Meeting News - July 7, 2008 - (Page 7)

People Making News Industry Icon Bjorn Hanson Quits, Goes Back to School Bjorn Hanson, hospitality and travel researcher for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, announced his retirement from that position during remarks at the 30th Anniversary NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference held in New York City last month, while simultaneously announcing that he will join the fulltime faculty of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. He will be a clinical associate professor teaching in the Tisch Center’s undergraduate and graduate hospitality and tourism programs, beginning this fall. The remarks were made during Hanson’s acceptance of the 2008 Lodging Hospitality Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award. “My management consulting and professional services career has been thrilling,” he said. “But I have now reached ‘the age’—the nice way of describing it is ‘the age when there is no longer a discount for early retirement’— and am able to pursue my other career passion, education.” Currently the chair of the Tisch Center’s Advisory Board of industry leaders, Hanson has taught in the program as a guest lecturer and adjunct professor for 16 years. He holds a Ph.D. from New York University, an M.B.A. from Fordham University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Hanson is an author and frequent speaker who in previous years has been named one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” by MeetingNews. Management, Inc. as one of San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2008. She was presented with a Tiffany engraved crystal platter by Rana Sampson, San Diego’s ﬁrst lady and a 2007 Cool Woman. “Girls Scouts is an organization I hold very dear to my heart,” commented Roscoe. “As a former Girl Scout myself, I realize the great impact this organization can make in a young woman’s life. I am so honored to be recognized with this prestigious and very cool award.” A founder of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at San Diego State University, Roscoe now chairs the school’s board. In addition, she co-chaired Girl Scouts’ Urban Campout fundraiser in 2006, and currently co-chairs the Player Registration Committee for the 2008 U.S. Open Championship. Association Executives (ASAE) and Meeting Planners International (MPI); his many industry honors include the “Academy of Leaders” award from ASAE and “Supplier of the Year” from MPI, where he also served on the executive committee. Mike was named “Sales Executive of the Year” for Insurance Conference Planners and was a member of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s (CIC) prestigious Hall of Leaders. In 2004, HSMAI honored Mike as one of “The 25 Most Extraordinary Sales & Marketing Minds in Hospitality & Travel.” The memorial service was held June 26 at St. Paul Catholic Church, Colorado Springs. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations were made to the HSMAI Scholarship Fund. Shout Outs s Michelle MacMullen has joined the Broadmoor as southeast sales manager. She comes after more than five years at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach. s Concorde Hotels & Resorts has appointed Jer ome Billy as director of sales at the Hotel du Louvre and Hotel Lutetia in Paris, A 10-year veteran of the hotel industry, Billy most recently served as director of sales & marketing at the Hotel Movenpick Resort and Spa in Mauritius, where he created the group’s sales structure for Mauritius and Europe and developed new markets, thus strengthening relationships with local agencies as well as operators. s Christopher Cestari is now director of global sales at Regent Hotels Resorts, a luxury hotelier. Cestari most recently served as director of sales at New York’s Hotel Plaza Athenee; previous hotel sales positions in New York include the Four Seasons, St. Regis, Omni Berkshire Palace and Forte Hotels Worldwide. Cestari will continue to be based in Manhattan, and will promote the brand’s portfolio of properties in Shanghai, Beijing, Bordeaux, continued on page 9 Industry Legend Dimond Passes Michael J. Dimond, 67, passed away June 23, 2008 after suffering a heart attack. Widely recognized as one of the top hotel marketing executives in the nation, Dimond’s career spanned over four decades. In addition to The Broadmoor, he served in top management and marketing positions with Hyatt Regency Hotels; the Opryland Hotel in Nashville; Doral in Miami; the Boca Raton Hotel & Club in Boca Raton, FL; and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Mike also served as senior vice president of marketing for Gaylord Entertainment Company. One of the many milestones of his illustrious career included the branding and positioning of Opryland Hotel & Convention Center in Nashville, putting Nashville on the map as a convention destination. Dimond retired from The Broadmoor as senior vice president of sales and marketing in 2006, but believed in giving back to the industry and was active in numerous professional organizations. He served on the boards of both the American Society of PRA’s Patty Roscoe Gets Brownie Points At a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” event, held at Tiffany & Co. in San Diego’s Fashion Valley Mall in May, Girl Scouts, San DiegoImperial Council named Patti Roscoe, founder and chairman of PRA Destination E-mail your personnel announcements in the meetings and hospitality industries to Terri Hardin, Editor-In-Chief, at terri.hardin@nielsen.com, or mail them to MeetingNews, 770 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003. www.meetingnews.com July 7, 2008 MeetingNews 7 http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - July 7, 2008

Meeting News - July 7, 2008
What's Up @ MeetingNews.com
Inside the Meetings Industry
People Making News
Chef Talk
Hotels & Resorts
CVBs
Convention Centers
Transportation & Services
International
MN Exclusive Research
Destination Insider: Florida Gulf Coast
Destination Insider: Gaming
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Meeting News - July 7, 2008