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ASAE Names Five to 2025 Class of Fellows
By Todd McElwee
ASAE is inducting a quintet of association industry stalwarts into its Fellows program who will join a group of more than 300 professionals to have received the designation.
The ASAE Fellows program, established in 1986, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated visionary leadership, a commitment to conscious inclusion, and a sustained impact on their organizations and the community of association professionals, organizers said.
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Industry Movers
Doreen Patino
Doreen Patino is now the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk’s Director of Sales & Marketing. The property is in San Antonio. Patino brings long track record to the role, having served in sales leadership positions at several San Antonio hotels. She recently acted as director of sales & marketing at The St. Anthony Hotel. Patino previously held director of sales & marketing positions with the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio.
Travis Bowman
Travis Bowman is now the Sr. Vice President of People Services at First Hospitality, a hotel operating and development company. In 2009, Bowman started as a hotel general manager. He served as vice president of learning and performance and will expand First Hospitality’s First Path leadership development program. Bowman’s an active member of CHART (Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers) and SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management).
Tom Kermabon
Tom Kermabon is the new General Manager of Hotel Nia, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel in Menlo Park, California. Kermabon brings more than 36 years of experience in management, operations, pre-openings and re-brandings. Most recently, Kermabon served as area general manager of San Diego Marriott Del Mar and DoubleTree Del Mar under HM Alpha Hotels & Resorts. He was general manager at the Omni San Diego Hotel.
Chef Scott Plumley
Chef Scott Plumley is now Henderson Beach Resort’s Executive Chef. The resort is in Destin, Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico. Plumley has more than 30 years of culinary experience spanning fine dining, large-scale hospitality, and resort operations. His career has included executive roles at the Bay Point Sheraton Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida; Governor’s Club in Nashville; and the Embassy Suites in Panama City Beach.
Richard Poskanzer
Richard Poskanzer has been named General Manager of Virgin Hotels Nashville. Poskanzer graduated from Cornell University and joins Virgin Hotels following an extensive tenure with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, where he held multiple leadership roles in Nashville, Palo Alto, and Philadelphia. Most recently, he served as vice president of operations of Picerne Residential, overseeing the development and operations of luxury communities across California, Nevada, and Colorado.
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
AMPs Golf Tournament Around the Corner… On April 30, the Association of Meeting Professionals’ (AMPs) Golf Tournament will be held at Old Hickory Golf Course in Woodbridge, Virginia.
AMPS is partnering with Experience Grand Rapids for the Planner/Supplier Challenge, benefiting a local pet rescue organization.
“Join us in supporting high-risk animals in need by donating pet food or making a financial contribution at Hole #16,” the association said. “Your generosity will help provide care and find homes for cats, dogs, and other species. Experience Grand Rapids proudly supports pet-friendly initiatives in Beer City USA, and together, we can make a difference for animals in need.”
More information is available at ampsweb.org.
CalSAE Hosting Southern California Social… The California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE) will hold it SoCal Region Social on May 7 at Dave & Busters in Orange. Greater Ontario (GOCAL) is partnering on the event.
“Join your SoCal region for a fun-filled networking reception at Dave & Buster’s, where nostalgia meets excitement!” the chapter said. “Whether you’re reliving your favorite games or trying something new, there’s plenty of fun to go around! See you there!”
For more information log onto calsae.org.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Adam Hayashi
Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Adam Hayashi as its Chief Revenue Officer on April 7. In the role, Hayashi will take on Omni’s strategic goals related to topline revenue performance and capturing greater market share, Omni said. He will report directly to Omni’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jeff Doane.
Prior to joining Omni, Hayashi served at Global Vice President of Revenue Management, Distribution & BI at Accor. In that role, he supported more than 120 Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and Raffles Hotels & Resorts. Throughout his 20-year career, Hayashi held various leadership positions at Accor, including Regional Director of Revenue Management and Vice President of Revenue Management, North & Central America. Hayashi also serves on the America’s Board for the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
“I’m excited to welcome Adam to the Omni family and look forward to the innovation that he will bring to the team,” said Doane. “I have had the opportunity to work with Adam in the past and know his breadth of experience will contribute to Omni’s success as we continue to expand our revenue goals and footprint throughout the industry.”
Marriott International’s rewards program, Marriott Bonvoy, unveiled a new campaign “celebrating hoe travel shapes us,” on April 4.
The cinematic global campaign features a new film called “You Are the Greatest Souvenir,” which “explores the myriad ways travel with Marriott Bonvoy can shape you—from discovering a new passion for nature, to forging a deeper connection with a destination, or perhaps even getting a tattoo inspired by the local art – it is not about the souvenirs you buy, but the person it helps you become,” Marriott said.
Directed by Fleur Fortuné, the campaign launched on April 5, appearing in NCAA DI Men’s Final Four and DI Women’s Championship games, on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
“The experiences we offer are not just destinations—they are transformative journeys, capturing the essence of what it means to explore the world and, in turn, discover yourself,” said Peggy Roe, Chief Customer Officer at Marriott. “This campaign is a celebration of how travel shapes us, deepens our connection to the world, and leaves an indelible mark on our identity.”
To view the campaign, visit marriott.com.
CVB Updates
Destinations International (DI) and Smart Meetings announced on April 9 the presentation of a collaborative white paper, Best Practices for Managing Event Risk, at its 2025 Convention Sales & Services Summit.
The summit took place on April 9–10 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Planning for safety is no longer optional—it’s an essential part of hosting responsible, resilient events,” said Don Welsh, President & CEO of DI. “This white paper reflects the commitment of our industry to create experiences that are not only engaging but also grounded in proactive risk strategy.”
The white paper draws on responses from more than 60 event professionals surveyed during IMEX America in October 2024. It explores how industry leaders are navigating challenges such as physical security threats, cybersecurity risks, natural disasters, food safety and political unrest—while offering real-world examples and actionable solutions.
Some findings in the report are only 36% of planners currently have a risk management team in place, 52% develop a crisis management plan for every event, and 58% include contingency costs in event budgets—most ranging from 1–10%.
The white paper is available online.
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