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Denise Mope
Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas’s Uptown neighborhood added Mope as director of sales and marketing. Most recently, she held the same title at The Westin Dallas Downtown. Previously, she was director of sales and revenue at The Joule in Dallas, as well as previous roles at The Fairmont Chicago Hotel, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura, Florida and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.
Maytas Jiwalai
Jiwalai joined ConferenceDirect as director of global accounts. He’s based in Thailand and will help planners with site selection and contract negotiation throughout the Asian market. Jiwalai was most recently director of sales at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand. He previously held sales positions at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel and Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel.
Shane Hannam
Reed Travel Exhibitions’ IBTM appointed Hannam portfolio director. Since first joining Reed Exhibitions more than 16 years ago, Hannam has been sales director of key accounts and international sales executive and sales manager for Europe and the Middle East. He took a brief hiatus from Reed, spending one year at Gartner Worldwide Events as account manager.
Michael Hurt
Nearing the completion of its $620 million renovation, Miami Beach Convention Center brought Hurt on board as assistant general manager. His background is in venue operations, large-scale event management, emergency response, guest services and budget management. Hurt was most recently senior director of ballpark operations for Marlins Park and MLB’s Miami Marlins. Previously, he worked for American Airlines Arena and Heat Group as senior event manager and event staffing manager.
Brandy Hudgins
Hudgins has been named sales manager of small meetings for Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). She has been with ACVB since 2015, previously serving as trade show sales coordinator and administrative assistant. Hudgins has also worked for Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, World of Coca-Cola and for MLB’s Atlanta Braves.
Marline Avelar
Rosewood CordeValle in San Martin, California, promoted Avelar, who was director of group sales, to director of sales and marketing. She’s previously been sales manager at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos and Quail Lodge in Carmel, all in California. Her first job out of college was at Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, as catering and conference service manager.
Ruben Sabater
Benchmark, a global hospitality company, promoted Sabater to general manager of Marenas Beach Resort, a Gemstone Collection property. It’s located just north of Miami in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. He climbed the ladder from director of operations at the hotel. Sabater was previously general manager of The Sherry Frontenac Resort in Miami Beach and held leadership positions at One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa ion Miami Beach and Mandarin Oriental Miami.
