams, executive vice-president of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, has announced plans to retire from her position on August 3. Williams, who has been with the bureau for 23 years, has also been active with various meetings-industry organizations and is the former chair of the Destination & Travel Foundation. Williams plans to stay in the Louisville area to pursue other opportunities in the hospitality industry. 

The Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed John Rolfe to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Rolfe was president and CEO of the Go Wichita (Kansas) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Prior to that, he was vice-president of economic development for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. 

Andrés Muñoz has been named vice-president of marketing and communications for the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. Muñoz has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications and served as the bureau’s group account director, working from San Antonio– based Bromley Communications.

The Pasadena (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two new appointments. Betsy Bush has been named national sales manager. Since 2007, Bush has worked for Positively Cleveland as national sales manager for the Washington, D.C., area, an area she will continue to represent. And Charles Snyder has been appointed as the sales manager responsible for the corporate and SMERF markets for Pasadena. He was previously director of convention center sales for the Los Angeles Convention Center. Prior to that, Snyder was senior account executive and show manager for George Little Management, DMG World Media and Nielsen Expositions. 

Visit Charlotte (North Carolina) has made two appointments. Randy Smith has been promoted to assistant director of sales. Smith joined the organization in 2003 and was previously national sales manager. Before that, he was a director of sales with Radisson Hotels. Also at Visit Charlotte, Ned Blair has been named national sales manager. He previously was the tourism development leader for meetings and conventions at the Delaware Tourism Office.  

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Palace Resorts, representing seven oceanfront resorts in the Caribbean, has promoted Sandor Winkler to the position of chief operating officer. Additionally, Kathy Halpern has been appointed vice-president of marketing. Winkler has been working at Palace Resorts since 2004, most recently as director of tourism and other services. Halpern’s previous experience includes working as the vice-president of sales and marketing at Occidental Hotels & Resorts, where she worked for 13 years.  

Alan Steel has been named president and CEO at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York in New York City. Steel was previously president of George Little Management (GLM), a producer of trade shows in the U.S. and Canada. He succeeds Gerald McQueen, who recently resigned.

S. Lee Bowden has been appointed the general manager of the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, located in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains. Bowden has 30 years of experience in hotel and resort management. He formerly served as the vice-president and general manager of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Carambola Beach Resort & Spa in St. Croix and at the Equinox Resort & Spa in Manchester Village.

Andre Zotoff has been named general manager of the Fairmont/Vancouver. Zotoff joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2001 as director of food and beverage at the Fairmont/Chicago-Millennium Park. He was most recently general manager at the same hotel.  

Dania Duke has been named general manager of the Hyatt Regency/Santa Clara in California. Duke, a 22-year veteran of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, previously served as the general manager of the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Hyatt 48 Lex, a new 116-room hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has appointed Brian Twomey as its assistant general manager. Twomey was most recently the director of housekeeping at the W/New York in Times Square. Also at Hyatt 48 Lex, Maria Ordóñez-Maloney was named sales manager. She was previously the associate director of sales at the Hilton/New York Fashion District. 

In Florida, the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate has named Jean Spaulding as director of sales and marketing. Spaulding was senior vice-president of sales and marketing for the Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group, where she was responsible for the company’s managed resorts and hotels. 

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

The Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel has opened in Windsor, England, just 25 miles west of London. The property features the Legoland Hotel with 150 guest rooms, a pool, business center, dining options and event facilities for up to 320. The resort also offers a “Business & Bricks Program” that allows groups exclusive use of the resort’s more than 55 rides, workshops and attractions.  

In San Jose, California, the Hyatt Place/San Jose Downtown has opened across from the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The hotel features 234 guest rooms with 42-inch HDTVs; a fitness center; complimentary Wi-Fi access; a bakery and 6,500 square feet of event space. 

The Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans has completed a $22 million restoration. All 316 guest rooms received new décor; its dining, lounge and tea room spaces were redesigned and a new  bar was introduced; and the pool area and meeting spaces were rejuvenated. 

The 413-room Fairmont Kea Lani on the Hawaiian Island of Maui has completed a $28 million renovation. Upgrades were made to the hotel’s guest suites and villas, pool decks, corridors and ballrooms. The resort offers a total of 36,000 square feet of event space.   

The Dallas Marriott City Center has completed a top-to-bottom renovation. The project added a new restaurant offering seasonal American cuisine, a new fitness facility and a concierge lounge. In addition, the hotel’s more than 400 guest rooms were upgraded and the lobby  refurbished.

And Finally…

The Destination & Travel Foundation held its 19th Annual Foundation Dinner and Dream Auction on February 27 in Washington, D.C. The event raised nearly $200,000, which will be used to fund research, education and programs that support the destination marketing and travel industries. The evening also honored American Express with the Spirit of Hospitality Award, presented annually to individuals and organizations who have shown an exceptional dedication and commitment to the travel and tourism industry.

CVBs

The North Lake Tahoe (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Greg Howey national sales manager. Howey has worked at area properties that include the Resort at Squaw Creek and the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort.

The Arlington (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two new appointments: Ellen Brown has been named director of national accounts and Ryan Callison has been named director of marketing. Brown has worked in the tourism industry for 20 years, most recently at Hanley Wood Exhibitions. Callison was previously interactive marketing coordinator at the Lubbock (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

NYC & Company has appointed Rachael Nocera as regional director of national accounts for the Midwest. Nocera, who was previously manager for meeting and convention sales at Tourism Vancouver, will be based in Chicago.

Ellie Connot has been appointed sales development manager at the Lincoln (Nebraska) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Connot, who will focus on state associations and the hobby market.The York County (Pennsylvania) Convention & Visitors Bureau has selected Cara O’Donnell as its destination marketing manager. O’Donnell was previously associate vice-president of public relations at Tierney, an advertising and public relations agency based in Philadelphia.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Paul Whetsell has been named president and CEO of Loews Hotels. Whetsell, a hospitality veteran who founded the CapStar Hotel Company in 1987, most recently served on the board of directors for Virgin Hotels. 

William Sander has been appointed executive vice-president and director of operations at the Seagate Hospitality Group, based in Delray Beach, Florida. Sander will continue in his previous role as general manager of the Seagate Hotel & Spa. Prior to joining Seagate, Sander was general manager of the XV Beacon Hotel in Boston. 

The Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California, has appointed Kelley Cosgrove as general manager. Cosgrove spent the past five years as general manager of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California. Prior to that, she was hotel manager at the Fairmont Kea Lani on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. 

