Meeting News - April 12, 2010 - (Page 22)

Meeting People Spokane CVB President, CEO Harry Sladich Joins Red Lion Spokane Regional Convention Visitors Bureau president and CEO Harry Sladich will leave his post this month to become executive vice By Chris Davis cdavis@meetingnews.com development, marketing, strategic partnerships and operations. appointment follows an unsuccessful initial search effort in which “nobody stood out,” Kohler told The Business Journal of Milwaukee in February. “They weren’t what we were looking for. We want someone who is very passionate about the city.” L&K Names Former StarCite Exec Mark Phillips COO Coral Gables, Fla.-based cruise meeting and incentive specialist Landry & Kling last month appointed meetings technology veteran Mark Phillips to the new position of chief operating officer. A founding team member at meetings technology company StarCite, where he most recently was managing director and vice president of international markets, Phillips has been charged with growing Landry & Kling’s international presence and increasing usage and expanding the capabilities of Seasite.com, L&K’s new online cruise meeting portal. Phillips departed StarCite in December 2008. Said Landry & Kling CEO Joyce Landry in a statement, “His global sales and operations know-how will be a tremendous benefit to our Visit Milwaukee Appoints Travel Vet Paul Upchurch CEO Visit Milwaukee, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, last month appointed longtime hospi- OnPeak Taps Trade Show Exec Glenn Feder To Head Sales New Chicago-based event housing solutions provider OnPeak last month named Glenn Feder, a 20year veteran of the trade show and events industries, as its executive vice president of sales and new business development. Based in Washington, D.C., Feder is responsible for leading the OnPeak sales team in six regions in the United States and Canada and defining market strategies. Feder’s résumé most recently includes a stint as president of client Events with Alexandria, Va.-based trade show management company National Trade Productions. “When conducting due diligence prior to accepting this position, I president of sales and marketing for Red Lion Hotels. Sladich, who will begin his new position May 3, will oversee all aspects of sales and marketing for the chain’s 45 hotels in eight Western states and Canada. “This job allows me to continue to live in the community I love, Spokane, but also allows me to meet new challenges,” said Sladich, who departs the CVB April 23. The CVB credited Sladich with growing revenues by 47 percent in his five years as president and CEO. He joined Spokane from the hospitality industry, previously spending eight years as vice president of sales and marketing for Sterling Hospitality. “This executive-level addition is another in a series of investments Red Lion is making to grow the brand. Harry’s extensive knowledge of the lodging industry, marketing and sales will be critical to Red Lion as we intensify our sales effort and work to expand the Red Lion system through franchising,” said Red Lion president and CEO Jon Eliassen. No replacement for Sladich was immediately announced. 22 MeetingNews April 12, 2010 company. And, since leaving StarCite, Mark has been consulting with Financial Times 1000 companies on initiatives to improve operational efficiencies and global reach. This exposure has multiplied the assets he brings to Landry & Kling.” Phillips will assume day-to-day oversight of both Landry & Kling and Seasite.com, including business tality and tourism executive Paul Upchurch its president and CEO, ending a nationwide search effort that lasted more than six months. Upchurch has spent about 30 years in travel-related industries, including a four-year stint ending in 2005 as vice president of hotel operations with Milwaukee-based Marcus Hotels and Resorts. He most recently served as COO of Chicagobased private sports resort and club operator TCA Holdings. “Paul brings to the position a long and successful track record in the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Visit Milwaukee chairperson Lynda Kohler. “Working with staff, our board and industry partners, we’re confident that Paul’s leadership will help us grow our regional tourism economy and bring it to the next level.” The CVB was governed by an interim committee of executives after former president and CEO Doug Nielson departed last year after eight years at the helm. Upchurch’s saw that the merger of Travel Technology Group and Ambassadors presented a unique opportunity to trump the competition with the best product and service offering in the industry,” Feder said. TTG and Ambassadors merged in August 2009 to form OnPeak. ss www.meetingnews.com http://www.Seasite.com http://www.Seasite.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - April 12, 2010

Meeting News - April 12, 2010
Contents
Meeting Post
Newsmaker
Meetings Spotlight
Viewpoint
MeetingNews Research
Event Profile
Association Watch
Meeting People
Construction Cites
Theme Parks
MeetingNews Roundtable
Conv. Center Showcase

Meeting News - April 12, 2010