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OFF THE TOP |
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| People, Places & Things |
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The Hotel Monteleone has named Laurene Miller sales manager for the northeast area. A graduate of the University of New Orleans, Miller received her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in hotel, restaurant and tourism. Miller is responsible for coordinating and managing all northeast sales for the hotel. Bringing 27 years of hospitality industry experience, Miller laid the foundation for her career at the Hotel Monteleone when she was only 17. Prior to accepting her position at the Hotel Monteleone, Miller worked for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. Based in New Orleans, Miller held the position of national convention sales manager. In 2004, Miller held the position of national sales manager for the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. Miller also owns and is president of Tele-Phonics, a home-office-based tele-prospecting and training company. www.hotelmonteleone.com |
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The Shores Resort & Spa, a AAA 4-Diamond resort on Florida’s central east coast, announces the appointment of Francis Purvey as director of leisure sales & marketing, and Mary Hutchcraft as director of sales, groups. In his new role at The Shores, Purvey will focus on driving wholesale business, increasing leisure travel visitation and capitalizing on the property’s east Central Florida location near three international airports. He will also provide strategic leadership for The Shores’ leisure travel efforts and enhance relationships within the travel industry and among affiliate partners. Hutchcraft will direct the hotel’s sales and catering teams to increase meeting business in the corporate, association and SMERF (social, military, educational, religious and fraternal) market segments. A 20-year hospitality industry veteran, Purvey has worked as director of sales & marketing at numerous resorts. He recently spent four years at the Radisson Resorts, Aruba and St. Martin, where he led a successful sales and marketing effort. Previously, Purvey spent three years with the Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale. Hutchcraft has held director positions at several properties throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Most recently, she spent four years as director of sales at Reunion Resort in Orlando, leading its group sales efforts. She is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP) and a 20-year member of Meeting Professionals International. www.shoresresort.com |
Places
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Greater Fort Lauderdale has reached new levels of luxury with the first hotel in Broward County to receive the prestigious AAA 5-Diamond award: The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. The hotel debuted in August 2008 on the Fort Lauderdale beachfront, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean. The dramatically tiered 24-story hotel is reminiscent of a grand luxury liner and offers 192 guestrooms and suites, all with water views, plus 24,000 sq. ft. of sun-filled meeting space. The hotel was AAA’s only choice for its prestigious 5-Diamond award in the Fort Lauderdale hotel segment. The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is also a member of the Lauderdale Luxe Collection, featuring the destination’s best in-market hotels and resorts. www.sunny.org |
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The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Jackson-Flowood (Atlanta) has received the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2009 Torchbearer Award, the company’s most prestigious award. IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. The Torchbearer Awards were presented during the November 2009 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Jackson-Flowood is one of only 90 properties chosen from the IHG system of more than 4,300 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation—from quality to customer satisfaction. www.ichotelsgroup.com |
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Tampa’s popular Saddlebrook Resort has joined Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) as its newest member. The newly renovated resort with exceptional meeting facilities will now receive dedicated national sales services and support by ALHI as its authorized national sales extension to the meetings, incentive/recognition travel and convention marketplaces. Saddlebrook Resort becomes ALHI’s fifth member on Florida’s West Coast, joining the impressive 485-room South Seas Island Resort on beautiful Captiva Island; the recently renovated Naples Grande Beach Resort & Club, offering 48,770 sq. ft. of meeting space in Naples; the legendary Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel on pristine St. Pete Beach; and the sophisticated new InterContinental Tampa in the upscale Westshore business and shopping district in Tampa. www.alhi.com |
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The Sheraton Suites Key West has just completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, giving the all-suite hotel an entirely new look, inside and out. Beginning with the hotel’s entrance, front desk area and lobby, and including the restaurant, fitness center, outdoor pool area and guestrooms, the Key West property now boasts new furnishings and signature Sheraton amenities, all with a stylish and comfortable Caribbean flair. The hotel is also 100 percent smoke-free. Throughout the hotel, a palette of vibrant colors and tropical patterns create a warm and welcoming island feel. Centrally located across the street from Smather’s Beach, and a short complimentary shuttle ride to the bustling Duval Street, the Sheraton Suites Key West is an oasis within the larger paradise of Florida’s remarkable Key West. www.sheratonkeywest.com. |
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