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Brand USA Partners with America250 to Promote Nation’s Semiquincentennial
By Todd McElwee
Enthusiastic to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, Brand USA and America250 have announced a strategic partnership aimed at inspiring international audiences to explore the nation’s history, heritage, and culture throughout the anniversary year.
“Brand USA is proud to partner with America250 to showcase the significance of this historic celebration to the world,” said Fred Dixon, President & CEO of Brand USA. “With our expertise in international marketing and storytelling, Brand USA is uniquely positioned to highlight the spirit and significance of America250 globally. Through this partnership, we’ll inspire travelers to connect with the places, people, and moments that define our nation—and invite them to be part of this historic milestone.”
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Photos of the Week
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Industry Movers
Lisa Sterns
Lisa Sterns has been named Director of Sales of The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Most recently, Sterns was an event manager with WINDO (Wholesale Independent National Distributors Organization). Prior to that, Sterns spent 15 years as national sales manager at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa in Arizona. Her hospitality career also includes nine years as a national sales manager at Destination Hotels and Resorts.
Brent Lausterer
Brent Lausterer, CMP, is now Director of Sales for the Maui VCB. The Hawai‘i VCB made the announcement. Lausterer will lead group and leisure sales efforts across Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i. He has more than 25 years of experience in Hawai‘i’s hospitality industry and most recently served as area group sales manager at Prince Resorts Hawai‘i. He was raised on Maui.
Cole Spain
Cole Spain has joined real estate advisor Avison Young’s Hospitality Group as vice president. Spain has facilitated and advised on more than $597 million in debt, structured finance and investment sales transactions throughout the course of his career. Prior to Avison Young, Spain served as Director of Business Development of Twenty Degrees North, a debt & structured finance brokerage. He worked in hotel and commercial real estate.
Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall, who has served as Corporate Director of Sales for the past nine years, has been promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Mainsail Lodging & Development. In his new role, Marshall will lead the development and execution of sales and marketing strategies for Mainsail’s portfolio, focusing on maximizing revenue opportunities, cultivating top talent, and contributing to the feasibility and planning of future projects.
Austin Seeley
Austin Seeley will transition to Louisville Tourism’s Convention Sales Manager. He has served as destination services manager for the past two and a half years. He will be responsible for working with booked convention groups, joining the Convention Sales department on July 1, handling health/medical, scientific/engineering, cultural and education market segments that utilize 300 or fewer hotel rooms on peak event nights. Seeley graduated from Indiana State University.
Branden Fein
Branden Fein is now the Old Edwards Inn & Spa’s Spa Director. The resort is in North Carolina. Fein has held leadership roles at properties across the country, including Executive Director of Spa & Wellness of Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas and Director of Spa of Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He worked at Mokara Spas at Omni Hotels & Resorts in San Antonio.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
NBAA Congratulates Wright Brothers Trophy Recipient Joan Sullivan Garrett… The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is congratulating Joan Sullivan Garrett, a visionary in airborne emergency medical care, on her selection as the 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy recipient from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA).
In 1985, Garrett drew upon her experiences as a critical-care flight nurse and chief medical officer to found MedAire, a provider of aeromedical training and global emergency telemedical services. She served as the company’s CEO until 2006.
“For decades, Joan has combined entrepreneurialism with expertise and empathy to save countless lives and make our entire industry safer and more secure,” said NBAA President & CEO Ed Bolen. “We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”
Today, MedAire continues to provide real-time medical, critical care and security assistance to thousands of clients, including business aviation flight departments, private and commercial maritime operators, commercial airlines and the federal government.
NBAA said Garrett’s testimony before Congress in 2001 is widely considered to have prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require domestic airlines to carry automated external defibrillators and enhanced emergency medical kits.
Garrett served on NBAA’s Board of Directors from 2011–2015 and was both Chair and Vice Chair of the NBAA Advisory Council. In 2017, NBAA presented her with its Meritorious Service Award, the association’s highest honor. Garrett is also the recipient of the Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. She was inducted to the National Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
The Wright Brothers Trophy has been presented by NAA in partnership with the Aero Club of Washington since 1948. The trophy, which recognizes a living American for “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States,” is displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
The NAA’s 77th Annual Wright Memorial Dinner will be held on December 12, in Washington, D.C.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Denver-based hotel management company Stonebridge expanded its portfolio to include The MC Hotel, a member of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection in Montclair, New Jersey, the company announced on June 27. The lifestyle property boasts 159 guest rooms, panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, and more than 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
“The MC Hotel, Autograph Collection is an exceptional asset in a thriving market, and we are proud to welcome it to our managed family,” said Rob Smith, President and CEO of Stonebridge. “It’s vibrant location and strong cultural ties make it a perfect fit for our lifestyle portfolio.”
Appellation, the culinary-first hotel brand, opened its first hotel, the Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa in Lodi, California, Boutique Hotelier reported on June 27.
The opening follows a renovation of the resort led by Appellation’s Christopher Hunsberger and Charlie Palmer.
The renovation includes a reimagined culinary menu in line with Appellation’s company values of prioritizing a hotel’s culinary offerings.
“More than anything, we want Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa to serve as the hub for Lodi and greater Central Valley residents, where guests rub shoulders with the growers, makers and purveyors who make up the hotel’s vibrant community,” said Hunsberger. “Our goal is to preserve the hotel’s rich heritage and welcoming setting, while putting even more emphasis on a celebration of Lodi, creating a powerful sense of ‘here’ for guests, as we aspire to do with all our hotels and resorts.”
CVB Updates
Visit Denver announced on June 18 that 2024 Denver tourism was consistent with 2023’s record-breaking year, welcoming 37.1 million domestic visitors.
Marketable trips to Denver, those Visit Denver specifically targets since this group is defined by its openness to tourism promotions, rose 14% to 8.7 million visitors.
“Tourism is vital to the Denver economy, and we are pleased to see 2024 numbers in line with 2023, which matched our expectations,” said Richard W. Scharf, President & CEO of Visit Denver. “After 2023’s strong results, where Denver’s results exceeded those of many other cities that did not fully recover until 2024, keeping pace is an accomplishment that shows the combined strength of the tourism product in Denver and the promotional efforts of the organization. We are proud that
Denver had such a strong showing with the economic headwinds last year and in an increasingly competitive market. We are equally proud that the tourism industry was able to support 73,500 jobs across the metro area last year, and to generate millions in state and local taxes.”
Overnight visitors totaled 19.8 million. Overnight leisure visitors totaled 17.4 million, consistent with 2023.
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