- The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognizes and salutes the greatest minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing with the release of its 'Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing' for 2006. The 'hot list' pays tribute to outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement.
'We see such outstanding campaigns and smart strategies all year long, and this is our opportunity to shine the spotlight on individuals who stand out in the industry for their creativity, intelligence, and passion for their work,' stated Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. 'With our annual release of the 'Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing' in hospitality, travel and tourism, we are looking to honor those whose work has really made a difference and raised the bar for the industry,' he added.
The 2006 winners, who join an impressive roster of previously cited industry leaders and trendsetters, are:
George Aguel, Senior Vice President for Disney Destinations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Cheryl Andrews, Founder, Cheryl Andrews Marketing
Ronald N. Andruff, President, The Travel Registry
Chris Avery, CHME, CMP, Vice President Business Development, Passkey International
Chuck Bowling, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, MGM Grand Resorts
Maureen Callahan, Vice President, Marketing, Destination Hotels & Resorts
Paul W. Crafton, Director of Travel Industry Sales, The Greenbrier
David G. Gabri, President, Associated Luxury Hotels
Christopher Hartley, Chief Executive, Global Hotel Alliance
Sue Heilbronner, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, TIG Global LLC
Terry Jicinsky, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Las Vegas CVA
Shafiq A. Khan, Senior Vice President, Ecommerce, Marriott International
Kevin Kowalski, Vice President Marketing/Crowne Plaza, InterContinental Hotels Group
Kevin Krone, Vice President of Interactive Marketing, Southwest Airlines
Jasper Malcolmson, Senior Director, Travel, Yahoo!
Michael Meade, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company
Cindy Novotny, Managing Partner, Master Connection Associates
Matt Ouimet, President, Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Eric Pearson, Senior Vice President of Channel Marketing, InterContinental Hotels
Michelle Peluso, President & CEO, Travelocity
Florence Quinn, President, Quinn & Co.
David A. Renker, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Destination Hotels & Resorts
Ted Souder, Midwest Travel Vertical Manager, Google, Inc.
Maurice A. Trosclair, Marketing Maestro, DNO-Destination New Orleans
Alejandro Watson, Director of Marketing/Mexico, InterContinental Hotels
Recipients were nominated through a 'call for entries' to the industry at-large and judged by a panel of senior industry executives. Individuals were judged for their work over the last year based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting-edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.
The Top 25 will be honored on stage at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala on Jan. 29, 2007. In addition, these individuals will receive a personalized plaque and be featured in the spring issue of HSMAI Marketing Review.
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