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Industry Associations, Hotels Launch Relief Efforts for Wildfire Recovery
By Jonathan Trager, Todd McElwee, and Jordan Bradley
In the wake of the destruction caused by the deadly California wildfires this month, industry associations and hotels have stepped up to provide crucial aid to those most impacted by the disaster.
On January 14, Destinations International (DI) launched the Destinations International LA Wildfire Recovery Fund. The response from members was fast, with more than $100,000 raised in the first 72 hours, including $10,000 from the association and an equal amount from the DI Foundation.
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Consumer Technology Association Announces New Global Innovation Champions… At CES 2025, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the 2025 Global Innovation Scorecard, measuring the political, economic, and demographic factors that foster innovation.
In its biennial global scorecard, CTA grades countries for which public, verifiable, and independent third-party data exists; comparable data across nations is available; and governments can influence public policy.
“Technology drives solutions to global challenges, from access to health care and mobility to energy and sustainability,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair, CTA. “Our Innovation Champions exemplify the transformative power of collaboration between government and industry to enhance lives worldwide. We aspire for global leaders to learn from each other and fully harness the benefits of technology in the future.”
The Innovation Champions were honored during the State of the Industry keynote, including the following country representatives accepting their awards on stage:
- Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry, Estonia
- Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the United States
- Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Justice and Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Germany
- Dirk Beljaarts, Minister of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands
- Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden
- Ralf Heckner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States
Find more information at ces.tech.
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Kelly Gleeson Smith
Caesars Entertainment announced on January 10 that Kelly Gleeson Smith has been appointed the company’s next Sr. Vice President of Sales.
Gleeson Smith has been with Caesars since 2017 and has more than 20 years of experience in sales. According to Caesars, she “has transformed our meeting and events sales strategy, leading a powerhouse team of over 120 sales executives who have consistently set new production records.”
Gleeson Smith is “an active member of the professional community,” Caesars said, and is involved with PCMA, MPI, IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum, the US Travel Sustainability Council, and ASAE.
The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is set to celebrate Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday all year long. Throughout 2025, the Westgate kicked off “The King Lives On” celebration with a three-hour Elvis DJ set, tribute show by the cast of “The King Comes Home Elvis Tribute Show,” and specialty Elvis-themed cocktails, photo opportunities with the property’s iconic Elvis Statue, a memorabilia display, and giant Elvis birthday card signings.
“Elvis’s presence is still felt throughout the halls of Westgate,” said David Stanley, Elvis’ step-brother and star of the Westgate show “My Brother Elvis: An Evening with David Stanley.”
Later this year, the Westgate will honor Elvis with the “Love Me Tender” tribute in February, including new romance packages, dining specials, and Elvis-inspired celebrations; a Viva Las Vegas tribute in July, including live music, themed events and exclusive promotions; and the Viva Las Vegas Suite, “a newly designed suite inspired by Elvis’ time at the property, his style, music, and history” available to book throughout the summer, Westgate said.
“This celebration is a testament to his enduring legacy and the special connection he had with this property, the city, and his fans,” Stanley said.
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CVB Update
Visit Tampa Bay is inviting out-of-state travelers to “escape the chill and discover unforgettable adventures in the world-class destination of Tampa Bay with its new winter sales and marketing campaign,” the group announced on January 13.
Running now through the end of March, the campaign highlights the region’s mix of adventurous experiences and laidback vibes in the key markets of New York, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Atlanta. In addition, the campaign includes key international markets in Canada, the U.K., and Germany.
The creative prominently showcases the ways Tampa Bay is “Ready to Play,” “Ready to Relax,” and “Ready to Go Wild” by spotlighting the area’s many attractions, including The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
“Our marketing efforts from the ‘Tampa Bay is Ready’ campaign proved overwhelmingly successful in helping Tampa Bay’s hospitality industry navigate weather-related challenges last fall, leading to record tourism numbers in November and propelling us past $1 billion in hotel revenue for the third-straight year,” said Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “We realize that maintaining that momentum requires diligent work and renewed investment, and our latest campaign is designed with the goal of ensuring Tampa Bay remains a destination of choice.”