Overland
Park, KS – May 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Melanie Gring, Global
Connections Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Public Relations,
has been awarded the esteemed ARDA (American Resort Development Association)
ACE Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is given each year by the ARDA
Board and executive leadership of the Association to an individual for
their dedication and service to the resort industry.
Melanie’s
recognition is based on the numerous ways she serves the industry – from
chairing the ARDA WIN-Advantage committee to serving on both the Meetings
and Awards Committees. She donates countless hours to working on behalf
of the shared ownership industry and selflessly works with ARDA staffers
and members to drive the industry to new heights.
According
to Howard Nusbaum, president of ARDA, “There could be no person more deserving
than Melanie this year. Despite her busy schedule as Vice President of
one of our highly respected member companies, she always has time to do
what she can to make our industry better. Under her leadership, ARDA WIN-Advantage
has found a new role in the association, spurring on mentorship, philanthropic
platforms and championing diversity. Her innovative ideas and leadership
on the Awards and Meetings Committee are part of what make our ARDA World
Convention so excellent.”
Tom
Lyons, president and CEO of Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) said, “We couldn’t
be prouder. We always knew Melanie’s incomparable work ethic – combined
with talent, grace and humor – were highly regarded even outside our company.
This Award cements that belief.”
ARDA
has almost 1,000 corporate members ranging from privately held firms to
publicly traded corporations with extensive experience in shared ownership
interests and membership based vacation clubs. The trade association’s
annual convention was held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, April
12-16, 2015, with nearly 2,500 industry professionals attending the event.
The award announcement was made during the convention’s Award Gala Ceremony
on April 15.
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In
addition to her roles with ARDA WIN-Advantage, ARDA Meetings Committee
and ARDA Awards Committee, Melanie also serves on the ARDA Travel Club
Task Force and also served as president of the Board of Directors of C.A.R.E.
(Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers).
A graduate
of the University of Arkansas, she has prepared and conducted accredited
classes and lectures on vacation ownership as an adjunct professor for
Lynn University College of Hospitality Management in Boca Raton, Florida,
and in Lucerne, Switzerland, to students enrolled from around the world.
During
her respected professional career, Melanie Gring has held numerous executive
positions. Beginning with Fairfield Resorts (now Wyndham Vacation Ownership),
Melanie spent two decades designing and integrating inventory revenue management
programs allowing for independent resorts to participate in the Fairfield
system expanding options for its members. She built her own consulting
company in 1998, Leisuretainment, which was purchased by Global Connections
where she now works.
In
addition to the ACE Award for Volunteer of the Year, GCI also was a finalist
in numerous categories. With new branding initiatives spearheaded by Melanie,
GCI was awarded four Finalist awards in three categories: Logo Design,
Magazine Advertisement and Video Production.
Global
Connections Inc. is based in Overland Park, KS. It opened in 1996 as
a travel club fulfillment and service provider, and is considered a leader
in the travel industry. It offers its members a wide variety of benefits
and vacation options for more than 700 North American resorts. GCI is also
the developer and owner of resorts in California, Florida, Tennessee, and
Colorado, as well as owning and leasing multiple resort condominium units
throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Caribbean. For more information
on GCI, visit www.exploreGCI.com.
For more information regarding Global Discovery Vacations visit www.GlobalDiscoveryVacations.com.
Contact:
Melanie
Gring
561-417-7559
Global
Connections, Inc.
Media:
Georgi
Bohrod
619-255-1661 |