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Association News
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People & Places Presented by Association News (June 2014)
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Los Angeles, CA – June 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / Each monthly issue of Association News contains information from state and regional associations, convention bureaus, hotels and hotel chains and other meeting facilities.

CVBs/DMOs

The Santa Fe (New Mexico) Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Randy Randall executive director. Randall brings more than 45 years of experience to his new role, including 10 years as general manager of the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe.
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People & Places Presented by Association News (June 2014)Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, has announced his resignation. Ortale will stay in his current role until an acting CEO is named and will remain with the bureau until July 31. He has served in his current position with the Greater Houston CVB since 2007; before that, he worked as the president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis.

Skip Strittmatter has announced plans to retire from the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau in Oak Brook, Illinois, where she has worked as executive director for 20 years. Strittmatter formerly served as president of the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and Chicago Plus. She has also served as a board member of Visit Illinois.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority has named Victoria Isley chief sales and marketing officer. Previously, Isley worked as chief operating officer for Destination Marketing Association International.

The Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Sandy Price vice-president of tourism sales. Price has worked with the bureau since 1987.

Charles Harris has been named senior vice-president of marketing at the Anaheim/Orange County (California) Visitor & Convention Bureau. Harris previously served as vice-president of marketing at Luxe Hotels in Los Angeles.

The Joplin (Missouri) Convention & Visitors Bureau has hired Erin Slifka as director of sales. Slifka most recently worked as the sales manager at the Hilton/ Austin in Texas.

Hospitality & Suppliers

SMG has named Marc Mulherin general manager of the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri. Mulherin most recently worked at the SMG-run McCormick Place in Chicago as assistant general manager, director of food and beverage operations and director of capital and special projects for its catering partner Savor.

The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in the capital city of San Juan has appointed Sam Basu general manager. Most recently, Basu served as hotel manager of the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Río Grande, Puerto Rico.

The Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, has named Derek McCann general manager and Ryan Bunker director of sales and marketing. Previously, McCann served as hotel manager of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Bunker most recently worked as director of sales and marketing at the Tucson Marriott University Park.

Barbara Readey has been appointed general manager of the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida. Previously, Readey served as general manager of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay in Florida.

Jay Campbell has been named general manager of the Hilton/Clearwater Beach in Clearwater, Florida. Previously, Campbell worked as general manager of three properties in Branson, Missouri: the Branson Convention Center, the Hilton/ Branson Convention Center and the Hilton/Promenade at Branson Landing.

Michael Walker has been named general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton / Houston Downtown. Walker most recently served as general manager of the Hilton /New Orleans Airport.

Marcus Jackson has been named general manager of the Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina. Most recently, Jackson served as general manager of the Montage/ Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, for nearly six years.

The Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms, South Carolina, has promoted Jody Harris to director of sales and marketing. Harris previously worked as sales manager at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa in Colorado.

The Outrigger Enterprises Group has promoted Mary Loy to director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger/ Waikiki on the Beach in Honolulu and has named Richard Oshiro director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, also in Honolulu. Loy has worked as Outrigger’s regional director of sales since 2002. Oshiro most recently served as executive assistant manager and director of sales and marketing at the Miramar at Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu.

The Four Seasons Resort & Residences in Vail, Colorado, has named Scott Gubrud director of sales and marketing. Gubrud most recently served as director of sales and marketing at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

The Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton, Florida, has named Jennifer Graham director of sales and marketing. Most recently, Graham worked as director of sales for the Embassy Suites/Boca Raton.

La Cantera Hill Country Resort in San Antonio has named Ty Brassie director of sales and marketing. Previously, Brassie served as director of sales and marketing at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.

Construction & Expansion

Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center has completed a $160 million multiphase renovation and expansion, bringing its total square footage to 1.2 million. Formerly Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort, the rebranded property now offers 1,065 guest rooms and 39,000 square feet of meeting and event space, which includes a 53,221 square-foot convention and entertainment venue.

Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, has completed a $13 million, two-year renovation. The hotel features 757 guest rooms and 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space.

The Hyatt Dulles, located in Herndon, Virginia, just two miles from Dulles International Airport, has completed a $3.2 million renovation in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The hotel features 316 guest rooms and 29,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys in Baltimore has completed a two-year, multimillion-dollar renovation. Upgrades have been made to its 147 guest rooms, more than 9,000 square feet of event space, business center, fitness centers, lobby and restaurant.

The Pan Pacific/Seattle has completed a $1.7 million renovation that includes upgrades to the property’s 253 guest rooms and 5,554 square feet of event space.

The New York Hilton Midtown in New York City has completed the first phase of a multimillion-dollar renovation. The hotel offers 1,985 guest rooms and more than 151,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Hilton/Burlington in Vermont has unveiled an executive lounge as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation project. The lounge offers a daily complimentary breakfast, fresh fruit and snacks throughout the day and a nightly reception to encourage business networking. The Hilton/Burlington features 258 guest rooms and 18,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Westin / Wilmington has opened in Wilmington, Delaware, with 180 guest rooms and 2,100 square feet of meeting space. In addition, the property is connected to the adjacent Chase Center on the Riverfront, which offers 87,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas has unveiled plans to expand its convention center to more than 2 million square feet. Plans include the addition of 350,000 square feet of exhibit space to the existing 1.7 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center and more carpeted ballroom space. Construction is scheduled to begin in late fall, and all spaces are expected to be completed by January 2016.

And Finally…

Visitors to Rome can learn about the ancient world of the gladiators with a visit to the Colosseum, but for a full immersion experience, the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts – owned Rome Cavalieri Hotel – in partnership with the Gruppo Storico Romano – pulls out all the stops. A gladiator-training program, held on-site and open year-round, encourages groups to don traditional tunics, sandals and protective gloves and learn firsthand about gladiator techniques using wooden swords. Groups can train at the hotel’s private 15-acre park, which overlooks Rome’s skyline, at Gruppo Storico’s headquarters in Via Appia Antica 18, or in the meeting room. On completion, students are presented with a medal declaring them a “Tiro,” or firstlevel gladiator. The program is available on request and open to all guests over the age of 7.
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What’s Ahead at Convention Centers for Meeting and Event Planners?
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Download “Convention Trends 2014” (PDF File)
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This current issue of Association News can be viewed in digital format online by clicking here.

Timothy Schneider is the publisher of Association News and SportsTravel magazines, which serve group travel planners responsible for generating 106 million hotel room nights annually. Schneider Publishing also organizes Meetings Quest, America's longest-running series of trade shows for meeting planners, and the TEAMS Conference & Expo, the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers. TEAMS '14 will be held in Las Vegas, November 10-13, 2014. For further information on advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please call toll-free 877-577-3700 or 310-577-3700 if calling from outside the United States.

Association News, SportsTravel and TEAMS are registered trademarks and Meetings Quest is a trademark of Schneider Publishing Company, Inc.
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Media Contact:
Timothy Schneider
310-577-3700
Schneider Publishing Company, Inc.
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TEAMS '14 will be held in Las Vegas, November 10-13, 2014
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Placement Dates: 06/12/14 – 08/12/14
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