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Patrick Miller
Vice President of Marketing at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
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Please welcome Patrick Miller to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Patrick will be responsible for the overall direction of marketing here at Mandalay Bay including Slot and National Marketing, Special Events, VIP Casino Services, Campaign Management, Branding and Advertising and Interactive Marketing.
Patrick has been with MGM Resorts International for sixteen years, most recently as the Vice President of Casino Operations at Monte Carlo.
Patrick originally began his career at the Mirage in 1995 as a Pit Clerk. In 1996, he was accepted into the Management Associate Program. Upon completion of the program, Patrick held various positions, including Marketing Analyst, Slot Marketing Administrator, and Slot Manager. In 1999, he was promoted to Director of National Marketing and assumed the position of Director of Slot Marketing in 2000. Patrick was promoted to Executive Director of Slots in 2003 and ultimately Vice President of Slots at Mirage.
Patrick is a Diversity Champion and has a Bachelor of Business Degree in Marketing and Spanish from the University of Notre Dame.
Patrick is an active board member of Bishop Gorman High School. He enjoys hunting, fishing, cycling, snowboarding and most importantly, spending time with family.
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Flo Lugli
Executive Vice President of Marketing at Wyndham Hotel Group
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Flo Lugli is the executive vice president of marketing for Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with 11 brands and more than 7,000 hotels. She is responsible for overseeing distribution, e-commerce, loyalty and research initiatives and leading the global strategic direction for customer engagement and market positioning for the company. A nationally recognized expert with a proven track record of driving revenue, she joined the company in July 2009 after serving more than 20 years with Travelport Limited, one of the world’s largest global distribution system providers and a leader in Web-based e-commerce solutions.
Most recently, Lugli served Travelport as senior vice president of commercial in its Global Distribution Services Division and, prior to that, as acting chief marketing officer. During that time she was responsible for leading the company’s GDS business in the Americas and overseeing Travelport’s Global Operations and Global Land and Sea businesses, including the development and execution of its hotel, car rental and leisure strategies.
Lugli also spent six years leading the company’s Airline Solutions business unit, holding titles including senior vice president of Airline Solutions and president and managing director, Airline Solutions. In those roles, she was responsible for the development and delivery of business and technology solutions for the company’s airline suppliers, with a specific focus on reservations hosting, faring and data solutions.
Prior to 2002, Lugli held executive level business development and operations positions with Wizcom International and then Galileo International, which was acquired by Travelport’s predecessor, the former Cendant Corporation, in 2001. She joined Cendant in 1987 as a part of its Hospitality Division, serving in several sales and marketing roles, including vice president of worldwide sales and vice president of marketing.
Lugli has been voted one of the Most Powerful Women in Travel seven times by Travel Agent Magazine and has been named a top 10 technology expert and a top 75 hotel executive by Lodging Magazine. She has served two terms as president of the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA), an international organization promoting electronic distribution of the hotel product, and is currently a member of the US Travel Association’s Travelcom advisory board. Lugli also serves on the board of directors for Joe's House, a nonprofit organization providing a nationwide online service that helps cancer patients and their families find lodging near treatment centers.
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Rob Perlman
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation
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Rob Perlman is responsible for all aspects of marketing and sales at the resort including marketing, brand management, advertising, promotions, direct/database marketing, international and domestic sales, online marketing, Steamboat Central Reservations®, Steamboat Grand, strategic partnerships, and public relations. Perlman works closely with the Steamboat marketing team in continuing the growth of the Steamboat brand as the nation’s premier family-friendly resort with its world-famous Champagne Powder® snow and authentic western hospitality.
Previously, Perlman served as Senior Vice President of Sale & Marketing for Steamboat and Winter Park Resorts, part of the Intrawest family of resorts. While at Winter Park, he expanded and capitalized on the legendary moguls of Mary Jane and the new resort improvements at the Village at Winter Park.
Prior to joining Intrawest resorts, Perlman was President and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. While there, the state’s skier visits surpassed 12.5 million three times which remain the high water mark. While at CSCUSA, Perlman served as the ski industry representative on the Colorado Tourism Office Board and served as Chairman in 2007 and 2008. He was also a board member of Visit Denver and held a position on Denver International Airport’s Vision Design Team.
Along with his various positions in the Colorado tourism arena, Perlman’s tenure in the ski industry has included leadership roles at several resorts in Colorado and California, where he developed and implemented progressive and comprehensive marketing and sales programs.
Perlman is no stranger to Colorado as he grew up in Evergreen, Colorado and raced for the Winter Park Ski Team as an age class racer.
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Kari Tarnowski
Senior Vice President of Marketing at Regent Seven Seas Cruises
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Matt Stiker
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at San Francisco Travel Association
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In April 2009 Matt Stiker joined the San Francisco Travel Association as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Stiker is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies and programs that uniquely identify San Francisco from its competitors and promote San Francisco and the surrounding region as the most compelling convention and leisure destination in the world.
