People News: Gearing Up for a Busy Season, Companies Keep Hiring Thru Summer
August 22, 2014
There really wasn’t a slowdown in hiring this summer; in fact, August saw plenty of new hires for suppliers and trade show organizers.
Cygnus Business Media appointed Brian Cassell as group show manager for Firehouse events. Brian will be responsible for the overall performance of Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, Md, and Firehouse World, in San Diego.
Cassell is a 20-year fire service veteran, serving on the marketing team for fire apparatus manufacturer KME for 10 years and as a volunteer firefighter with the Tamaqua, Penn., Fire Department.
In addition to his experience both as a manufacturer and firefighter, Cassell previously has served on the Exhibitor Advisory Boards of Firehouse Expo and Firehouse World, as well as FDIC and Fire-Rescue International.
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) named Tracey Megee as its new national accounts manager.
Megee, who began her new position in July, will be responsible for the North East market, booking groups between 200 to 1,499 guestrooms on peak night.
Denise Capello has been appointed as the new business acquisition manager for the exhibition industry at Amsterdam RAI , starting Aug. 1.
The core business of Amsterdam RAI involves both organizing events and offering space and services to third parties.
Capello will be responsible for acquisitions and joint ventures for Amsterdam RAI in order to grow its international portfolio of events. Her prior role was as a business development manager for the corporate and exhibitions market for the past nine years.
Shepard Exposition Services recently named industry veteran Thomas Bewsey national sales manager.
Based in Shepard’s Indianapolis location, Bewsey will spearhead Shepard’s strategic expansion into the Midwestern market, including Chicago, Illinois; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Nashville.
SmithBucklin promoted Scott Johnston to vice president, Information Technology Services. Johnston, an 18-year veteran of the company, will continue to work out of its Chicago office, reporting to Al Koob, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Bellagio announced the appointment of Meg Fasy, CMP as the resort’s new vice president of sales. In this role, she is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for all sales efforts at Bellagio, a AAA Five Diamond, 3,933-room resort.
Visit Orlando has hired Faye Memoli as senior national account executive for the Mid-Atlantic Region and Kelly Albert, senior national account executive for the Northeast Region.
In this new role, Memoli will be responsible for convention sales in the Washington, D.C., market, where she also will reside. Memoli joins the team from Choose Chicago, where she was most recently director of Eastern regional sales.
Albert recently held the role of national sales manager at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where she was directly involved in creating and opening the sales and marketing department.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
Add new comment