NAPLES, Fla. – The Naples Beach Hotel has hired Laura Reed as sales manager. Reed will focus on the Southwest Florida market. She recently graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor’s degree in resort and hospitality management.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Phil Campbell has joined the LeConte Center at Pigeon Force as facility manager. The center is scheduled to open in September.
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens has promoted Vickie Grace to senior sales manager. Grace has 22 years of sales experience, including her last six years as remote-based national account manager for Callaway Gardens. She will oversee the association market and certain focus accounts.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Karolyn Kirchgesler is the new CEO of Team San Jose. Kirchgesler comes to the bureau with 25 year of experience, including her most recent position as president and CEO of Visit Saint Paul.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Chattanoogan has appointed Adriane Elrod as group sales manager. Elrod previously served as director of sales for Candlewood Suites in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has hired Andrea Hamblen as convention sales manager in the convention development department. Hamblen is responsible for group meetings and conventions with 300 rooms or less on peak nights in the sports, trade, commercial, hobby and direct selling markets. She worked at LG&E as product marketing manager.
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – Larry Colton is the new director of sales and marketing for the Resort at Squaw Creek. Colton comes to the hotel from his sales position at Pointe Hilton Resorts in Phoenix, Ariz.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City CVB has welcomed back Amy Higgins as senior manager of convention sales. Higgins worked for the CVB from 2006 to 2010. She will serve as the sales contact for the religious, hobby, vocational, Native American and agricultural markets. During her time away from the bureau, she worked as director of sales for the Evansville CVB in Ind., and sales manager at the Little Rock CVB in Ark.
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Lara LeGrand was promoted to director of sales for the Hotel Julien Dubuque. She previously served as catering manager for the property. Her focus will be on Midwest companies, associations and leisure travelers. LeGrand worked as senior sales manager with the Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena, Ill., before coming to the hotel.
LEESBURG, Va. – Lansdowne Resort has hired Sherry Abedi as director of operations. Abedi brings almost 20 years of experience in operations and general management, including her time at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C.
