Cara Banasch
Banash is appointed senior vice president of enterprise solutions at ConferenceDirect. She will oversee sales, strategy and implementation of the company’s Strategic Meetings Management Program. Wenks holds over 20 years of experience in executive hospitality leadership, most recently serving as vice president of the sales organization for Omni Hotels. Her fresh perspective and expertise will help ConferenceDirect to strategically support and acquire strategic accounts and partnerships.
Brooke Jung
Visit Albuquerque welcomes Jung as vice president of destination development and community engagement. She brings over 15 years of experience in tourism and experiential marketing. In her new role, Jung will lead her department in developing partnerships, overseeing the Visitor Information Centers and crafting short- and long-term plans to enhance visitors’ experience of the destination.
Jerry Pupillo and Yuko Yoshida
Waterfront adventure venue The LineUp at Wai Kai makes two key executive appointments.
Pupillo will fill the roles of director of business development and general manager. With over three decades of experience in the Hawaii tourism industry, he is well-prepared to oversee and lead all operational departments and to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve growth objectives.
Yoshida will serve as director of marketing. She has spent 12 years in the industry, most recently serving as marketing manager at Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu, where she developed and implemented campaigns to expand the company’s audience. She will now execute marketing strategies and tactics to elevate The LineUp’s position as a venue destination.
Revell Newton
King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort appoints Newton as director of sales and marketing. He brings over 25 years of experience in Hawaii’s hospitality industry, plus thoughtful leadership skills and the expertise of a local. Prior to this role, Newton held key leadership roles at luxury resorts in Oahu, Kauai and Maui.
Paul Hills
Hills is appointed to the role of general manager at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley-Scottsdale. In his most recent resort manager role, he oversaw an ownership and brand change alongside a $45 renovation. He has led several teams at Hilton brands throughout his 20-year career.
Kimberly Stone
MI&W welcomes Stone as the first-ever vice president of event technology. She has a proven track record in implementing cutting-edge technology solutions and optimizing processes that create a seamless and engaging attendee experience. Stone is experienced in and committed to leveraging technology to enhance event experiences.
Zavier Jones
Jones joins Visit Myrtle Beach Group Sales Team as experience coordinator. He will collaborate with the group sales team to create memorable experiences for meeting and event planners during Site Inspections and FAM tours, as well as for their attendees during meetings and events. Most recently, he worked as the sales coordinator for Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
René Blino
Blino joins Monte-Carlo Beach (Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group) as managing director. Most recently, he served as managing director at Hôtel Madame Rêve in Paris. He has extensive experience in numerous hospitality roles, including as human resources director, accommodations director, F&B director and hotel manager.
Julian Tucker
Tucker takes on the role of general manager at Thompson Denver. With 25 years of hospitality experience, Tucker has established himself as a long-time leader for various Hyatt properties, serving as director of rooms at Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center and other roles at numerous Caribbean properties, and most recently as general manager at Andaz West Hollywood.
Jessica Bauer
The Logan, Philadelphia’s Hotel, promotes Bauer to general manager. Bauer, born and raised in Philadelphia, has been with the property since 2007, most recently serving as director of sales and marketing since 2016. She will manage all aspects of the property, from profitability to product quality to guest service.
