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Lawmakers Question Louisville Mayor’s Hotel Selection for Derby Guests
By Jordan Bradley
Louisville lawmakers say they’re looking into the selection process behind this year’s lodging for Mayor Craig Greenberg’s Kentucky Derby guests, according to local reports.
Three hotels—the Hotel Genevieve, the Hotel Bourre Bonne, and the 21c Museum Hotel—were considered to host Greenberg’s nine guests for the annual event, Louisville Public Media (LPM) reported on May 1.
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Photos of the Week
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Industry Movers
Marilia Pergola
Marilia Pergola has been appointed Vice President of Operations for the Caribbean and Latin America of Hotel Equities. Pergola will be based in the company’s Miami corporate office. Pergola has more than 20 years of experience in hotels. She spent the past eight years at Marriott International, where she recently served as the senior director of operations-owner & franchise relations for the Caribbean and Latin America.
Kenneth M. Hemsley Jr.
Kenneth M. Hemsley Jr., a 15-year veteran at Visit Indy, has been promoted to area sales leader—a new leadership role empowering senior staff to mentor sales managers and oversee specific markets. His purview includes associations based in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and managing groups with 1,501 or more peak rooms. Previous roles at Visit Indy include senior national account director and national account director.
Dejan Djukic
Dejan Djukic is now Destination Restaurant Chef of Tía Carmen & Kembara at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. His career started at The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix in 2003 where he served as a banquet cook and culinary supervisor. Prior to his current position, Djukic was the destination restaurant chef of Tía Carmen. Now, he assumes the role of Destination Restaurant Chef for both eateries.
Shyam Lalu
Shyam Lalu has been named General Manager of The Statler, a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. The Statler is in Dallas and was built in 1956. It is recognized on the Historic Hotels of America registry. Lalu has spent 24 years serving in various roles in the hotel industry, most recently as the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport.
Chef Denis Ehmig
Chef Denis Ehmig is now Executive Chef at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. Ehmig’s career began at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago. He has worked at the JW Marriott Chicago, McCormick Place, and Marriott Marquis Chicago, where he most recently served as executive sous chef. In his new role, Ehmig oversees a team of more than 130 culinary and operations staff. His cooking style is rooted in French technique.
Scott Siebert
Scott Siebert is the General Manager of Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in San Diego. The property opens May 15. He brings more than 35 years of experience to his role, including a variety of leadership positions across Marriott International. Most recently, he served as hotel manager at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. Siebert also held roles at Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort.
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Association NEWS
Around Associations
New England Society of Association Executives Hosting Annual Meeting in Vermont… The New England Society of Association Executives (NE/SAE) is heading to the Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe, Vermont, from May 29–30 for its Annual Meeting. Two full days of business, learning and networking are on the agenda. Michelle Mason, CAE, FASAE, President & CEO, ASAE, is headlining the closing session, which will include a look at the future of associations.
Find more information at nesae.org.
SITE Nite Europe Coming to Frankfurt… On May 19, just before the kickoff of IMEX Frankfurt, SITE will host SITE Nite Europe at Depot 1899.
“Taking place the night before IMEX, SITE NITE Europe 2025 is your perfect opportunity to build & bridge cultures with over 400 incentive travel professionals gathered in Frankfurt for the show,” SITE said. “This year we’re back at Depot 1899 a 100-year-old tram depot now magnificently laid out over several floor as an informal venue space with great food and drink. We can promise you a night of connections and re-connections in an atmosphere of conviviality and celebration like only SITE members and friends know how to create. This is SITE’s flagship event in Europe, open to all SITE members and friends.”
Register for the event at siteglobal.com.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Choice Hotels International announced new breakfast offerings at Comfort and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson on May 1 “to sharpen brand distinction” and “elevate guest experience,” the company said.
The refresh includes piloting new signature breakfast items, including a Comfort breakfast bowl and a Country Inn & Suites biscuit sandwich. The initiative also includes agreements with Florida’s Natural, a farmer-owned juice company, and General Mills, the cereal and food company.
“At Choice Hotels, we recognize that a hearty breakfast is an essential element of what upper midscale hotel guests expect, and these on-property upgrades we co-developed with owners are designed to drive enhanced value for them and for guests of Comfort and Country Inn & Suites,” said Judd Wadholm, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Choice Hotels’ Core Brands. “As we have done for the past 85 years, we are continuously investing in areas that will help owners drive more revenue and attract the right repeat guests, working hand-in-hand with hotel owners to chart that path.”
Patrick Curran, Director of Procurement Services, Choice Hotels International, in Entegra’s test kitchen assembling biscuit breakfast sandwiches, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson’s piloted signature breakfast item
The Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Illinois, announced a collection of personalized packages and amenities for guests on May 5. The 88-acre property outside of Chicagoland aims to add more opportunity for guests to celebrate life’s momentous occasions—like birthdays and proposals—in ways that honor their uniqueness and enjoy more bespoke stays at the hotel through these offerings.
Following the launch, guests can book a romantic proposal package that will provide the use of a decorated fire pit, luxurious accommodations, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and keepsake champagne flutes, and breakfast for two at the property’s Water’s Edge restaurant the following morning.
The Hyatt Lodge is also now offering a birthday room decorating experience that includes decor throughout the guest room and a tray of cupcakes to help celebrate.
In addition to the two new experiences, the hotel is offering a new guest room amenities menu, including Strawberry and S’mores Delight and a Mini Italian Bites board, and day passes for the property’s pool and spa.
For more information or to book, click here.
CVB Updates
Visit Oklahoma City honored Hometown Heroes on May 6 during National Travel and Tourism Week at an award ceremony held at Meinders Hall of Mirrors in the Civic Center Music Hall.
The honorees were selected based on their passion for OKC, leadership in the industry, collaborative spirit, and ambassadorship of the destination.
“Oklahoma City is a thriving destination that welcomes more than 24 million visitors each year and we couldn’t do it without these partners going above and beyond every day to make our city shine,” said Zac Craig, President of Visit Oklahoma City.
The Hometown Hero awards were bestowed upon 11 individuals and organizations that have exceedingly supported and promoted Oklahoma City tourism. Awards were presented to Fiestas de las Américas; Jake Keyes, Skydance Brewing; Angela Smith, Oklahoma City Conventions Center – ASM Global; Carolan Bledsoe, Patch Sewer of WCWS; Curbside OKC; Krystal Yoseph, Konjo Concepts; Science Museum Oklahoma; Coury Hospitality; Aubrey McDermid, City of OKC; Heritage Place; and Michael Byrnes.
“Visit OKC congratulates each of our honorees and we are grateful for their continued efforts in making Oklahoma City a premier destination for visitors from around the world,” said Craig.
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