Meeting News - December 15, 2008 - (Page 8)

People Making News Rasulo In TIA’s Hall of Leaders In October, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, was inducted into the Travel Industry Hall of Leaders at the association’s annual Marketing Outlook Forum. Individuals are named to the Hall of Leaders for “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry, stimulated greater achievement, and raised industrywide standards.” Under Rasulo's leadership, TIA entered into a public-private partnership with the U.S. government that created DiscoverAmerica.com, the ﬁrst-ever ofﬁcial travel and tourism website of the U.S. Last year, Rasulo spearheaded the creation of a multimedia experience that included a video entitled “Welcome: Portraits of America.” The video was donated to the State and Homeland Security departments for use at major U.S. airports and at U.S. embassies and consulates. Million” program sponsored by the nonproﬁt group. Larsen Heads European Affairs for NBTA In November, Ole Bo Larsen became the director of European operations at the Alexandria-based National Business Travel Association. Larsen is currently acting vice chairman of the Danish Business Travel Association, in a volunteer leadership role overseeing the association’s international relations, including its membership in the Paragon Partnership, the global alliance of buyer-driven corporate travel associations. NBTA executive director and COO Bill Connors said, “Ole will work closely with European associations in the Paragon Partnership to create world-class programming and to grow attendance for Crossroads 2009. The event was launched this year as the ﬁrst-ever panEuropean business travel conference. We’re looking forward to even greater success with Crossroads 2009.” of the preopening team at Shorebreak Hotel, a Joie de Vivre Hospitality property anchoring the Strand mixed-use development that overlooks Huntington Beach Pier and the Paciﬁc Ocean in Huntington Beach, CA. s After serving as an intern for three months, Emily Provow has been hired as an assistant program manager at Atlanta Arrangements Inc. In her new position, she is responsible for working with program managers and clients to implement special events, transportation, tours, activities, and team-building programs. She graduated from Auburn University, where she majored in public relations, with an emphasis in event planning. s Manhattan’s iconic Pierre hotel has named Pamela M. Feick as the property’s director of sales and marketing. Feick joins the Pierre after her role as the New York-based regional sales director for Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa Del Mar, two southern California hotels. s Paul Chaston was recently named director of sales and marketing at the 430-room Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa, which opened this summer. Prior to joining the Sheraton, Chaston was the director of sales and marketing at the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle, where he facilitated the transition and re-branding of an independent hotel to a full-service Marriott property. Robert Sanchez was named assistant director of sales. s Sheila Pannell has been named VP of national sales for Cincinnati-based exhibition and corporate event services provider George Fern Co. Pannell, who is based in Kansas City, will oversee the business development efforts of national sales managers and account executives. Randy White has been promoted to regional director of sales for Kentucky and Indiana. r Four Honored by CO Hotel Trade Group At its 70th annual conference at the Broadmoor in October, the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) recognized four leaders. Pennie Landon, senior national account manager for travel and sales at USA Today, received the 2008 Galen Drake Allied Award. Chuck Porter of the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Robert Tschupp, VP and GM of SuperShuttle, were recipients of the 2008 Chairman’s Award. And Navin Dimon, president of Stonebridge Companies, became the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee. Shout Outs s The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired Theda “TJ” Jackson to be account director of the Southeast region. Jackson brings some 15 years of hospitality and convention sales experience to her new position, having served most recently as multicultural account director with Visit Jacksonville, where she also worked with the religious and fraternal markets. Her additional experience with American Express Platinum Travel, Air Jamaica, and World Travel BTI provides her with a broad base of hospitality sales and services knowledge. s In November, Shawn Gracey was appointed general manager of Houston’s Hotel Icon. Gracey brings two decades of hospitality experience to his new position. Previously, he was the GM and part Williams To Tell American Express Small Biz Owners What’s on Menu In October, HVS Food & Beverage Services announced that its president, Richard D. Williams, was named culinary advisor to American Express’ Open Forum.com. Williams will provide guidance and expertise to American Express Open, the small business division of American Express. He will help create a robust set of online resources for small business owners in the culinary industry and also mentor selected women-owned small businesses from the “Make Mine a 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, New York, NY 10003. 8 MeetingNews December 15, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.discoverAmerica.com http://www.discoverAmerica.com http://www.openForum.com http://www.openForum.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - December 15, 2008

Meeting News - December 15, 2008
Gloom Looms for Rooms
Sixth Homeland Defense and Security Symposium's Career Summit...
Perspectives
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Chef Talk
People Making News
Hotels & Resorts
%20%20%20%20%20Dolce Offers to Rebuild Meetings in Public Crisis
CVBs
%20%20%20%20%20Charlotte's Tim Newman Cultivates a Green Team
International
%20%20%20%20%20Downturn Deals Sands a Bad Hand in Macau
Transportation & Services
MN Exclusive Research
Green Beat
Insider Reports
%20%20%20%20%20Affordable Las Vegas
%20%20%20%20%20Galveston
Destination Insider
%20%20%20%20%20Phoenix
Incentive Reports
%20%20%20%20%20Europe
%20%20%20%20%20Ski Destinations
Meeting News Planners' Choice Awards
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - December 15, 2008