Under Villaverde’s leadership for the past 19 years, The Peabody Orlando has achieved international recognition as one of the most acclaimed destinations. Villaverde supervised the hotel’s remarkable $450-million expansion and renovation, revealing one of the nation’s largest Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star and AAA Four Diamond resorts in 2010. In addition, Cvent named The Peabody Orlando the No. 1 meetings hotel in the United States, an honor reserved for the most impassioned venues. A champion for the Central Florida community, Villaverde is also a driving force behind Orlando’s growth in the meetings and convention industry and dedicated advocate for the area’s most deserving charitable organizations. He was recently inducted into the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame for his commitment to nurture the future leaders.

“Orlando’s meetings and convention industry was in its infancy when The Peabody Orlando opened its doors in 1986. It was the first hotel to neighbor the Orange County Convention Center and International Drive was yet to become the vibrant business and entertainment district it is today,” Peabody Hotel Group President and Chairman Marty Belz explained. “Alan Villaverde has been a tireless advocate for Central Florida, transforming the region’s meetings and convention industry with his unparalleled dedication to service, collaboration and innovation. It has been a tremendous honor to watch him lead The Peabody Orlando in becoming the premier convention hotel in this outstanding destination and we look forward to the positive impact he’ll continue to have in his new role with us.”

Barb Bowden started her career with The Peabody Orlando as one of the hotel’s first front desk supervisors, an employee since its grand opening in 1986. She is the 1,641-room hotel’s sixth General Manager and also previously served as Peabody Hotel Group’s Corporate Director of Revenue Management. Bowden now will take on full operational oversight, directing more than 1,600 associates to ensure Peabody Service Excellence® standards are achieved for a world-class guest experience. She also currently serves as chairman of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas region and she is an elected director on the Visit Orlando Board of Directors, continuing the hotel’s legacy of leadership in the hospitality industry and Central Florida community.

“Barb Bowden, one of the brightest minds in hospitality and hotel management, is preeminent in the field of revenue management with a reputation for excellence and impressive business acumen that is unrivaled,” stated Belz. “We look forward to her continued success as she assumes her new responsibilities with Peabody Hotel Group and The Peabody Orlando.”

About The Peabody Orlando
Since its opening in 1986, The Peabody Orlando has been renowned in the Orlando-area convention and tourism industry for its signature Peabody Service Excellence® and world-famous Peabody Ducks. The Orlando hotel is ranked the number one meetings hotel in the United States by Cvent. Located directly across from and adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, The Peabody Orlando offers 1,641 ultra-luxurious guestrooms, 300,000 total square feet of state-of-the-art flexible function space, a 22,000-square-foot, full-service spa, salon and fitness center and ten delectable dining and entertainment options in the heart of Orlando’s International Drive Resort Area. The Peabody Orlando and its sister hotel The Peabody Memphis are both Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Rated hotels owned and operated by Peabody Hotels of Memphis, Tenn. For more information, please visit www.PeabodyOrlando.com or www.PeabodyMeetings.com, connect on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
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Contact:
Megan Licata
Fry Hammond Barr
for The Peabody Orlando
407-284-6604
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