The Inn at the Presidio in San Francisco has appointed Terry Haney as general manager. Haney was general manager of Hotel Rex/San Francisco. He was also director of operations during the opening of the W/San Francisco. 

Allyson Jackson, regional general manager for the management company SMG, has begun overseeing the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Georgia. For the last 13 years, Jackson has overseen management and operations at the Salt Palace Convention Center and the South Towne Exposition Center, both located in the greater Salt Lake City area. 

Ruztique Toscano has been named director of sales and marketing at the Sofitel/New York in Midtown Manhattan. Toscano has more than 13 years of sales and marketing experience in the hospitality industry, most recently as director of group sales for Millennium Hotels in New York. 

Paige Cabacungan has been named director of sales and marketing for the St. Regis Princeville Resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Cabacungan was director of sales and marketing at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa and the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, on Maui. 

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu named Donna Lynn Nakai director of event services. Nakai has 18 years of event-planning experience, recently as director of food and beverage at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. She previously worked at the Hilton Hawaiian Village as its convention manager. 

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa in Avon, Colorado, appointed Jamie McClenahan sales manager for the Northeast, to be based in New York. She has spent the past six years in sales management for the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas & Spa and the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, respectively located in Indian Wells and Huntington Beach, California.  

CVBs

Tammy Blount has been selected to lead the Monterey County (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau. For the last four years, Blount has been president and CEO of the Tacoma (Washington) Regional Convention & Visitor Bureau. She succeeds John Reyes, who was recently appointed executive vice-president and chief customer officer at the San Francisco Travel Association. 

The Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Mark Zimmerman as senior vice-president of sales and marketing. Zimmerman, who was most recently a transportation consultant to the Syracuse (New York) Convention & Visitors Bureau, also has more than 30 years of hotel experience. 

Neil Mullanaphy has been named senior vice-president of sales at the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau; however, he will be based in Washington, D.C. Mullanaphy has more than 26 years of sales and marketing experience and was most recently executive director of sales and marketing for the Hawaii Convention Center/SMG. He has also formerly worked for Global Experience Specialists, the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and the Atlantic City (New Jersey) Convention & Visitors Authority.

The Kansas City (Missouri) Convention & Visitors Association has appointed John Heeney as vice-president of convention sales. Heeney, who has 25 years of sales experience, most recently operated his own contract sales company, Rising Tides. He succeeds Bill Bohde, who recently resigned.  

The Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Anne Santistevan as national account director. Santistevan has spent the past 25 years with Hilton Worldwide, most recently as area director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Hotels Seattle Airport Complex. 

Dan Schemm has been named director of destination sales and services at Go Wichita (Kansas). Schemm was most recently vice-president of existing business at Go Topeka (Kansas). 

Jay Marsh has been appointed regional director of sales at the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau and will be based in the bureau’s Washington, D.C., office. Marsh, who served as the CVB’s director of national accounts from 2005 to 2010, was most recently director of sales for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association and was also based in that organization’s Washington, D.C., office. 

The DuPage (Illinois) Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Kathryn Frerichs sales manager. She will focus on the association and government markets in Springfield, Illinois, and in Washington, D.C. Frerichs formerly was a meeting planner for the Million Dollar Round Table, an association of financial professionals based in Park Ridge, Illinois. 

The Visit Oceanside (California) Conference & Visitors Bureau has named Dana Porter Higgins senior sales manager. Higgins has more than 15 years of experience, most recently as director of marketing at the Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Peter King has been named chief executive of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre in Australia. King was previously chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, a nonprofit advocate of Australian agriculture.

William Bos has been promoted to senior worldwide sales manager at Best Western International, Inc. Bos, who has 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, first joined the company in 2008 as worldwide sales manager. 

David Bernand has been named general manager of the Four Seasons Resort/Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyoming. Bernand was previously resort manager of the Four Seasons Resort/Scottsdale in Arizona.

Nancy Rocker has been appointed general manager of the Hotel Indigo/St. Petersburg Downtown in Florida. Rocker was most recently general manager of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Melbourne, Florida. 

Regie Brown has been appointed general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn/Carlsbad Beach in Southern California. Brown most recently worked at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California, as its rooms executive.

The Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside in Bremerton, Washington, has appointed Ken Millsap as general manager. Millsap was most recently general manager of food, beverage and catering for both the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, and the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in nearby Eatonville. His background also includes working as general manager of Tacoma’s Landmark Convention Center for six years.

Steve Sheldon has been appointed director of entertainment events for the Queen Mary, the historic ship located at the Port of Long Beach in Southern California. Sheldon was most recently marketing and special events manager for Downtown Long Beach Associates, which manages the area’s business and property-based improvement districts.  

Janeka Simon has been named marketing coordinator at the Bay Gardens Resorts in Saint Lucia, which recently completed a renovation to its lobby that now allows it to accommodate groups of up to 50 for meetings. Simon previously was commercial development manager for the Hotel Chocolat in Saint Lucia.

CVBs

Christopher Baum has been named president and CEO for the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. He most recently served as the senior vice-president of sales and marketing at the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

Karen Bolinger has been appointed  CEO for the Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau in Australia. She previously served as general manager of strategy and marketing for the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and, before that, general manager of the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau appointed Salma Gottfried as senior vice-president of marketing. Gottfried formerly was executive director of brand leadership at the Dallas-based advertising agency Dieste. She has also served as director of public relations and advertising for the Loews Anatole Hotel (now the Hilton Anatole Hotel) in Dallas. 

Christophe Ley has been named director of Meetings, Incentive, Congress and Exhibitions for the San Francisco Travel Association. Ley most recently worked for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. From 2000–2007, he served as the tourism sales manager for the San Francisco Travel Association.

The Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Robin O’Connor to director of sales and services. O’Connor was the bureau’s assistant director of sales. Prior to that, she was manager of global accounts with the meeting-planning firm HelmsBriscoe. She has also held the post of national sales manager at CVBs that include Baltimore, Fort Worth and Sacramento. 

The Scottsdale (Arizona) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made several new appointments: Kelli Blubaum, formerly national sales manager for the bureau, has been promoted to director of sales and services; Erika Pumphrey, who has held sales and marketing positions with Marriott and the Fiesta Bowl, has been named national sales manager for the Northeast; and Stuart Evans, who formerly worked in sales at two Florida properties—the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, and the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor—has been named national sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic. 

The Anaheim/Orange County (California) Visitor & Convention Bureau has named Stacey Geyer as director of its meeting and convention solutions department and Deborah Josue as Western sales director for the meetings and convention sales division. Geyer was previously director of convention services and director of promotions and special events at the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau. Josue was previously senior sales manager at the Monterey (California) Conference Center. 

