CHICAGO – The Preferred Hotel Group, a provider of marketing support to independent hotels around the world, has named Christie Weller director of group sales for southern California and the Southwest. Weller will be a liaison between meeting planners and hotel members in her region. She has more than 10 years of hotel experience, including group sales manager for Leading Hotels of the World in southern California.
LANSING, Mich. – Jessica Cornman is marketing communications coordinator for the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. She worked as marketing coordinator with Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith, P.C., before joining the bureau.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. – Xanterra Parks and Resorts, operator of five Ohio State Park Lodges, has appointed Bill Griffith general manager of Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Greg Woodland general manager of Punderson Manor State Park Lodge. Griffith moved to Deer Creek after eight years as general manager of Shawnee State Park Lodge in West Portsmouth, Ohio. Woodland previously served as director of operations for Western Inns in Vancouver, Wash.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau has promoted Kat Gallagher to communications manager with a specialty in conventions and meetings. The bureau created the position to assist meeting planners in customizing marketing strategies for events booked in the city. Gallagher was originally hired in 2010 as convention sales manager.
STEVENSON, Wash. – Todd Gillespie has been named the director of sales and marketing for Skamania Lodge. Gillespie brings more than 20 years of hotel marketing experience, including stints at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., and Glade Springs Resort in Daniels, W.Va.
TYSONS CORNER, Va. – The Tysons Corner Marriott has hired Paige Romanow as catering sales executive. Romanow will work with meeting and event planners to customize catering for social events. Romanow has a Green Meetings Certification, as well as experience as business development coordinator for Shula’s Steak House.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Scott Cruikshank was appointed executive director of the Oregon Convention Center. Cruikshank has served as general manager of the Grand Heritage Hotel, the Governor Hotel and Avalon Hotel and Spa in Portland.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Elizabeth McMunn and Keith Keiser have joined the Shores Resort and Spa as catering sales manager and sales manager respectively. As catering sales manager, McMunn will handle contract negotiations of the resort’s local catering events. McMunn most recently worked as conference services manager at the Palm Coast-based Shores Resort property. Keiser has 20 years hospitality experience, including senior catering manager for Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla.
