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People & Places Presented by Association News (May 2013)
People & Places Presented by Association News (May 2013)

Tampa Bay (Florida) & Company has hired Santiago Corrada as its new president and CEO. Previously, he served as chief of staff for the city of Tampa. He brings more than 20 years of public service and management experience to the position.

Experience Arlington (Texas) has appointed Ronnie Price as president. Price brings more than 16 years of hospitality leadership, sales and marketing experience to the position. He previously worked for the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau as assistant executive director of sales and marketing.

Barbara Steinfeld has been appointed president of the Tri-Valley (California) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Previously, Steinfeld served as the vice-president of tourism sales for Travel Portland (Oregon), a position she held for 16 years. She replaces Grant Raeside, who stepped down from the position in September.

Kim Sinistore has been appointed executive director of the City of Pearland (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Most recently, Sinistore worked as the director of tourism for the Westchester County (New York) Office of Tourism, a position she had held since 2007.

The Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau has named John Cohen executive director. Previously, Cohen served as executive director of the Durango Area (Colorado) Tourism Office.

Steve Bone, president and CEO of the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau, has announced that he will be retiring from the organization in September 2013. Bone, the founding chairman the HBMVB, has more than 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry. The HBMVB will be conducting a nationwide search for his replacement. Bone will stay involved with the organization as an advisor until September 2014.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has appointed Brian Lynx vice-president of meetings, conventions and incentives. Most recently, Lynx worked as director of sales and marketing at the Grand Wailea Resort on the island of Maui.

Troy Karnoff has been named director of national accounts at the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau. Karnoff brings more than 10 years of experience to the position. Most recently, Karnoff served as director of Midwest regional sales for Team San Jose (California).

The Cedar Rapids Area (Iowa) Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Angela Vande Wall as director of convention sales. She will be responsible for promoting the area to local, regional and national conferences and conventions.

Travel Lane County, the convention and visitors bureau of Eugene, Oregon, and the surrounding Cascades area, has chosen Mike Gaffaney as its new convention and sports sales manager. He has more than 25 years of experience in sports-related management. Most recently, Gaffaney served as general manager of the Eugene Swim & Tennis Club.

Hospitality & Suppliers

Mercedes Miller has been named as executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta after having served in the role on an interim basis. Miller joined the convention center staff in 1999 and has since served in several positions, including director of sales and assistant director.

The Palace Hotel in San Francisco has named Christophe Thomas as general manager. He brings 23 years of experience to the position. Previously, Thomas was general manager of the W/New York–Union Square.

Cassa New York, part of the Viceroy Hotel Group’s Urban Retreats Collection, has appointed Troy Pade as its new general manager. Most recently, Pade served as the manager of the Viceroy/Santa Monica in Southern California.

C Lazy U Guest Ranch in Granby, Colorado, has appointed David Craig as general manager. Craig joins C Lazy U Ranch with 26 years of hospitality experience. Most recently, he served as senior vice-president at vacation club Inspirato.

The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado, has named Pete Hayda as its new director of sales and marketing. Hayda formerly worked as the regional director of sales and marketing for Vail Resorts and held directorlevel positions at both Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels.

The Austin (Texas) Convention Center has named Amy Harris director of sales. Most recently, Harris was the director of sales at the Travaasa Resort & Spa/Austin.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California, has selected Chaya Donne as the director of sales and marketing. Donne will be responsible for developing, implementing and leading sales and marketing strategies. Previously, Donne had served as director of sales and marketing for HEI Hotels & Resorts in San Diego. She brings nearly 20 years of experience to the position.

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida, have appointed Mary Jobb as director of sales. Jobb brings 20 years of hospitality sales experience to the position. Jobb most recently held the position of vice president of sales with LXR, Luxury Resorts & Hotels.

Michael Toney has been hired by sbe Entertainment Group as executive director of hotel sales for SLS Las Vegas. Toney most recently served as corporate vice-president of hotel sales at Station Casinos. The hotel is scheduled to open in fall 2014 with more than 1,600 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, has made two new appointments: Rodney Gutierrez has been named senior director of sales, event management and exhibitor services, and Michelle Neely has been promoted to director of event management and exhibitor services. Gutierrez brings more than 20 years of experience to the position, most recently serving as a meetings and events manager for BCD Travel, a provider of global corporate-travel management. Neely has been with the convention center for 12 years.

Construction & Expansion

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California, has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, which includes the addition of 30,000 square feet of new event space. The new indoor Pavilion space was designed with a glass wall overlooking the nearby mountains and an adjacent patio, which together can accommodate up to 2,000 guests, while the 12,000-square-foot Grove is a new outdoor space with a waterfall. The 884-room resort now offers 240,000 square feet of function space.

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, which has 124,000 square feet of meeting space, has completed a $2 million renovation to all 348 guest rooms in the hotel’s Bay Tower. The outdoor Bay Tower Lounge Patio was also renovated during the three-month project to enhance the views of San Diego Bay, downtown San Diego and Point Loma.

The Radisson Blu Mall of America has opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. The hotel, which is connected to the iconic mall via skyway, offers 500 guest rooms and some 26,300 square feet of event space.

Walt Disney World Resort plans to begin a multiyear transformation of Downtown Disney this month that will be renamed Disney Springs. The renovation is expected to provide new private- event options. Disney Springs will open in phases and is expected to be completed by 2016.

The Louisville Marriott Downtown has completed a $6 million renovation of its 616 guest rooms and suites, concierge lounge, pool, spa and fitness center. The Kentucky hotel features 50,000 square feet of meeting space.

After a seven-year restoration project, El Encanto, an Orient-Express hotel, has reopened on a hillside just north of downtown Santa Barbara. Features include 92 bungalows, 9,820 square feet of event space, a spa and a pool.

The 108-room Hanover Inn at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire, has completed its renovation, which included enhancements to its conference center and ballroom. The new 11,000- square-foot Minary Conference Center features a 4,000-square-foot ballroom and seven conference rooms.

And Finally...
Guests of the 120-room Hotel 1000 in downtown Seattle can now make complimentary calls to anywhere in the world during their stay. The hotel, which offers more than 9,000 square feet of event space, also recently introduced a high-definition technology infrastructure throughout its property, allowing guests to connect to a high-definition computer, video or mobile device from any meeting room. For more information, visit hotel1000seattle.com.
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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 the TEAMS Conference & Expo, the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers, to be held in Salt Lake City (November 4-7, 2013). 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.
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Media Contact:
Timothy Schneider
310-577-3700
Schneider Publishing Company, Inc.
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