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Photos of the Week

Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group; and Ray Bloom, Chairman and Founder, IMEX Group. IMEX America is October 13–15, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. It is preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on October 12. Credit: IMEX

The Senior Hospitality Industry Professionals (S.H.I.P.)—an industry networking group founded 20 years ago by David Giger (retired from Hilton Worldwide)—gathered on September 29 at The Falls in Falls Church Virginia.

Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, AAiP, President & CEO, ASAE, speaks at the 2026 Summit Awards Dinner on September 22 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. During her remarks, she welcomed D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to the event.

Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines’ Captain Mark Cokewell was joined on his final flight by daughter and flight attendant Bethany Wish. Cokewell has spent more than 40 years in commercial aviation. Here they are joined by his grandsons Jack and Finn.

The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) held its State of Black Tourism (SOBT) on September 17 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. The event included a panel discussion with Mayor of Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson II, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. Shown here are Lucas; Sheila R. Neal, CASE, Associate Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Visit Detroit; Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA); Scott; Johnson; Kevin L. S. Richardson, NCBMP Chairman; and Jason E. Dunn Sr., CEO, NCBMP.

Editor’s Pick

Vanessa Claspill

IMEX America Fifteen Years of Possibility

NCBMP Conference in Louisville to Be ‘Bigger Than the Moment’

Caroline Beteta Appointed Interim President & CEO of Brand USA

Erica Doyne

Erica Doyne is now Chief Marketing Officer of Highgate. Doyne is a marketing executive with nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience across the travel and hospitality industry. Most recently, Doyne served as chief marketing officer of Cardinal Financial, where she established the company’s marketing organization and led brand strategy, customer acquisition, and digital product.

James Cress

James Cress will serve as Acting President & CEO of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) while the organization searches for its next leader. He’s currently ELFA’s immediate past chair. Cress brings more than 30 years of banking and equipment finance experience and a deep knowledge of ELFA. He spent nearly 18 years with Stryker. Before Stryker, he spent eight years with National City Commercial Capital.

Christopher J. “Chris” Rocheleau

Christopher J. “Chris” Rocheleau has been selected as President & CEO of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA). Rocheleau will join ACI-NA on October 5, succeeding Kevin M. Burke, who will step down on October 4 after nearly 13 years of leadership. Burke will serve as CEO Emeritus through the end of 2026.

Brianna Robinson-Verloop

Brianna Robinson-Verloop is joining the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) as Sr. Director of Public Policy. She’ll advance members’ policy priorities, direct strategic advocacy efforts and lead the NASDA policy team in support of American agriculture. Robinson-Verloop brings more than 15 years of experience shaping policy.

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Jon Coley

Jon Coley has been appointed Sr. Vice President and Head of Sales at Inn-Flow, an all-in-one back-office platform built for hotels. Coley brings more than 20 years of experience spanning new business sales, account management and fostering customer relationships. Most recently, he served as sr. vice president of sales at GoCanvas, where his leadership responsibilities included developing sales strategies and leading a series of partnership expansion efforts.

Ernesto Rivera

Ernesto Rivera has been named General Manager of Magnolia Hotel Omaha, a historic boutique hotel in Omaha’s Old Market District. Rivera first entered the hospitality industry in college as an airport greeter at the El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Prior to joining Magnolia Hotel Omaha, he served as director of operations of The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Westin at The Woodlands.

Bruce Johnson

Bruce Johnson as has joined The Abbey Resort as the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s General Manager. Most recently, Johnson served as the director of dining services and general manager for Sodexo in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Previously, he held various senior leadership positions with Great Wolf Lodge, Chula Vista Resort & Spa, and Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark at Marcus Hotels & Resorts in Lake Geneva, where he oversaw operations.