The Hampton Convention & Visitors Bureau in Virginia has appointed Susan Walski and Tiffany Carr to group sales managers. Walski was area director of sales for the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites in Williamsburg, Virginia. And Carr was most recently national sales manager at the Kingsmill Resort, also in Williamsburg.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has appointed Jennifer Fox president. Fox was the chief operating officer of managed operations for Continental Europe at the InterContinental Hotels Group. She has also held leadership positions in brand marketing with Sheraton and InterContinental and been general manager of several luxury hotels around the world. She succeeds Chris Cahill, who recently resigned from his position as president to focus on his duties as chief operating officer of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Fairmont’s parent company. 

In Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Antlers Hilton has named Timothy Wolfe general manager. Wolfe has more than 25 years of experience in hotel management and was most recently area general manager for the RDA Hotel Management Company, where he oversaw the Sheraton/Denver West in Lakewood, Colorado, and the Burnsley All-Suite Hotel in Denver. 

Rebecca Kendig was named director of sales and marketing at Il Lugano Hotel & Residences in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kendig has spent more than 10 years in management-level positions and was most recently director of sales and marketing at the Crowne Plaza Fort Lauderdale at Sawgrass Mills Mall. 

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, has promoted Amy Pfeiffer to director of resort sales. Pfeiffer has been with the resort for 14 years, most recently as senior sales director. Prior to working for Disney, she held sales positions with Hilton and Marriott hotels and the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. 

Glenwood Hot Springs, a 107-room resort in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has named Jeremy Gilley director of sales and revenue. Gilley was most recently director of revenue at the Hotel Colorado, also in Glenwood Springs.

Ken Williams has been named director of trade show sales at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Williams has more than 20 years of experience in the meetings industry, most recently as director of marketing and sales at the Denver Merchandise Mart. 

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa in Honolulu has appointed Donna Lynn Nakai director of event services. Nakai previously worked at the Hilton Hawaiian Village as catering meetings and convention manager, but most recently worked as director of food & beverage at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

CVBs

Tampa Bay & Company has named Kelly Miller as its new president and CEO. Miller spent the past 12 years as executive director of the Asheville (North Carolina) Convention & Visitors Bureau. He succeeds Paul Catoe, who retired on October 31.

The Austin (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Steve Genovesi as its senior vice-president of sales. Genovesi joins the Austin CVB after working as vice-president of sales and marketing for the Chattanooga (Tennessee) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Visit Oakland (California) has appointed Myra Howay as director of sales. Howay was previously senior sales manager at the Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley, California. She has also been sales manager at Mark Hopkins InterContinental in San Francisco.

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed two new members to its sales team. Katie Bender has been appointed Midwest national account sales director and Dan Miller has been named executive director of hotel sales. Bender most recently was Midwest regional citywide director for the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association. Miller previously served as director of sales at the Hyatt Regency/Philadelphia at Penn's Landing.

In California, Team San Jose has made two new appointments. Troy Karnoff has been named director of Midwest sales and will head its office in Chicago. Kathryn Morgan has been named the senior national sales manager for the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic regions and will be based in Washington, D.C. Karnoff was recently director of Midwest hotel sales for LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Morgan was recently senior sales manager at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The York County (South Carolina) Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Rebekah Ardis as meeting sales manager. Ardis was most recently regional group sales manager for Courtyard by Marriott properties in Rock Hill and Columbia, South Carolina, as well as in Matthews, North Carolina.

The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed two new sales managers. Barry David Jr. has been named express sales manager and Christopher Havins has been named destination sales manager. David previously served as the event services manager for convention, sports and entertainment facilities at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the Alamodome in San Antonio. Havins previously worked as a convention sales manager for the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Jim Heather has been selected as the general manager for the Keauhou Beach Resort, an Outrigger hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii. Heather previously was general manager of the Courtyard/Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. He has also been general manager of the Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona.

The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal/Orlando has appointed Diane Petit as general manager. Petit was most recently the executive assistant manager at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, also at Universal/Orlando.

Philip Barnes has returned as general manger of the Fairmont Pacific Rim and regional vice-president of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the Pacific Northwest. Barnes left the position in 2007 to serve as Fairmont's regional vice-president for the Middle East. He later was Fairmont's regional vice-president of the United Arab Emirates and general manager of the Fairmont/Dubai.

Michael Ryan has been named hotel manager of the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC Hotel, the flagship property of the New York City–based Gansevoort Hotel Group. Ryan was most recently director of the front office at the Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC Hotel.

Anne Dunlavy has been promoted to director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott/Indianapolis Downtown. Dunlavy first joined the property in 2001 as part of its pre-opening sales team. She has been its regional director of sales since 2007.

Lisa Jones has returned to the Hilton Americas-Houston as assistant director of sales, a position she had held from 2004–2007. Jones, who has 25 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, was most recently director of sales and marketing for the Embassy Suites/Houston Downtown.

The Paragon Casino Resort, which is located in Marksville, Louisiana, has named Cherye McGowen as its group sales representative. McGowen was previously director of sales and marketing for the Best Western Inn Suites & Conference Center in Alexandria, Louisiana.

The Founders Inn & Spa in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has appointed three new group sales managers: Dwayne King, previously group sales manager at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, New Jersey; Alexandra Horton, a recent graduate of Michigan State University who is trained in conference service planning; and Terrance Frederick, previously group sales manager at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia.

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

The new Embassy Suites/St. Louis Downtown has opened with 212 guest suites and event space for up to 300. The hotel is adjacent to the America's Center Convention Complex.

San Antonio's Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center has completed its 20,000-square-foot Plaza Acequia, which can accommodate groups of up to 1,500. It is part of the center's $40 million renovation project, which also included the Lonesome Dove Room, a refurbished 2,400-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre, and an enhanced, eco-friendly facility.

The Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been renovated and rebranded as the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach, now a DoubleTree by Hilton property. All of the hotel's 296 guest rooms and suites have been refurbished.

The 649-room Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, has opened a new $20 million conference center, increasing the property's total event space to 150,000 square feet.

In Los Angeles, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites has completed its renovation project. Upgrades were made to the hotel's 1,354 guest rooms, public areas, lobby, restaurant, lounges, outdoor pool and its more than 130,000 square feet of meeting space.

Work is under way on a new event center at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The new center is slated to open in May 2012 with 50,000 square feet of space.

Visitors to Sacramento, California, are now being welcomed through the city's new front door: a brand new, $1 billion terminal at Sacramento International Airport. Central Terminal B consists of two buildings and serves passengers for seven airlines with 19 gates. Other features include a people-mover, free Wi-Fi and retail and dining options.

