As part of its annual Adrian Awards, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has released its ninth annual list of the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing," recognizing the "best of the best" in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries, it announced yesterday.
"The 'Top 25' is our who's who list of sales and marketing professionals that we celebrate each year as they are innovators and have produced strong results in their respective industries," said HSMAI President and CEO Robert A. Gilbert. "These professionals have succeeded in growing business for their own organizations and have continued to inspire and raise the bar for the rest of the hospitality industry."
Judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on a list of set criteria — creativity and innovation; cutting-edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains — the 2011 HSMAI Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing are:
• Rolando Aedo, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Alisa Bailey, President & CEO, Virginia Tourism Corporation
• Michael Bennett, VP, eCommerce & Communications, White Lodging
• Douglas Carr, Executive Director Distribution, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
• Judy Christa-Cathey, VP, Global Brand Marketing, Hampton & Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide
• Matthew Clyde, President & CEO, Ideas Collide Marketing Communications
• Janelle Cornett, Corporate Director of Revenue Management, Coastal Hotel Group
• Sal Dickinson, Founder & Chief Executive, FloridaVacationAuction.com
• Neal Fegan, Executive Director of Revenue Management, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
• Agnelo Fernandes, VP of Sales & Marketing, Terranea Resort
• Wendy Ferrill, Managing Director, Worldwide Sales, Best Western International
• Chantal Figueroa, Deputy Commissioner, USVI Department of Tourism
• John Frazier, Executive VP & Deputy Director Travel Group, Quinn & Co Public Relations
• David Horton, Global Head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• Dan Kowalewski, VP Revenue Management Services, Wyndham Hotel Group
• Tammy Lucas, Managing Director, Marketing Programs, Best Western International
• Hunter McIntosh, Chief Operating Officer, The Boat Company LTD
• Michael Menis, VP Web & Interactive Marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group
• Jorge Pesquera, President & CEO, Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Jason Price, Executive VP, HeBS Digital
• Dan Rowe, President & CEO, Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Will Seccombe, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Florida
• Kathy Snyder Egan, President, Beaver Hollow
• Sarah Travis, Head of Travel, Online Sales, Google
• David West, VP of Marketing & Sales, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
"Top 25" award recipients will be honored during a private ceremony on Feb. 27, 2012, at the New York Marriott Marquis, and will be recognized at the Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala immediately following. For more information, visit www.hsmai.org.