Stiker, with 23 years of experience in advertising and consumer marketing, has led innovative and highly successful marketing programs for global consumer brands from Coca-Cola and Adidas to ESPN and Xbox. Most recently, Stiker was with Hewlett-Packard, where he led joint marketing partnerships and activation efforts with DreamWorks, the NBA, and Starbucks. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president at McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, as well as at Publicis in the West, Seattle, where he ran the State of Washington Tourism account.
In addition, he developed award-winning advertising campaigns for the State of Oregon Tourism Division and the Oregon Film & Video Office.
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Mike Van Houweling
Managing Director of Online Marketing at Southwest Airlines
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As Managing Director of Online Marketing, Van Houweling is responsible for leading the development and execution of the strategic online business vision for Southwest Airlines, including the management of key online products and marketing channels. Van Houweling began his online brand marketing career with Hallmark.com in 1997, and has five years of experience in the transportation industry along with more than ten years of strategic marketing experience with brands including Hallmark Cards, John Deere, and Southwest Airlines.
Van Houweling holds a Bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and an MBA from University of Michigan.
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Jeff DeKorte
Vice President of Digital Marketing at Royal Caribbean International
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Jeff DeKorte began his online travel career in 1996 in the Electronic Distribution department at US Airways developing and operating PC-based travel booking tools and the Company’s early web site. He also served as Director, Electronic Commerce and Distribution at US Airways and co-directed the team responsible for the design and re-launch of their award-winning web site and self-service kiosks. Jeff’s experience in the travel industry and expertise in the online travel field led him to his role as Senior Vice President, Travel & Digital Media, at Rand McNally.
Previously, Jeff was Vice President of Business Development at Travel Ad Network, President & COO at LeisureLogix, LLC and Vice President & General Manager, Travel at America Online.
Jeff serves as a member of the advisory board for the Travel Commerce Conference & Expo and on the board of directors of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives.
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Ellen Hahn
Vice President of Brand Communications and Advertising at Hyatt Hotels Corporation
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Scott Voeller
Vice President of Brand Strategy and Advertising at MGM Resorts International
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Scott Voeller is Vice President of Brand Strategy and Advertising for MGM RESORTS. In this newly created position, Voeller leads brand architecture and strategies, optimizes brand partnership and sponsorship opportunities and identifies and manages cross-property brand strategies and growth opportunities. In addition he directs Corporate Advertising, including Brand Management, Media and Graphic Design.
Voeller previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Mandalay Bay. In that role, he directed all aspects of strategic planning, advertising, direct marketing and interactive marketing for the AAA Four Diamond property.
A veteran of both the hospitality and advertising industries, Voeller previously served as Director of Marketing for Luxor. Prior to that, he served as Director of Advertising and Public Relations for Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno, Nev. and was Partner and Vice President of Strategic Planning at DRGM, one of Nevada’s largest advertising agencies. During his time with DRGM, Voeller developed and implemented advertising and strategic marketing strategies for clients such as the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Pardee Homes and Nevada Bell.
Voeller’s expertise has led to numerous awards including being named one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International in 2009. Voeller also was honored as “Ad Person of the Year” by the Reno Ad Club in 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Nevada, Reno.
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Mark Krolick
Managing Director, Loyalty Marketing & Analytics at United Airlines
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Mark Krolick leads the Loyalty Marketing & Analytics division within United Airlines’ MileagePlus program. This includes leading all member marketing, MileagePlus advertising and brand management, and customer analytics projects such as member segmentation, predictive modeling, promotional measurement, consumer research and much more. In this role, Mark has built a strong loyalty marketing program and analytical foundation for United and MileagePlus including marketing analytics expertise and world-class analysis tools.
Prior to United, Mark spent eight years at Delta Air Lines, where he worked in Marketing Communications, Direct Marketing & CRM, Route Planning and Revenue Management. He has also worked as a Database Marketing Consultant for the Affinity Group Services division of Marsh & McLennan.
Mark has spoken on Marketing, Branding and Analytics topics at many industry and trade conferences including the National Conference on Database Marketing (NCDM), Eye for Travel, Disney Analytics & Optimization Summit and the Frequent Travel Marketing Association (FTMA).
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André Fournier
Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Destination Hotels & Resorts
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As senior vice president of sales and marketing for Destination, André Fournier's responsibilities include shaping the global sales and marketing vision and culture, driving annual business planning sales and marketing processes, as well as developing brand-building strategies for the Destination portfolio and individual assets. He also collaborates with the national sales team on strategic sales programs and supporting strategies for expansion. Fournier also plays a major role in working with business development to secure new management contracts and property acquisitions to grow the company.
Fournier most recently was vice president of field sales for the company where he mobilized Destination's more than 150 person, property-based sales force to create synergies amongst the collection to better sell and serve its clients. He oversaw the deployment and coordination of Destination Hotels & Resorts' property sales and marketing teams and conducted detailed departmental needs assessments. He also regularly worked with properties in transition stages to boost the success of those that were performing below their competitive set. In addition, Fournier partnered with the director of organizational development and recruiting to identify when appropriate sales or marketing talent was needed. He also put together development plans for sales and marketing associates to prepare the company for future growth.