IN MEMORIUM

CVBs

John Walker, president of the Metropolitan Tucson (Arizona) Convention & Visitors Bureau, has announced that he will retire in March 2012. Walker has been with the bureau for 18 years. 

Steve Nicely has announced his plans to retire as president and CEO of the Greater Parkersburg (West Virginia) Convention & Visitors Bureau in September 2012. Nicely has led the bureau since it was founded in 1985. 

Dan Williams has been named the new director of sales and the new market manager for associations at the Utah Valley (Utah) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Williams has worked in sales and management positions for Marriott, Hilton and Carlson hotels. 

The Greater Springfield (Massachusetts) Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Alicia Szenda to director of sales. Szenda, who first joined the bureau in 2006, was previously group sales manager.

The Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau has made several new appointments. Seth Spillman, previously an interactive marketing strategist for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, has been named director of marketing and communications. Robin O’Connor, previously a manager of global accounts for HelmsBriscoe, has been named assistant director of sales. And Elisa Milbourn, previously the bureau’s marketing and communications coordinator, has been promoted to communications manager.

At Florida’s Tampa Bay & Company, Dori Laack  has been promoted to regional account executive and will be based in the Washington, D.C., area. Laack first joined the organization in 2006 and was previously its national sales manager. Filling her position as national sales manager is Brittany Callahan, who was most recently sales manager for the Westin Tampa Harbour Island Hotel.

The Norman (Oklahoma) Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Stefanie Brickman communications manager. Brickman has a background in print media and has worked for the local newspaper, The Norman Transcript, and Tierra Media Group, publishers of the Oklahoma Gazette. She has also worked in public relations, marketing and advertising in corporate settings.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

The Corporation for Travel Promotion, a public and private partnership created to promote international travel to the United States, has named Chris Perkins chief marketing officer. Perkins, a veteran marketing professional, was most recently president and CEO of Blitz, a marketing company in Boston. He has also worked at the agencies Arnold Boston and Publicis & Hal Riney in San Francisco. 

Noble House Hotels & Resorts, a collection of luxury properties, has promoted Sean Mullen to chief sales and marketing officer. Mullen was previously the company’s corporate vice-president of sales. Prior to that, he was national director of sales and marketing at IMI Living, a luxury real estate company.

Dennis Lesko has returned as vice-president of marketing at the Broadmoor, a historic resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lesko, who served in the same position from 1993-2001, was most recently regional vice-president of marketing for Ritz-Carlton Hotels. In other hotel news, the Broadmoor’s parent company, the Oklahoma Publishing Company, was recently sold to the Denver-based Anschutz Corporation, which will now be the resort’s third owner.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler in British Columbia has named Norm Mastalir managing director. Mastalir first joined Fairmont in 1978 and was most recently managing director of the Fairmont/Southampton in Bermuda. Prior to that, he was general manager of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, Canada.

Douglas Hustad has been appointed managing director of Turnberry Isle Miami, a resort and golf club northeast of downtown. Hustad was most recently vice-president and general manager of the Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. He has also held management positions at several Ritz-Carlton properties and at the Peabody/Memphis.

The Bowery Hotel on Manhattan’s Lower East Side has promoted Kirk Wilson to general manager. Wilson was previously the hotel’s food and beverage director and also formerly managed the hotel’s Italian trattoria.

In the Texas Hill Country, the Lakeway Resort & Spa near Austin has named Jack Bickart director of sales and marketing. Bickart was most recently chief sales officer at the Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Prior to that, he was vice-president of sales and marketing at the Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin.

The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, has named George Allen director of sales and marketing. Allen was most recently director of sales for Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa in La Jolla, California, and L’Auberge Del Mar, in Del Mar, California.

Wade Thompson has been named director of sales and marketing at the new Embassy Suites/St. Louis Downtown. Thompson was most recently director of sales and marketing at the Westin/St. Louis. Prior to that, he was senior account executive and senor sales manager for the St. Louis Airport Marriott.

Megan McDonald Uram has been promoted to director of sales and marketing at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans. Uram had been the property’s associate director of sales and marketing.

The Peninsula/New York, located in Midtown Manhattan, has named Sharon Telesca Feurer director of marketing. Telesca Feurer has more than 20 years of experience in luxury hotel marketing; most recently, she was director of marketing for Trump/SoHo, New York. Prior to that, she was vice-president of marketing for AKA Hotels.

Shannon Gilbert has been named director of sales at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. Gilbert, who once worked as the hotel’s associate director of sales, was most recently director of sales and marketing at the Ritz-Carlton/Denver. 

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, the hotel chain’s first upscale property, has opened in Chicago near Millennium Park. It offers 334 guest rooms and 28,000 square feet of event space including the 12,041-square-foot Atlantic Ballroom, which has views of Lake Michigan. Finer amenities include a fitness center, indoor basketball court and indoor lap pool; a movie-screening room; a business center; and an 80,000-square-foot green roof and recreation deck with gardens, fire pits, pools and a running trail.

Two new Hilton Garden Inn properties have opened recently: the 136-room Hilton Garden Inn/Watertown-Thousand Islands in Watertown, New York, with 6,350 square feet of event space, and the 127-room Hilton Garden Inn/Fort Worth-Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, with 3,161 square feet of event space. Both properties offer WiFi Internet access in guest rooms and public spaces, a 24-hour business center, a glass-enclosed lobby with a lounge area, a fitness center and a swimming pool.

The Hilton Americas-Houston has completed an $11 million renovation of its guest rooms and event spaces. The 1,200-room hotel now offers completely redesigned guest rooms, an updated executive lounge and new carpeting in guest-room corridors and meeting space. The property offers 91,500 square feet of event space and is connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The New York Marriott Marquis in Manhattan’s Times Square has completed two major features of its multimillion-dollar renovation. The project reinvented its lobby, which includes two restaurants and lounges, and has added two new event spaces: the 29,000-square-foot Broadway Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 2,400 people, and the Liberty Room, for functions of up to 140. The property now offers more than 101,000 square feet of event space. Additionally, the project has upgraded more than half of the hotel’s 1,946 guest rooms, with the remainder to be completed by the spring of 2012.

The 338-room Hyatt Regency/Rochester in New York has completed a renovation of its meeting rooms and public spaces. Upgrades include a new color palette, carpeting, décor and lighting for the hotel’s 21,000 square feet of meeting space; a redesigned lobby; a new restaurant and bar; and an expanded fitness center.

The Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles/LAX-Century Boulevard has completed renovations. Its newly designed lobby encourages guests to work or socialize together—it features free WiFi, a communal table, private media pods with high-definition televisions, and a lounge area. The hotel’s 185 guest rooms have also been upgraded. The property offers four meeting rooms with a total of 1,762 square feet of space.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, construction has begun on the new Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Plans for the downtown site include 72,300 square feet of exhibit space, 13,000 square feet of ballroom space and 5,000 square feet of meeting room space. The complex will also be home to U.S. Cellular Center (the project will renovate its arena) and a new hotel (formerly the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel), expected to add another 19,500 square feet of meeting space. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2013, when it will become the second-largest convention complex in the state.

Hotel Victor in Miami Beach, Florida, has been acquired by Thompson Hotels and will be rebranded as Thompson Ocean Drive. The historic South Beach hotel, which offers 6,000 square feet of event space, is set to undergo renovations to its 90 guest rooms and its public spaces. The project is slated for completion in early 2012.

AND FINALLY …

In April, the Ottawa Convention Centre opened in Canada’s capital city with LEED certification, approximately 192,000 square feet of meeting space and a new “page” service designed to welcome groups. Highly-visible pages—men and women clad in pillbox caps, shortened trousers and vibrant argyle-patterned socks—can be spotted scooting around the facility on Segways in a more efficient effort to greet visitors, direct them throughout the center and surrounding areas, run errands and generally assist as needed. For more information on the convention center, visit ottawaconventioncentre.com.

CVBs

The San Francisco Travel Association has made two appointments: John Reyes has beennamed executive vice-president and chief customer officer, and Tom Kiely has been promoted toexecutive vice-president of tourism. Reyes was most recently president and CEOof the Monterey County (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau. He was also formerly the president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville in Florida. Kiely who joined the San Francisco Travel Association in 2010, was previously its vice-president of tourism.

The Lisle (Illinois) Convention & Visitors Bureau hasmade two new appointments: Diane Homolka has been named executive director and Robin Friday has been named director ofsales. Homolka, who has been with the CVB for 11 years, was previously itsinterim executive director; before that, she was its marketing and communicationsmanager and also formerly served as business manager and bureau servicesmanager. Friday has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and herbackground includes working as director of sales and marketing for Hyatt,Wyndham and Hilton hotels.

Don Skeoch has been named chief marketing officer at LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Skeoch was most recently chief marketing and exhibit development officer at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. He has also worked as vice-president of marketing and sales at Universal Studiosin Hollywood, California.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association has promoted Chris Gahl to vice-president of marketing and communications. Gahl, who has more than 10 years of marketing and communications experience in the convention and tourism industry, was previously the organization's director of communications.

The Fort Worth (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau hasnamed Merianne Roth vice-president of marketing communications. Roth most recently worked for the JC Penney Corporation as a publicity director and in consumer brand marketing.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) has appointed Darren Temple assenior vice-president of sales and services. Temple was most recently executive vice-president of global sales for PSAV Presentation Services, a national event-technology provider.

Amanda DePhillips has been named director of marketing at Meet Minneapolis. DePhillips was mostrecently the marketing and public relations manager at metroConnections Inc., anevent management company based in Bloomington, Minnesota. She also formerlyserved as vice-president of communications at Visit St. Paul (Minnesota).

Todd O'Leary has been promoted to director of marketing at Visit Milwaukee (Wisconsin). O'Leary was previously the organization's director of membership, and prior tothat, he was a senior sales manager for Midwest Airlines (which has sincemerged with Frontier Airlines).

The Saratoga (New York) Convention & Tourism Bureau has appointed Mary Jo Janis as director of convention sales. Janis was previously senior sales manager at the Desmond Hotel & Conference Center in Albany, New York. Prior to that, she was conference sales manager at the Gideon Putnam Spa Resort in Saratoga Springs,New York.

The Richmond (Virginia) Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two appointments to its sales and services team. Mary Brown has been named national sales manager and will focus on city wide association and religious markets, and Danielle Fields has been named sales manager and will focus on the association, fraternal and religious markets. Brown was previously an event planner for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fields was formerly the destination sales executive for conventions at the Bryan-College Station (Texas) Convention& Visitors Bureau.

The Tacoma (Washington) Regional Convention & VisitorBureau has appointed Emily Boone as communications coordinator. Boone previouslyworked as a program associate at Voxus Inc., a public relations firm inTacoma.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

The InterContinental/New York Times Square has named Andrew Gajary general manager. Gajary, whohas worked for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts since 1997, was previously general manager of the InterContinental/Toronto-Yorkville.

Sheila Gerbig-Hussey has been promoted to general manager of the Outrigger Aina Nalunear Lahaina, Maui, in Hawaii. Gerbig-Hussey was previously the property's assistant general manager. She has been with Outrigger Hotels & Resorts for17 years.

Also in Hawaii, Gregg Lundberg has beenappointed general manager of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Ka'anapaliBeach. Lundberg was formerly general manager of the Westin Ka'anapali OceanResort Villas. He has also been general manager of the Westin St. John Resort & Villas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, Maryland, hasappointed Jeff Makhlouf general manager. Makhlouf was previously general manager for the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington, Virginia.

Abby Morgan has been named director of sales at the Joule Hotel in downtown Dallas. Morganwas previously senior sales manager at Hotel ZaZa/Dallas. Prior to that, she was catering sales manager at what was formerly the Adam's Mark/Dallas (now aSheraton Hotel).

Kristin Thompson has been named director of catering sales and destination services at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort & Convention Center in St. Augustine, Florida. Thompson previously worked for the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach and founded its destination management department.

Cerelle Gooding has been named director of group sales at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii. Gooding spent the past six years as director of West Coast sales for the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. She also formerly worked at the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa in San Diego as a senior sales manager responsible for the association market.

The George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston has made two new appointments: Len Valka has been named sales manager, and Ted Bowen has been named sales manager for Texas associations. Valka, who has worked in the hotel industry for the last 16 years, was most recently sales manager at the Hilton/Houston North. Bowen was previously the George R.Brown Convention Center's public relations and marketing manager.

The Mason Inn Conference Center & Hotel, located on thecampus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has appointed Angela Smart as group sales manager. Smart was most recently national sales manager for Team San Jose in California.

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

In the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, the Tinley Park Convention Center has completed an expansion project that has doubled the facility's size and added several new amenities.The 120,000-square-foot convention center now offers 70,000 square feet ofevent space, of which 58,100 square feet is contiguous. Features include 18 breakout rooms, which range from 750 to 4,000 square feet; a ballroom that can accommodate up to 2,000 people; and an 18,000-square-foot exhibit hall. It also has a business center, Internet access and audio-visual equipment and is adjacent to a 202-room Holiday Inn, which was renovated in February. 

