Brad Dean
Dean takes on the role of president & CEO at Explore St. Louis, bringing over two decades of leadership in travel and tourism. Both in his most recent position as CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, and earlier, his 20 years as president & CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, his work significantly expanded tourism and the tourism economy. He now joins St. Louis well-equipped to elevate the city as a premier destination.
Thiago Araujo
BCD Meetings & Events welcomes Araujo as global sustainability director. Araujo will work to formalize the organization’s sustainability mission, leading the company’s global sustainability strategy by aligning operations with environmental and social goals, driving climate urgency initiatives, advancing sustainable partnerships, delivering comprehensive training and implementing sustainability into company culture. He brings over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of sustainability, business development and strategic leadership.
Mgeni Mpolo
Pendry West Hollywood appoints Mpolo as director of sales & marketing. With over two decades of experience, he is well-equipped to oversee all aspects of sales and marketing, driving brand awareness and growth and achieving revenue goals across guestrooms, banquets and catering. He most recently served as managing director at The Brilliant Advice Company in Zanzibar. Earlier, he held roles at W San Francisco and The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco and held a tenure at Marriott International.
Jamie Bruce
Bruce, who has been an integral part of Teneo Hospitality Group’s leadership team for the past decade, transitions into his new role as president. He succeeds Mike Schugt, who steps down after 10 years to focus on non-profit endeavors, and which whom Bruce has spent the last two years working closely to shape Teneo’s strategy and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders. Bruce is known for his collaborative approach and passion for driving success, and brings expertise in sales, marketing, commercial operations and strategic planning, particularly with luxury independent hotels and resorts.
Maggie Miller
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island appoints Miller as sales and marketing coordinator. With expertise in event coordination, social media management and recreation marketing, Miller will work to support the resort’s sales and marketing initiatives, creating targeting digital marketing campaigns and focusing on events, resort packages and recreational amenities.
Chelsea Dunlop Welter
Welter is appointed to the role of managing director at Destinations International Foundation. She joined Destinations International (DI) in 2016, and earlier served as executive assistant to the president & CEO at Choose Chicago. Since 2021, Welter has served as the senior vice president of governance and administration at Destinations International, where she oversaw all aspects of administration and operations for the organization while directly supporting the executive office. She also currently manages board governance and supervision for the DI Board of Directors and the DI Foundation Board of Trustees, and their respective committees and task forces. She will continue to provide this oversight while also assuming the duties of her new role.
Drew Holmgreen
Holmgreen joins Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) as president & CEO. He most recently served as Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) Chief Experience Officer, where he managed global strategies, enhanced member experiences and drove revenue growth. He also served as MPI’s equity, diversity and inclusion executive lead. He brings over two decades of experience in strategic leadership, inclusion, brand development, experiential innovation and organizational growth. In his new role with PPAI, he will focus on elevating the role of promotional products as an essential part of global marketing and driving creativity and impact within the industry.
Sarah Christie Rydell
Sarah Christie Rydell takes on the role of resort manager at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. Rydell brings nearly 25 years of experience across various operational leadership roles, including complex director of operations, director of restaurant and bar and director of banquet operations in the luxury lifestyle segment. Known for her engaging approach, Rydell is a leader focused on delivering strong brand experiences to elevate the guest experience.
Becky Cavanaugh
MGME welcomes Cavanaugh as its new director of operations to oversee the strategic planning, management and execution of all meeting and event-related activities, with a focus on client engagement and satisfaction, driving horizontal account growth and ensuring alignment with clients’ business objectives. She brings over two decades of leadership and expertise in medical meetings, and spent 18 years with Syneos Health as program director for Global Medical Meetings and Events, driving event strategy and execution. Cavanaugh holds immense industry influence, serving as an advisory board member for both Global DMC Partners and Pharma Forum.
Adam Berrios
Berrios steps in as executive director at Visit Sandy Springs. His extensive experience spans past roles such as senior sales manager at the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau, and vice president of sales and services at the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, in which he directed and planned all activities of the sales department, group travel and client services and the destination services team, while also leading hotel partner relations.
Read More: Smart Moves at Travel Portland, Metro Toronto Convention Center and More
