Plan Your Meetings

Names in the news: August 2008

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Lisa Kraus was promoted to director of marketing/audience development for Plan Your Meetings (PYM). Tom James will become PYM’s Southwest publisher on Aug. 18.

Richard Solomons, InterContinental Hotel Group’s financial director, became interim president of its Americas region.

Expedia Corporate Travel is changing its name to Egencia, an Expedia Inc. Company.

Rosen Hotels and Resorts Convention Hotels named Leslie Menichini vice president of sales and marketing.

Nalini Dube-Borzym became director of sales for Associated Luxury Hotels International’s Miami office; Penni LeRoy became the group’s Dallas-based director of sales, Midwest Region.

Michael Stephens became general manager of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale [Ariz.] Resort & Spa.

Nancy McFadyen became senior national sales executive for the Orlando/Orange County [Fla.] Convention & Visitors Bureau, focusing on Washington, D.C., association and trade show markets.

Tom Grimes was named the general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast [Fla.] at Town Center.

The Sunshine Hotel Group appointed Chuck V. Schoonmaker general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville/Pointe Verde, Fla.; Christopher L. Hill, CHSP, was named director of sales.

Giuseppe Napoli became chef de cuisine of NEO restaurant at Atlanta’s The Mansion on Peachtree.

Atlanta-based Chef Eric Catering & Events and AST: A Southern Tradition Catering and Event Planning have merged and are now known as the Atlanta Event Planning & Catering Group.

Jenny Munn, sales manager for Atlanta Arrangements, received the 2008 Rising Star Award at the Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter Phoenix Awards.

NYC & Company announced several new hires: Lisa Lopez is regional director of national accounts for the West Coast and Southwest regions; Kimberly Klyatta is regional director of national accounts, Midwest region; and Stacey Johnson is senior national sales manager for the Southeast region and Washington, D.C.

John Maibach was named general manager of the new Copley Square Hotel in Boston; Kimberly Altschuler was named director of sales and marketing.

Destination Worcester, the Massachusetts city’s new convention and visitors bureau, announced several appointments: Patrick Lynch is the CVB’s executive director; Robert Murdock is the sports and events manager; and Diana Casavecchia is the convention sales manager.

Richard Forester was named executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Melvin Tennant became president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis.

Kumi Anzalone became a national sales manager for the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Washington, D.C., office.

Jeffrey Oliasami became general manager of the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel & Convention Center; Tracy Noller Swibold was named director of sales.

Jim Olsovsky was named general manager of the Pittsburgh [Penn.] Marriott City Center.

Sheila Suhrer was named group sales director of Myrtle Beach, S.C.’s Island Vista resort.

Kevin Brant became Wolfgang Puck Catering’s director of sales for Union Station and Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas.

Cyndi Golden became assistant executive director of sales for the Irving [Texas] Convention & Visitors Bureau.