BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. | Hilton Hotels Corporation (“Hilton”) today announced the appointment of Mark Komine as Senior Vice President of Sales and Commercial Development – Americas. In this role, Mark will be responsible for overseeing all sales strategy and development across the Americas organization. Mark joins Hilton from LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels where he served as Executive Vice President and was charged with directing sales and marketing strategies for LXR’s properties located throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. An industry veteran, Mark has also held executive positions with Westin Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Resorts and Fidelity Hotel Group’s Seaport Companies. He will assume his new role on August 18, 2008.
Ian Carter, President-Global Operations of Hilton Hotels Corporation, said: “Mark brings a wealth of experience to Hilton and we look forward to welcoming him to our team. He is joining Hilton at what is a very exciting time in the company’s development and I am confident that his expertise – particularly more recently in the luxury sector – will prove to be invaluable.”
In addition, Hilton announced the retirement of Steve Armitage as Senior Vice President of Sales – Americas. Steve began his career with Hilton over 30 years ago and worked in sales, marketing and event services at multiple properties before taking on various regional, international and corporate positions. As SVP – Sales, he led Hilton Sales Worldwide – Americas and Sales/Marketing in HHC’s owned and managed hotels. He was also instrumental in the growth and global alignment of the sales organization following the acquisition of Promus Hotel Corporation in 1999 and then Hilton International in 2006. Steve will act as a consultant to Hilton over the next few months to ensure smooth leadership transition.
Steve Armitage will be replaced by Rob Scypinski, who has been promoted to Vice President of Sales – The Americas. Rob is a 30-year veteran of the hotel business and joined Hilton Hotels as a convention sales manager at the Hilton Atlanta in 1984. He later spent 15 years as Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hilton San Francisco. In 2004, Rob was named Hilton’s Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing-West, overseeing 40 hotels from Alaska to Mexico.
Ian Carter added: “I would like to thank Steve for his many years of service to both Hilton and the hospitality industry, and wish him well for his retirement. We are pleased to be able to promote Rob from within our organization in recognition of the tremendous contribution he has made to Hilton throughout his career.”
About Mark Komine
Mark Komine joins Hilton from LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels were he served as Executive Vice President, directing sales and marketing strategies for LXR’s properties located throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. His long and impressive career in sales and marketing within the hospitality industry includes executive positions with Westin Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Resorts and Fidelity Hotel Group’s Seaport Companies. Komine is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has completed continuing education programs at Babson College and Harvard Business School.
About Robert G. Scypinski
Rob is a 30-year veteran of the hotel business. In 1984, he joined Hilton Hotels as a convention sales manager at the Hilton Atlanta and later served as Director of Sales of that same property before holding the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton San Francisco for 15 years. Rob was recognized for his leadership when he was inducted into Hilton’s Circle of Excellence as Director of Sales and Marketing of the year in 2000. In 2004, he was appointed Hilton’s Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing-West, overseeing 40 hotels from Alaska to Mexico. Rob holds a BS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the Pennsylvania State University and is a longstanding member of Meeting Professionals International and the Professional Convention Management Association.
About Hilton | Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 74 countries, with more than 135,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton®, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton® and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™.
Hilton Hotels Corporation is an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, which will extend through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, the 2010/2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team.
The Hilton Family of Hotels adheres to founder Conrad Hilton’s philosophy that, “It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.” The company put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it the best known and most highly regarded hotel company: be hospitable®. The philosophy is shared by all brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels, and is the inspiration for its overarching message of kindness and generosity.
For more information about the company, please visit
www.hiltonfamily.com.
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