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Tampa Prepared for Expected Onslaught of Hurricane Milton
Florida’s Third-Largest City Ultimately Spared Direct Hit
By Jonathan Trager
Prior to the expected arrival of Hur-ricane Milton on the coast of central Florida last week, Tampa was bracing itself for devastation.
Before Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the evening of October 9, Visit Tampa Bay was in constant communication with Hillsborough County and City of Tampa officials. Representatives were involved in meetings with each respective Emergency Operations Center.
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Industry Movers
Kinsey Robb
Kinsey Robb has been appointed Executive Director of the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA). With more than 15 years of experience in the visual arts industry, Robb joins ADAA from her previous role as executive director of Art Center Sarasota. During her tenure, Robb spearheaded the expansion of the cultural organization’s program offerings and established a free youth arts program. She held positions at ADAA member galleries.
Stephon Alexander
Stephon Alexander has been promoted by Oak View Group (OVG), managers of the VSU Multi-Purpose Center, from Operations Manager to General Manager. The facility is located in Petersburg, Virginia, at Virginia State University. Alexander was an event manager at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, and as an event manager and assistant box office manager at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Maurice Tax
Maurice Tax is now Director of Food & Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. Tax brings more than 15 years of experience in hospitality, with extensive knowledge in food & beverage. He comes to Half Moon Bay from The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, where he served as director of food & beverage. He is well acquainted with the brand, starting his tenure in 2007 in Barcelona.
Eric Gavin
Eric Gavin has been appointed Makeready’s President of Operations. The hospitality company is based in Dallas. In his new role, he’ll focus on managing performance throughout Makeready’s portfolio, overseeing all operational aspects of the company. Gavin most recently served as COO for Benchmark, Pyramid Global Hospitality’s Independent, luxury & lifestyle division. He has been involved with Loews Hotels, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, and Salamander Hotels & Resorts.
Tamika Weiss
Tamika Weiss is now serving as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Elizabeth Hotel—a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Elizabeth is home to the Magic Rat Live Music venue. Weiss joins The Elizabeth from the Embassy Suites Loveland by Hilton Conference Center. She served as a conference services manager at the Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center in Breckenridge.
Nathanael Harris
Nathanael Harris has been named General Manager at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (GRCC). Oak View Group (OVG) made the announcement. Harris brings more than 15 years of experience in venue management, marketing, and business development to the GRCC. Prior to joining the GRCC, Harris was OVG’s General Manager of the Virginia State University (VSU) Multi-Purpose Center in Ettrick, Virginia. Before VSU, Harris worked in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
GBTA Hosting Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit 2024 in Houston… The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is bringing its Project, Crew, and Team Travel Summit to the Omni Houston Galleria from November 18–19.
The event includes a welcome dinner, one-day summit of education in travel logistics, risk management, mobility issues, and technology solutions and is designed for specialized buyers and suppliers in the sports, entertainment, emergency management, non-profit, energy, project, and consultancy sectors.
“This must-attend, interactive event will show case best practices in managing unique traveler journeys; connect buyers with substantial spend of non-traditional travel services and innovative supplier partners; and uncover new solutions to the many challenges of working in a fragmented ecosystem,” GBTA said.
Find more information at gbta.org.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Hard Rock International launched its 25th Annual Pinktober Campaign in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign is intended to raise funds for breast cancer research through activations at Hard Rock properties across the globe and online.
The campaign raised $1.3 million last year, and to kick off Pinktober in 2024, the Hard Rock Heals Foundation—the giving arm of the casino hotel behemoth—has donated $100,000 to the American Cancer Society. The donation will support advocacy, research and patient support initiatives, Hard Rock said.
“For the past 25 years, Hard Rock has proudly supported researchers at incredible organizations across the globe working toward a cure for breast cancer,” said Stephanie Piimauna, Sr. Vice President of People & Inclusion and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Seminole Hard Rock Support Services. “Through the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, we’re honored to do our part and are deeply grateful to our partners, loyal guests, and team members who help us make a meaningful impact in raising awareness and funds for this vital cause each year.”
Choice Hotels International announced on October 3 the launch of Radisson Individuals, marking the “latest major investment in the Radisson Hotels Americas brand since Choice’s acquisition in 2022.” The Radisson Individuals portfolio consists of upper scale boutique and independent hotels in the Americas.
“Choice is a different company today than we were just a few years ago. We’ve seen tremendous excitement for our upscale and upper upscale brands including Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Ascend Hotel Collection and Cambria. That’s a testament to the strategic investments we’ve made to provide a strong value proposition to developers interested in growing within these segments,” said Patrick Pacious, President and CEO of Choice. “With Radisson Individuals, we have a great new opportunity for developers and owners of full-service boutique hotels to benefit from Choice’s powerful distribution engine.”
The Albert Hotel will open in Fredericksburg, Texas, on January 3, 2025, according to the property’s management firm, New Waterloo. The 105-room hotel was named after Albert Keidel, and is a blend of old and newly renovated Keidel family home, built in 1860; the Brockmann-Kiehne House, built in 1870; the Keidel Pharmacy, built in 1906; and The Saloon, built in 1888.
The Albert Hotel will feature 3,600 square feet of event space, a full-service spa and four food and beverage concepts: The Saloon, a neighborhood whiskey and beer bar; The Pharmacy, a market that offers coffee, house-made pastries, sandwiches and salads; The Restaurant at Albert Hotel, which will offer seasonal gourmet dining; and Junebugs, a backyard barbecue restaurant.
Convention Bureau/Center NEWS
CVB Update
The Baltimore Convention Center on October 9 announced a partnership with KultureCity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs.
Through this collaboration, the Baltimore Convention Center has achieved Sensory Inclusive certification, reinforcing the Center’s commitment to providing a welcoming and accommodating environment for all guests. The Sensory Inclusive program, pioneered by KultureCity, is designed to better equip venues to assist individuals with sensory sensitivities, including those with autism, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dementia, and other sensory disabilities.
As part of the certification process, more than 100 Baltimore Convention Center staff members received specialized training from medical professionals and neurodivergent experts to recognize and support individuals who may experience sensory overload. This training ensures the team is prepared to respond compassionately and effectively when a guest may feel overwhelmed.
As part of this initiative, sensory bags equipped with noise-canceling headphones (provided by Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and weighted lap pads will be available to guests who may need them. These resources are designed to help individuals manage the environmental stimuli during events including loud sounds, bright lights, or crowded spaces.
“At the Baltimore Convention Center, creating an inclusive and accessible experience is at the core of how we serve our guests every day,” said Mac Campbell, Executive Director of the Center. “This partnership with KultureCity takes our commitment to accessibility and inclusion further by ensuring that guests with sensory sensitivities can feel supported and comfortable while in our building. This work is about more than accessibility—it’s about creating a space where every visit feels seamless for those who use our space.”
