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Events Industry Council Announces Seven-Member Hall of Leaders Class

By Todd McElwee

Seven stellar members of the meetings industry have been announced as the latest inductees of the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Hall of Leaders. The honorees and the rest of EIC’s Global Award’s recipients will be recognized on October 16 during the EIC Global Awards Celebration at the Bellagio Resort & Casino Las Vegas.

The 2023 HOL Class includes the following:

Coming Soon

Salt Lake City Selected to Host 2025 IITA Summits… The International Inbound Travel Association Board of Directors selected Salt Lake City to host its 2025 Summit scheduled for February 9–12. Utah’s capital city was one of seven destinations bidding on the Summit.

Cathy Breden to Serve as Interim CEO of IAEE… Executive Vice President and COO Cathy Breden will take over the post on October 1 and retire from IAEE in June. David Dubois, President & CEO, is saying goodbye to IAEE to become CEO and President of Exhibitor Group.

Photos of the Week

The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) held its “11th Annual State of Black Tourism” event on September 21 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. Shown here is Derrick Johnson, CEO, NAACP, (grey suit, center); Jason Dunn, Executive Director, NCBMP (second from right); and association board members.

LaChelle Evans accepts the TSAE Affiliate of the Year Award on Sept 25.

Pennsylvania State Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Mongomery/Delaware) speaks at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg on September 19 about Senate Bill 926, which would prohibit school libraries from banning books “for political, racial, or ideological reasons” in line with ALA standards. Photo: Senator Cappelletti.

Visit Tampa Bay (VTB) was recognized during the Flagler Awards ceremony on September 6 as part of 2023 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando. Pictured here is Dana Young, CEO of Visit Florida (far left) and Jennifer Rominiecki, Chair of Visit Florida (far right), with members of Visit Tampa Bay. Left to right: Stefanie Zinke, JoLynn Lokey, Santiago C. Corrada, Patrick Harrison, Mary Haban, Vanessa Evans, and Janette Carter.

During the Accor #connectWithUs Annual Sales Blitz 2023, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown welcomed clients to Taco Tuesday in the hotel’s courtyard on September 12. Left to right: Mark Huntley, General Manager and Regional Vice President, Fairmont; Jason Rowley, Executive Sous Chef, Fairmont; Jennifer Erney, Executive Director, Global Sales, Meetings & Incentives and Industry Relations, Accor; and Jordi Gallardo, Executive Chef, Fairmont.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation recently announced that One Acre Fund – an agricultural service provider that supports Africa's smallholder farmers to build resilient communities – has been selected as the 2023 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize recipient and will receive $2.5 million in funding. Shown here is Francoise Mukakalisa. She is a mother of six from the Bugesera district of Rwanda. She mainly grows maize and beans and joined One Acre Fund in 2019.

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Association NEWS

Around Associations

Vegas Chamber Celebrates Launch of New Magazine… The Vegas Chamber, the most expansive business association in Nevada, has partnered with the Las Vegas Review-Journal to create a new magazine titled Taking Care of Business. The first issue of the new publication was released September 19, the same day as the Vegas Chamber’s annual trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with policymakers about Nevada business interests.
“This innovative partnership between the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Vegas Chamber builds on the strengths of both organizations and provides tremendous opportunities for Chamber members to increase the exposure of their brands,” said Mary Beth Sewald, President and CEO, Vegas Chamber.
More information can be found here.

Hotel NEWS

Checking Inn

Delta Hotels by Marriott launched a new complimentary hydration program in partnership with hydration brand waterdrop. Guests checking in to any of Delta Hotel’s 120-plus locations around the world are now offered complimentary water bottles in room, hydration stations and waterdrop’s Microdrink cubes, which are sugar free flavor cubes designed to enhance water with natural fruit, plants and vitamins.

“At Delta Hotels, we recognize the significance of well-being in today’s fast-paced environment and know that sometimes it’s best to slow down in order to speed up,” said Manny Rappenecker, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for Delta Hotels by Marriott. “Our new hydration program with waterdrop aligns perfectly with our brand’s ethos of delivering thoughtful touches for our on-the-go leisure and business guests. This hydration program invites travelers to take a moment to pause and recharge amidst their busy schedules.”

Convention Bureau/Center NEWS

CVB Update

NBA star and St. Louis native
Jayson Tatum filmed spots for Explore
St. Louis’ “In the Know” campaign.

Explore St. Louis has announced on September 28 the latest celebrity featured in its award-winning “In the Know” marketing campaign: St. Louis’ home-grown, NBA star Jayson Tatum.

While in town for Jayson Tatum Night at Busch Stadium, Tatum spent time in the studio filming television spots to share his favorite St. Louis things to do and places to visit.

Tatum’s ads began airing this week in 10+ targeted markets throughout the Midwest, including Chicago, which is St. Louis’s largest feeder market. The campaign airs via broadcast and digital platforms and has resulted in more than 10.7 million “awareness” households, according to Explore St. Louis.
“We are excited for Jayson Tatum to be our newest celebrity spokesperson to highlight all the great things St. Louis has to offer,” said Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer for Explore St. Louis and creator of the campaign. “Our ‘In the Know’ campaign has proven to be a fun way to attract new visitors and inspire more people to explore St. Louis; having Jayson as part of our campaign will make it even more successful.”

Explore St. Louis’ “In the Know” marketing campaign debuted in 2017. Other stars in the campaign include Nikki Glaser, John Goodman, Jenna Fischer, Andy Cohen, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jenifer Lewis, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Ozzie Smith. You can find all the celebrities at explorestlouis.com/intheknow/.

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