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Cruz-Led Senate Committee Seeks to Slash Brand USA Funding
Would Reduce Amount by 80%
By Todd McElwee
The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Chairman Ted Cruz, earlier this month proposed substantially cutting Brand USA’s funding from $100 million to $20 million.
U.S. Travel Association is once again rushing to the aid of the nation’s DMO, urging industry members to champion Brand USA’s cause via a variety of channels including contacting legislators, signing on to a sector-wide letter and social media messaging.
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Photos of the Week
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Industry Movers
Laura Villalobos
Laura Villalobos has been named General Manager of Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection. The oceanfront retreat is on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. She is a seasoned hospitality leader with more than 20 years of industry experience and joins Etéreo from Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. While there, she most recently served as commercial director and played a central role in repositioning the hotel as one of the capital’s luxury destinations.
Connor Foster
Connor Foster was recently hired by Louisville Tourism in the role of tourism development coordinator. She has been tapped to help the Kentucky DMO with achieving a variety of departmental goals, building and upholding relationships with partners and organizing the Attraction Network Meetings. Previously, Foster spent time as an intern for Louisville Tourism and has since graduated from both Centre College and the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School.
Brad Sheehan
Brad Sheehan is now Delta Air Lines’ Sr. Vice President of Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. He’s an aviation leader with more than 25 years of experience. He’ll succeed David Garrison, who’s retiring after a 34-year career at Delta. Sheehan has served as vice president of flight operations and flies as an A320 captain. His background including overseeing training, technology, and flight standards and leading Delta’s Flight Safety team.
Anne Tabakian
Anne Tabakian has been promoted to Vice President of Food & Beverage at White Lodging. She joined the company in 2016, most recently serving as corporate senior director of food & beverage. She also was a restaurant general manager. Prior to joining White Lodging, she spent nearly a decade at two major restaurant groups—Uchi Restaurants and Hillstone Restaurant Group. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
Dan Wensley
Dan Wensley has been appointed as the CEO at the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA). Prior to joining GTIA, Wensley served as a strategic advisor and as the CEO at ScalePad—which rebranded and grew from 30 to 247 employees and to more than 12,000 partners globally during his tenure. In his 30-year career, Wensley also held strategic leadership positions at Level Platforms, Plan 27, and PassPortal.
Jon Melchi
Jon Melchi is the new President & CEO of the American Lighting Association (ALA). He has more than 20 years of experience in associations, public policy, and business development. He most recently served as executive director of the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Central Ohio. Before his work with BIA, Melchi served in leadership roles at Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), a national trade association.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
NBAA’s Bolen Testifies Before House Committee… Earlier this month, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President & CEO Ed Bolen testified before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee stressing the “national imperative” to reform the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure to maintain safety in the world’s most complex airspace network.
“We must ensure the implementation of the reauthorization bill, and we urgently need to make a massive investment in our national airspace system” Bolen stated. “The good news is that, with the strong oversight of this committee, government and industry are moving ahead on both priorities.”
Bolen also expressed strong support for the Administration’s proposed ATC investment package, detailed in a plan introduced last month by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
“By the end of 2028, the plan calls for an investment in people that will provide the United States with over 14,000 well-trained and highly skilled air traffic controllers,” Bolen said, with additional significant upgrades to facilities and equipment. A wide array of aviation stakeholders including airlines, general aviation (GA) groups, airports and labor unions, have joined the Modern Skies coalition to support these critically needed investments.
Bolen noted the coalition remains opposed to ATC privatization, which would distract from effective strategies for aviation system modernization.
He concluded: “America has the safest, largest, most diverse and most efficient aviation system in the world. Yet, the system is under stress, which increases risk and decreases efficiency. NBAA looks forward to working alongside Congress and the FAA to maintain and improve safety in air transportation and ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in aviation.”
Find the complete testimony at nbaa.org.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
New Orleans’ historic Dauphine Orleans Hotel
Waterford Hotel Group announced on June 9 it has been appointed to operate five boutique hotels in New Orleans beginning July 1. The hotels included are Audubon Cottages, Le Richelieu, Dauphine Orleans Hotel, Hotel Royal, and Chateau Hotel. The hotels are part of the J Collection, a New Orleans-based portfolio of southern hotels.
“Each of these properties is a unique reflection of New Orleans’ soul—historic, vibrant, and unmistakably authentic. Our team is excited to embrace the spirit of the city and elevate these beloved landmarks for guests and ownership alike,” said Duane Schroder, Chief Growth Officer of Waterford Hotel Group.
Waterford Hotel Group has been managing hotels for nearly 40 years, the company said.
Hotel-casino operator Mohegan announced on June 4 its Hot Summer Fun campaign, the summer lineup of offerings at its four resort properties. Events include restaurant openings, concerts, casino promotions, giveaways, and more.
The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, is providing outdoor concerts, gaming promotions and giveaways, and the opening of three new dining concepts: Beauty & Essex, The Farm Italy, and the Ballo Italian Restaurant. The Mohegan Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, will host weekly Party on the Patio events on Thursdays, t-shirt giveaways and gaming promotions, live bands, and more. The Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, will host weekly barbecues, live performances, and gaming promotions.
The Hot Summer Fun campaign is also being celebrated online at the Mohegan Sun Online Casino with a grand prize giveaway of $10,000.
For more details, visit mohegangaming.com.
Sun Patio at Mohegan Sun
CVB Updates
Tom Menino
The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport will officially be renamed next month in honor of the late Boston Mayor Tom Menino, eight months after the Massachusetts Legislature ordered the change.
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority announced on June 10 it will hold an event on July 12 to formally relabel the facility the Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center. Menino served as the city’s mayor from 1993–2014, who oversaw the start of the Seaport building boom.
“Mayor Menino loved Boston deeply, and he made our city into the global hub for business, commerce and tourism that we know it to be today,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “I was honored to sign this law renaming the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center after Mayor Menino because it is a wonderful way to pay tribute to his amazing legacy and send a strong message that Boston is a place to be for people and businesses from around the world.”
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