The Custom Hotel, a Joie de Vivre property near Los Angeles International Airport, has beenrevamped to show off a new design and aesthetic. The 250-room property featuresupdated amenities, a redesigned restaurant and bar, and a total of 9,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor space including a 900-square-foot conference room for up to 75 people and several social lounges.

An $8.5 million rejuvenation project has been completed at the Primm Valley Casino Resorts, which consists of three resort casinos located near each other in Primm, Nevada, just 45 miles south of Las Vegas on Interstate 15. Upgrades include newguest room furnishings, casino floor carpeting and energy-saving LED lightbulbs at Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino. At the Primm Valley Resort & Casino, there is a new 13,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, flat-screen televisions in its Race & Sports Book, and new furniture, fixtures and décor in all guest rooms. Combined, the resorts offer 2,643 guest rooms, a 21,000-square-foot conference center and a 6,000-seat arena.

The Shore Hotel is scheduled to open this month in Santa Monica, California, steps from the beach and other city attractions. The U-shaped, LEED-certified property will offer 164 guest rooms, event space for up to 160 people, an outdoor pool and patio, a fitness center and two dining options.

The Embassy Suites/St. Louis Downtown is scheduled to open this month adjacent to the America's Center Convention Complex. The 212-suite hotel, located in the city's historic Laurel Building, will offer an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a 24-hour business center and 5,000 square feet of meeting space. Matthew Felling was recently appointedas the new hotel's general manager; he was most recently general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center St. Louis.

AND FINALLY...

Through December, groups who stay at the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa in Mexico can involve attendees in a sea turtle rescue programcalled "Secretos del Mar." The property has enlisted a local biologist to show visitors how to comb the nearby beach so that mother turtles have a groomed surface on which to lay their eggs. Resort staff later transport the eggs to a sea turtle nursery—away from the resort's busy beach—and when the hatchlings emerge, guests can participate in freeing them at the beach. The entire process, from the time eggs are laid to the turtles' eventual hatching and return to sea, occurs from late June through December.

The award-winning CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta features 433 guest rooms and suites and more than 9,000 square feet of indoor meeting space for groups of up to 1,100, as well as additional outdoor event space. For more information, visit puertovallartamarriott.com.

CVBs

Shelley Maccini has been appointed executive director of the Kissimmee (Florida) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Maccini has been with the bureau for 13 years and was previously interim executive director. Before that, she was marketing director.

Paul Catoe plans to retire as president and CEO of Tampa Bay & Company (in Florida) on October 31. Catoe has been with the organization for more than 12 years and has served as its leader since 1999. He will remain involved with Tampa Bay & Company following his retirement, continuing to work on the 2015 Super Bowl bid and other projects.

The Clay County (Iowa) Convention & Visitors Bureau, a brand-new organization, has appointed Brittany Getting as its first tourism director. Getting was previously marketing director for North American Truck & Trailer, Inc., based in Sioux Falls, Iowa.

The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce & Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Jay Markwalter as tourism director. Markwalter was previously executive director of the Lawrenceville (Georgia) Tourism & Trade Association.

Alan Sims has been named vice-president of sales and services at the Little Rock (Arkansas) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Sims was previously director of sales for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Greater Mankato (Minnesota) Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Larissa Mrozek to senior sales director. Mrozek has worked for the bureau for five years, most recently as its tournament sales director.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has named Jani Torrence national convention sales manager. Torrence was previously corporate sales manager for the Greater St. Charles (Missouri) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Prior to that, she was trade association and government sales manager for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.

The Richmond (Virginia) Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two appointments to its sales and services team. Mary Brown has been named national sales manager and will focus on citywide association and religious markets, and Danielle Fields has been named sales manager and will focus on the association, fraternal and religious markets. Brown was previously an event-planning manager for the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fields was formerly the destination sales executive for conventions at the Bryan-College Station (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association has made two new appointments. Wendy Petersen has been named national sales manager and Amanda Brothers has been appointed destination sales specialist. Petersen was previously director of sales at Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. She has also formerly been director of sales for the Austin (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau and a convention planner for the association management company SmithBucklin. Brothers was previously part of the pre-opening sales team for the JW Marriott/Indianapolis.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

Robert Gaymer-Jones has been appointed CEO of Sofitel Worldwide. Gaymer-Jones was previously the company’s chief operating officer, a position he has held since joining Sofitel in 2007. His background also includes top positions at Marriott International.

Destination Hotels & Resorts has made two promotions: Steve Sackman and Chris Kenney have both been promoted to regional vice-president of sales and marketing. Sackman, who will focus on the Eastern region of the U.S., has worked as the company’s regional director of sales and marketing since 2006. He also held the former position of director of national sales for Aramark Harrison Lodging. And Kenney, who will focus on the Western region, was previously regional director of sales and marketing. Before that, he was director of sales and marketing for Tempe Mission Palms.

Craig Anderson has been named general manager of the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Honolulu. Anderson was previously general manager of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach. Prior to that, he was general manager of the Princeville Hotel on Kauai.     

Eric Sather has been named general manager of the Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley, California, near Lake Tahoe. Sather has more than 25 years of experience in hotel management and was previously general manager of the WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

David Chase has been appointed general manager of the New York Palace, a historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Chase was most recently the pre-opening general manager for the Trump SoHo Hotel in New York City. Prior to that, he was hotel manager at the Ritz-Carlton/Battery Park, also in Manhattan.

Julian Alden has been named director of sales at The Pierre, a Taj Hotel on New York’s Central Park. Alden was most recently associate director of sales at the St. Regis/New York, where he worked for 10 years.

Virgil Napier has been named director of sales and marketing at the W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, located off the coast of Puerto Rico. Napier was previously director of sales and marketing at the Viceroy/Anguilla in the Caribbean. Prior to joining Viceroy, he was director of sales at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Scott Robbins has been named director of sales at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel Air. Robbins’ background includes positions as national and corporate sales manager for Renaissance, Westin and Biltmore properties.

The Sorrento Hotel in Seattle has appointed Rebekah Dahl Alicea as group sales manager. Dahl Alicea was most recently associate director of meetings and special events at the Ritz-Carlton/St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prior to that, she was senior meeting and special events manager at the Ritz-Carlton/Jamaica.

