Top Story
Dan Williams Tapped to Lead Greater Birmingham CVB
By Jonathan Trager
Dan Williams, a 27-year veteran of the tourism and hospitality industry, has been appointed President & CEO of the Greater Birmingham CVB (GBCVB) in Alabama.
Williams, who currently serves as Chief Sales Officer for Experience Columbus in Ohio, will officially assume his new role on June 1. He succeeds retiring CVB leader John Oros.
Read More
Photos of the Week
Trending Now
Industry Movers
Minerva Garcia
Minerva Garcia has been promoted to Area Sales Leader at Visit Indy. The new leadership role was designed to empower senior staff to mentor sales managers and oversee specific markets. She has spent nearly 11 years with Visit Indy, leading corporate groups and associations in the Northeast and Southeast markets—including Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan—as well as international groups ranging from 601 peak rooms to citywide groups.
Sebastian Stutz
Sebastian Stutz has been named General Manager of The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Before arriving at The Roosevelt, Stutz was general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. This turn at The Roosevelt is, his second; Stutz previously spent six years at the property—first as director of food & beverage, then as hotel manager. He was hotel manager of the Hilton Riverside.
Nick Johnson
Nick Johnson has been promoted to Sr. Vice President of Full Service & Lifestyle Hotels at First Hospitality. Johnson, an 11-year veteran of First Hospitality, began as a general manager and previously served as vice president of operations. He’ll lead the new full service & lifestyle hotels vertical and grow First Hospitality’s portfolio with high-end properties. He’s Vice Chair of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association.
Tracy Stoltz
Tracy Stoltz is now The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail’s General Manager. She has more than two decades of global hospitality experience. Most recently, she was general manager of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel. She also held various leadership positions at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Sheraton Waikiki; The Westin Maui Resort & Spa; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas; and Sheraton Maui Resort.
Adam Hayashi
Adam Hayashi is now Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Chief Revenue Officer. Hayashi’s hospitality career spans more than 20 years. Prior to joining Omni, Hayashi was global vice president of revenue management, distribution & BI, Accor, supporting more than 120 hotels across the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Raffles Hotels & Resorts brands. He has also held various leadership positions at Accor, including regional director of revenue management.
Tim Major
Tim Major, Vertical President of PMS for Fullsteam, is taking on an expanded role at Maestro PMS, a digital service provider for the hospitality industry. Warren Dehan will step down as the president of Maestro PMS and is immediately transitioning into an advisory role. With 15 years of experience leading companies, Major brings deep industry knowledge and a proven commitment to innovation. Fullsteam acquired Maestro in 2023.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
ALPA Applauds Proposed Bankruptcy Reform Legislation… Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), welcomed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introducing the bipartisan Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2025.
“Airline workers know far too well the devastating effects corporate bankruptcies have on the lives of hardworking Americans,” said Ambrosi. “Following 9/11, pilots, including myself, made enormous financial sacrifices to help save our airlines, only to have tens of billions of dollars taken from us in wage, pension, and benefit cuts, with court-dictated terms and conditions lasting years longer than required to reorganize and to return to profitability.”
He concluded: “ALPA pilots stand in strong support of this important legislation that will provide vital protections for all workers. Airline employees are still feeling the devastating effects corporate bankruptcies have on the lives of hardworking Americans and are still feeling the effects of that last round of bankruptcies that stripped them of their hard-earned pensions, salaries, and work rules.”
Find his complete statement here.
PCMA Northern California Chapter Hosting Leap… On May 8, PCMA’s Northern California Chapter will host L.E.A.P. at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.
“L.E.A.P. is a day of advanced-level learning comprised of high-impact sessions that provide attendees the opportunity to Learn, Engage, Act and Participate through creative outlets under the guidance of thought leaders,” the chapter said.
Register for the event here.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
The Vanguard Presidential Suite
The Vanguard Hotel, Autograph Collection in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced on April 14 its grand opening is set for May 6.
The property is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotels and was developed by Robert Finvarb Companies and Milford Singer & Company. Located adjacent to the University of Michigan, the Vanguard offers 188 guest rooms, including 24 one-bedroom suites. Guest rooms are equipped with premium amenities including Dyson hairdryers, Le Labo bath products and in-room espresso machines. The property also boasts the French-inspired brasserie, La Serre, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers five event rooms with a total of 11,062 square feet of meetings and events space.
“The Vanguard Hotel is not just a luxury destination—it’s a tribute to the independent spirit and academic excellence that define Ann Arbor,” said Jason Nelson, General Manager at The Vanguard. “We are thrilled to welcome guests into an environment that is both refined and approachable, where every detail has been designed to enhance their experience and connection to the city.”
Pyramid Global Hospitality, a leading hotel management company, announced the retirement of COO Eric Habermann this month after seven years with the company and almost 40 years in hospitality.
“It has been an incredible journey and a true privilege to work alongside my talented and passionate colleagues at Pyramid Global,” said Habermann. “I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished together and will reflect fondly on this chapter of my career. As I prepare to retire from the hospitality industry, I leave knowing our associates, owners and partners are in the most capable hands with Isaac, Judy, and the rest of our exceptional leadership team.”
Habermann will be succeeded by Isaac Hicks, the company’s current CFO and fellow hospitality veteran. Hicks will be succeeded by the company’s Judy Brigham, who previously served as Pyramid Global Hospitality’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance. Brigham has been with the company for 12 years and will be the first female COO in the company’s history.
AKA Hotels and Residences, a luxury hotel and residence brand, unveiled the AKA Canine Club—“the world’s first private membership club for dogs”—exclusively for its Access AKA members in a social media post on April 11. The announcement comes ahead of National Pet Month in May.
Through the club, canine companions of AKA Hotels and Residences guests are treated to a specialized greeting upon check-in that includes a curated list of area dog parks, walking routes, and grooming and boutique pet stores. Furry friends will also receive a special toy, bowl and a customized bed for their stay.
In honor of the AKA Canine Club’s launch, AKA said it will “be shining the spotlight on our new Embarksadors.” Guests with pets are invited to share photos of their four-legged travel companions during their AKA visit for a chance to be featured on AKA’s social media and website.
CVB Updates
The Las Vegas Convention Center Authority has announced that construction on the $600 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s (LVCC) legacy campus has made significant headway and is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2025.
The renovation launched in 2023 to extend the contemporary design, architecture, and customer experience of the West Hall. In January 2024, work was completed on a new East entrance to the South Hall, a contemporary administrative office complex, and state-of-the-art board room. Construction in 2024 focused on upgrades to modernize the North Hall, including renovated exhibition space, meeting rooms and improved technology features. Construction on a new grand lobby between North and Central halls, a climate-controlled concourse between North and South Halls, and renovated exhibition space in the Central Hall will take place through 2025. The West Hall’s signature “ribbon roof” architectural design has already been extended to Central Hall.
In 2024, the LVCC hosted 47 conventions with approximately 1.1 million attendees.
Find an older issue? Here.