Fournier is an over 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry and has been responsible for sales and marketing strategies at Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix when Destination managed the property. Fournier held a similar position at the Vail Cascade in Colorado before moving to Phoenix in the mid-1990s. Prior to working for Destination, Fournier worked for Doubletree Hotels, Sheraton, Keystone Resort and the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
Fournier has been recognized by numerous industry organizations for his contributions to the profession over the years including being named one of HSMAI's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing, Spirit of Lowe and Co-Branding Award from Destination and Sales & Marketing Manager of the Year from the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association.
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Julie Maurer
Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows Resorts
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Ms. Maurer was appointed Vice President of Marketing and Sales in January 2011. She joined the company from Vail Resorts where she served as Vice President of Regional Marketing for the Lake Tahoe resorts (Northstar and Heavenly). Ms. Maurer has 30 years of experience in the mountain resort industry and has worked with over 10 ski resorts across the country. Under Ms. Maurer’s leadership, her staff and resorts have received multiple awards including: the North American Snowsports Journalists Association’s Excellence in Media award, Far West Ski Association’s Ski Resort of the Year award, and National Ski Areas Association Marketing Award.
Ms. Maurer is a Commissioner for California Tourism and currently serves as President of Ski Lake Tahoe, a cooperative marketing organization promoting Lake Tahoe’s seven largest resorts.
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Grazia Sorice Ochoa
Managing Director, Global Digital Marketing at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
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Lisa Wooldridge
Managing Director of Marketing for The Americas at Tourism Australia
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As Marketing Director for the Americas based in Los Angeles, Lisa Wooldridge is responsible for directing Tourism Australia’s consumer marketing across the USA, Canada and the key emerging market, Brazil.
Lisa has been at Tourism Australia since 2008. She manages a team of six staff who plan Tourism Australia's media, public relations, promotions, digital programs, and corporate communications. Lisa is charged with ensuring the region delivers innovative, integrated marketing programs that span bought, owned and earned media. She oversees Tourism Australia’s three strategic agency relationships; media, creative and public relations.
Under Lisa’s leadership, the Americas region has been responsible for launching the new There’s Nothing Like Australia brand campaign in three markets, securing Oprah Winfrey’s visit to Australia in 2010, and launching “Australia” the movie with Fox.
Lisa has more than 20 years of brand marketing experience, with 15 years in the tourism industry. Her background encompasses consumer marketing, corporate communications, product development, event management, travel industry relations and operations. Prior to joining Tourism Australia, she worked as Vice President of Marketing for a major tour operator. Lisa has held marketing and management positions within the travel industry as well as several advertising and public relations agencies in Southern California.
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John Schultz
Managing Director, Marketing & Advertising for the Americas at Barceló Hotels & Resorts
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John Schultz is marketing and advertising manager for the U.S. at Barceló Hotels & Resorts, for which his core responsibilities include promoting the company's Latin America leisure hotels to the U.S. market. He was instrumental in the 2009 launch of the "Say Hello to Barceló" campaign. That same year, he also oversaw the launch of Barceló's agent loyalty program, B Partner, in North America, and, simultaneously, the ad campaign that drove the launch of the Hotel Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe. More recently, Schultz has also been the driving force behind the campaign promoting the $330 million renovation of the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort in Punta Cana.
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David Rice
President & CEO at Barbados Tourism Authority
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Mr. David M Rice (CHA) assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) in 2009.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of the BTA, Mr. Rice holds responsibility for leading the Authority as the primary tourism marketing agency of Barbados and ensures that its strategies, action plans, systems and procedures are effectively managed for the continued growth of tourism in Barbados. Under his portfolio, he advises Government on tourism related issues and define priorities and objectives, so that it can effectively deliver its mandate.
Prior to his appointment at the BTA, Mr. Rice held the position of Vice President of Resort Operations with Welk Resorts, one of the most respected independent brands in the Vacation ownership industry.
He is also a 25-year veteran in the international Resort, Hotel and Vacation industry and has worked and lived in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States. He has held senior level positions at Sunterra Corporation, Bluebeard’s Castle and Beach Resorts, Marriott Corporation, Orange Lake Country Club and Divi Resorts and has been described as a results-oriented and innovative leader.
A graduate of the Lewis Hotel School in New York, USA, Mr. Rice holds the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) from the American Hotel and Lodging Association and he has been Chairman of the Caribbean American Resort Development Association. He has held previous positions as Chairman of the USVI Development Association and Vice President of the St. Thomas and St. John’s Hotel Association.
An alumnus of Harrison College, Mr. Rice has also served on the Board of Directors for Hospice of Central Florida, Rotary International, California State University, Skal (International Association of Tourism & Travel) Club and United Way. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Deer Springs Fire Council; the President’s Circle of California State University and was also nominated to serve as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s Olympic Committee.