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

The Hotel Hanford has opened in Costa Mesa, California. The boutique hotel features 225 guest rooms and six guest suites, a restaurant and wine-tasting salon, and a fitness center and pool. Groups of up to 300 can take advantage of 6,000 square feet of indoor event space as well as 3,000 square feet of outdoor space and a business center. The property offers shuttle transportation to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, which is just two miles away.

The Holiday Inn/Amarillo West-Medical Center has opened in Texas less than a mile from Amarillo’s Harrington Regional Medical Center. The 151-room property features a contemporary western design, a Mexican restaurant and more than 8,500 square feet of event space, including a ballroom, breakout rooms, pre-function space and patio areas.

The new Drury Inn & Suites/Independence has opened in Blue Springs, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. The 180-room hotel offers several amenities, including free breakfast, free food and beverages from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., an indoor-outdoor pool and whirlpool, and a fitness center. The hotel features 3,000 square feet of event space for groups of up to 150.

The Hilton Garden Inn/Eugene-Springfield has opened in Springfield, Oregon, just north the University of Oregon. The 149-room hotel features Internet access in guest rooms and public spaces, a business center, fitness center, pool, restaurant and five meeting rooms with a total of 3,000 square feet of space.

The CopperWynd Resort & Club in Fountain Hills, Arizona, is scheduled to reopen this month following a renovation project that included upgrades to all 30 guest rooms and the property’s tennis courts. The boutique hotel offers indoor event space for up to 50 people as well as an outdoor event lawn for up to 200.

Core construction of the brand-new Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah, has been completed. The convention center is scheduled to open in March 2012 with more than 83,578 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and LEED certification.

The Grand Hyatt/San Francisco, located in the city’s Union Square, has completed renovations to its 659 guest rooms and suites and its meeting facilities. As part of a $70 million, multi-phase transformation, guest rooms have been upgraded with new beds, workstations, bathrooms and technology. Meeting space has also been upgraded and includes the new, 5,700-square-foot Grand Foyer. Further renovations—to the front drive, lobby and restaurant—are expected to begin in early 2012 and finish by that fall.

In Northern California, the Crowne Plaza/San Jose Downtown is undergoing a complete renovation and rebranding, and is scheduled to reopen in January 2012 as the Hyatt Place/San Jose Downtown. The hotel, located near Mineta San Jose International Airport, plans to offer 239 guest rooms and nearly 7,000 square feet of meeting space.

AND FINALLY …

The Peabody/Memphis, a historic four-star hotel in this western Tennessee city, is looking to the future with a new opportunity for meeting planners to go green. The hotel, which offers 80,000 square feet of event space, has installed four new electric-vehicle charging stations in its garage, making it only the second hotel in the state to house such stations. When the hotel first opened in 1869, it didn’t have even have electricity, said General Manager Douglas Browne. “We’ve come a long way,” he said in a statement. The stations are available free of charge.

BOXED ITEM: NEW YORK UPDATE

On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the downtown area of New York City can boast revitalization on many fronts, notably with an increased number of hotels and meeting facilities.

The new Dream Downtown recently opened following a $270 million renovation in a 1960s building located between the Meatpacking District and Chelsea. The hotel offers 316 guest rooms and suites, a penthouse lounge, two dining options—with a third scheduled to open this fall—a pool deck and fitness center, spa services, and a 4,500-square-foot event space located on the ground floor.

Last year saw the opening of several new hotels. The W/New York-Downtown opened in the Financial District with 217 guest rooms and four meeting spaces that feature floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of Manhattan. The largest is 1,320 square feet and can accommodate up to 144 people reception-style.

The new 46-story Trump SoHo Hotel on Spring Street offers 391 guest rooms and more than 14,000 square feet of event space, including an outdoor, 6,000-square-foot pool deck and a ballroom for up to 500. Other amenities include a spa and fitness center, a bar with private cabanas and an Italian restaurant.

Last year also saw the revamping of the Andaz/Wall Street. The property renovated its interior spaces, focusing on its 253 guest rooms, which now feature high ceilings, local artwork and residential-style space. Meetings and events can be held in the Andaz Studio, a collection of conference rooms that surround a kitchen and lounge area. The property offers some 6,000 square feet of dedicated event space.

The Millennium Hilton New York, located across from Ground Zero—and, in fact, part of the World Trade Center rebuild—underwent a complete renovation after 9/11 and reopened in 2003. It features 569 guest rooms and 3,550 square feet of event space for up to 225 guests. There are five conference rooms on the hotel’s fourth floor, and a Presidential Suite on the 55^th floor with 1,000 square feet of function space and views of the Hudson River.

A new Hilton property, the Conrad/New York, is scheduled to open in November in Battery Park City. Plans include 463 guest rooms, three restaurants, a green roof and outdoor rooftop terrace for up to 75 people. It also is expected to offer 17,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,000-square-foot grand ballroom for up to 700 people.pho

To promote this ongoing revitalization, as well as entertainment and cultural events in Lower Manhattan, NYC & Company, the city’s destination marketing organization, recently launched an initiative with Mayor Michael Bloomberg called “Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan.” For more information, visit nycgo.com/getmorenyc/lowermanhattan.

CVBs

The Ocala/Marion County (Florida) Visitors & Convention Bureau has named Matthew Dunn executive director. Dunn previously led the bureau’s group and sports marketing efforts. He was formerly associate executive director of the Gainesville (Florida) Sports Commission and membership sales manager at the Orlando-based Florida Citrus Sports, which organizes events and promotes tourism in Central Florida. He succeeds Ann Sternal, who recently retired.

The Providence Warwick (Rhode Island) Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Kristin McGrath to vice-president of sales and services. McGrath, who first joined the bureau in 2005, was previously its director of sales. She has also worked as director of association sales at the Westin/Copley Place in Boston and as national sales manager for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Macon-Bibb County (Georgia) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two new appointments. Robin North has been named vice-president of convention sales and services, and Megan Drew has been named convention sales manager. North was previously national sales manager at the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and director of sales and marketing for the Georgia International Convention Center. Drew was previously communications director for the Clayton County (Georgia) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Ruben Perez director of sales. Perez spent the past 15 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, most recently as director of group sales for two Westin hotels in Dallas. Prior to that, he was global account executive for Starwood’s global sales office in New York City.

Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Kelly Peiffer national account director for its Midwest office. Peiffer was most recently national account executive for Visit Milwaukee (Wisconsin). She has also managed that organization’s Washington, D.C., satellite office.

