The Weekly Community Newspaper of Associations, CVBs, and Hotels
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Visit Anchorage Assists Relocated Natives After Devastating Storm
By Jonathan Trager
Visit Anchorage played a key role in accommodating hundreds of Alaska Natives who were forced to flee from flooded villages in the aftermath of a typhoon earlier this month.
The remnants of Typhoon Halong that roared into western Alaska created the worst coastal surge in decades, submerging homes and destroying entire neighborhoods. The storm impacted 52 communities, with the hardest-hit including Kipnuk and Kwigillingok.
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U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding ravaged western Alaska communities. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak
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Industry Movers
Lori Joy Watanabe
Lori Joy Watanabe has joined the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) as its Director of Strategy Implementation. In this new role, Watanabe will lead the execution of strategic initiatives that advance HVCB’s mission as a futures-based DMO. Watanabe joins HVCB with more than 20 years of experience in planning, partnership development, and management. She served as senior director of card and travel products at Hawaiian Airlines.
Konrad Gstrein
Konrad Gstrein is now Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Gstrein launched his Four Seasons career at the oceanfront resort in 2001. Since then, he has occupied a variety of assistant manager and general manager roles in Maui, Beverly, Hills and Toronto. Most recently, he served as the regional vice president and general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
Bertrand Mangeot
Bertrand Mangeot is the new Managing Director of Salamander Washington DC. Mangeot brings more than two decades of experience across three countries and three brands with a focus on luxury guest service, business growth and strategic planning. He joins Salamander from InterContinental San Diego, where he was general manager. He spent 21 years with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and held leadership roles in New York and Cleveland.
Mustafa Suer
Mustafa Suer has been appointed General Manager of the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead. Suer brings more than 20 years of international experience, having led luxury hotels and resorts across three continents under brands such as Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. His career also includes openings at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown and the InterContinental Washington, D.C. The Wharf.
Grant Friedman
Grant Friedman has been selected as General Manager of Palm House in Palm Beach, Florida. Throughout his career, he has held management roles with Four Seasons, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Acqualina Resort & Residences, and Wymara Resort + Villas in Turks & Caicos, where he served as the managing director for over a decade. Most recently, he consulted with Kaleidoscope Hospitality on the Whitfield Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
Becky Cooper
Akash Timilsina is now General Manager at the AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown. Prior to joining AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown, Timilsina was general manager of the Hampton Inn Wichita Airport. He held leadership positions with Four Points by Sheraton in Houston and Marriott International in Burlington, Vermont, as well as a dual property leadership role with Marriott International and Best Western in Kansas City.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
Countdown on for UFI Global Congress… UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is counting down to the 92nd UFI Global Congress, taking place November 19–22 in Hong Kong.
Hosted by AsiaWorld-Expo under the theme “Shaping the Future,” this year’s Congress will bring together industry leaders from around the world and feature new voices, session formats, and immersive activations befitting UFI’s centennial year.
“We are honored to welcome the UFI Global Congress to Hong Kong this year,” said Irene Chan, CEO of AsiaWorld-Expo. “This special occasion marks AsiaWorld-Expo’s 20th anniversary and UFI’s centennial celebration, showcasing our strength as a world-class MICE venue and Hong Kong’s role as a vibrant cultural hub and gateway to the Greater Bay Area. Together with UFI’s inspiring program, we are excited to co-curate experiences that highlight the city’s cuisine, traditions, and innovative spirit. We look forward to hosting industry leaders worldwide to shape new opportunities for growth and collaboration.”
UFI President Hugh Jones added: “This year’s UFI Global Congress will be unlike any other in our history. As UFI marks its centenary, we have a unique opportunity not only to honor a century of connecting people and industries worldwide, but also to look ahead and lay the foundations for the next 100 years. Hong Kong provides the perfect backdrop for this milestone gathering, and I look forward to joining the global UFI community this November to reflect, connect, and shape the future of our industry.”
Find more at ufi.org.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ vacation ownership club, Club Wyndham, is inviting guests to “let it dough” this holiday season with a limited-time Pillsbury-themed suite at the Club Wyndham Midtown 45 in New York City.
The suite features an explosion of Pillsbury-themed decor, a kitchen stocked with Pillsbury Ready-to-Bake treats and all the equipment necessary for guests to bake safely, including open mitts and aprons; a cookie concierge service when guests staying in the suite are in need of more dough; and more.
“We’ve teamed up with Pillsbury to transform one of our spacious suites into a first-of-its-kind holiday baking retreat. Guests can bake, decorate and celebrate the season in true New York City style, wrapped in the warmth and nostalgia of holiday baking traditions with Pillsbury,” said Annie Roberts, Sr. Vice President of Club & Owner Services, Club Wyndham.
The suite is available to book from November 17 through January 6, 2026. For more information, visit clubwyndham.com/pillsbury.
The first Four Seasons resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast opened in late October, according to the hotel brand.
The Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort features 220 guest rooms, including 57 suites, five distinct dining concepts, a full-service spa, racquet sports facilities, versatile meeting and event venues, and a Tom Fazio golf course coming next year.
The new Four Seasons will also be home to the Market Square, a mix of shops, dining and entertainment at the center of the Naples Beach Club resort’s 125-acre property.
“Naples Beach Club is our modern expression of the cherished traditions and style of Naples,” said General Manager Diego Angarita.
Gather ye lords and ladies! A new medieval-themed hotel is forthcoming to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in spring 2026.
According to the hotel’s website, construction of the Dellshire Resort is currently underway. The family-friendly hotel will offer 257 guest rooms, themed public spaces, and on-site dining.
The $250 million castle-themed hotel is aiming for an “elevated experience” for guests, Wisc News reported.
The first phase of the Dellshire Resort is expected to be completed in May 2026 with two other phases to follow. The project will span 48 acres, and is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
CVB Updates
Visit Chicago Southland has officially released its Fall 2025/Winter 2026 Festivals and Events Guide, the organization announced on October 22.
“We are very proud to provide this great resource for visitors and residents alike,” said Visit Chicago Southland President & CEO Mary Patchin. “The guide is filled with a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages and interests.”
The Fall 2025/Winter 2026 Festivals & Events Guide includes 278 total listings happening in Chicago Southland communities between November 2025 and April 2026, including holiday celebrations, performing arts, festivals, expos, seminars, workshops, and more.
Complimentary guides can be requested and more event listings found at VisitChicagoSouthland.com.
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