Matt Meunier has been named national account executive at Meet Minneapolis, the city’s official convention and visitors association. Meunier was previously associate director of sports development at the Bloomington (Minnesota) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Frisco (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau has made two new appointments. LaChelle Evans has been promoted to the newly created position of senior sales manager, and Maureen Gutierrez has been hired as sales manager. Evans has been with the bureau for five years and almost 20 years of experience working in the hospitality industry. Gutierrez spent more than 12 years working in sales and strategy with the Farmers Branch (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Ted Pennison as senior sales manager and Sharon Sibley as convention sales manager. Pennison previously worked at the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau as director of convention sales. In the past he also worked at the New Orleans CVB in various positions including senior sales manager. Sibley worked for the New Orleans CVB from 2003 to 2006 as membership services coordinator.

Alanna Keene has joined the Go Wichita (Kansas) Convention & Visitors Bureau as destination sales coordinator. Keene was previously part of the sales support team for the Wichita Eagle newspaper and interactive coordinator for the paper’s website, Kansas.com.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has named Jani Torrence national convention sales manager. Torrence was previously corporate sales manager for the Greater St. Charles (Missouri) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Prior to that, she was trade association and government sales manager for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts in Springfield, Missouri.

HOSPITALITY & SUPPLIERS

The Cumming-Forsyth County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce has appointed Anna Brostrom as director of tourism development. Brostrom was most recently sports and group sales manager at the Alpharetta (Georgia) Convention & Visitors Bureau, where she worked for 10 years.

David Peckinpaugh has been named president of Maritz Travel Company, a provider of meeting, event and incentive travel programs based in St Louis, Missouri. Peckinpaugh was previously vice-president of business development for HelmsBriscoe, an event planning company. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and chief marketing officer at event planning company Experient Inc.

The new Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa, scheduled to open in spring 2012 in Carlsbad, California, has made two appointments: Robert Moore has been named general manager, and Kathy Van Vechten has been named vice-president of sales and marketing. Additionally, both will work—in their appointed positions—for the Hilton Carlsbad’s sister property, the Hilton Garden Inn/Carlsbad Beach. Moore has worked for Hilton Hotels since 1983. Van Vechten was previously vice-president of sales and marketing at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Charles Watts has been named general manager of the Holiday Inn/Beaumont Plaza in Beaumont, Texas. Watts was previously assistant general manager and food and beverage director at the Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport.

Lauren Teranishi has been appointed general manager of the Kona Reef Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. Teranishi was most recently a branch rental manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. 

On the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa has appointed Jahangir Hadjmohammadreza as general manager. Hadjmohammadreza has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has been general manager for several properties, including the Casino Aztar Hotel in Evansville, Indiana, and the Wyndham/Chicago.

The Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, has promoted Calvin Belknap to resort manager. Belknap has been the property’s executive director of food and beverage for the past five years.

Marc Cassier has been named executive director of conference services and catering for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Cassier spent the past nine years with Starwood Hotels; most recently, he was director of catering and convention services at the Westin/Charlotte in North Carolina.

Jeffrey Barry has been named director of sales at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, located in Greensboro, Georgia, on Lake Oconee. Barry was most recently senior national sales manager at the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He has also worked as both sales manager and catering and convention services manager for the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.

The Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia, has appointed Kim Martinez as director of sales. Martinez was previously director of sales and the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama.

Bob McPherrin has been appointed director of sales and marketing at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. McPherrin’s more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry includes working as assistant executive director at the Grapevine (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau and as vice-president of sales and marketing at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine.

Shirley Dunn Hanks has been appointed director of sales and marketing at Capella Pedregal, a resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She was previously director of sales and marketing at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas.

Stephanie Snapkoski has been named director of sales and marketing for the Hilton/McLean-Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. Snapkoski was most recently director of sales and marketing at the Hilton/Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia.

Rori Coombs has been appointed director of national sales for the Southeast and Northeast regions at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Coombs was most recently a meeting planner for the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners. Prior to that, Coombs was a sales executive for several resorts including the Atlantis/Paradise Island in the Bahamas; the Ritz-Carlton/Palm Beach in Manalapan, Florida; and the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu has promoted Charles Keegan from manager of catering and conference services to director of catering and conference services. Prior to joining the property in 2006, Keegan was a catering assistant at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel, also located in Honolulu.

In Tampa, Florida, the InterContinental Hotel has named Matt Kido executive meeting manager.  Most recently Kido worked as a convention service manager at the Crowne Plaza/Tampa East.

CONSTRUCTION & EXPANSION

The Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower Panama has opened in Punta Pacifica, Panama, with 369 guest rooms and suites and 46,000 square feet of event space, including a ballroom. Other amenities include a spa and fitness center, a casino and a private beach club with 18 holes of golf, reached via catamaran service. The hotel is located just five minutes from the financial district of Panama City and 15 minutes from the international airport.  

The new Sands Hotel has opened at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. All 300 guest rooms feature Internet access and HD flat-screen televisions. Other hotel amenities include an indoor pool and fitness room and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space and 3,000 square feet of pre-function and exhibit space.

The Embassy Suites/Ontario-Airport has opened in Southern California. The 175-suite hotel features 5,300 square feet of meeting space, complimentary Internet access, a restaurant and lounge, a business center and an indoor pool and fitness center.

In downtown San Diego, the Westin/Gaslamp Quarter has completed upgrades to its 450 guest rooms, enhancing them with a new color palette and amenities, including a refrigerator and multi-use table. The upgrades are part of a larger $25 million renovation, scheduled for completion in 2012. Renovations of the hotel’s 35,000 square feet of event space are set to take place later this year.

In Hawaii, the Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas has completed a $1.6 million renovation that includes a refurbished lobby and brand-new function space. Its 1,386-square-foot Honu Room can seat up to 60 theater-style and opens onto a lanai that can be used for receptions of up to 35. There is also a garden setting for up to 150 people and a smaller conference room that can accommodate up to 25. The beachfront property, part of the Kaanapali Resort area, has 260 rooms and 5,773 square feet of total meeting space.

Construction of the 21-story Omni/Nashville is underway in this Tennessee city. The $250 million hotel is being built downtown, across from the new 1.2 million-square-foot Music City Center; both are slated to open in 2013 with LEED certification. Hotel plans include 800 guest rooms and more than 80,000 square feet of event space.

AND FINALLY…

The Tourism Ambassador Institute has presented Liz Murphy with its annual Star Award, which recognizes excellence among members of its Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program. Murphy, a Missouri historian who has been a CTA since 2006, works as a historical interpreter, historian and archive librarian for the Jesse James Farm & Museum, a historic site in Kearney, Missouri. The CTA program educates members on how to enhance their area’s visitor experience, teaching the importance of tourism and their role in the destination’s brand. For more information on the program, visit ctanetwork.com.