Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds In Sales & Marketing Named By HSMAI In 4th Annual Survey
MCLEAN, VA |The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognizes and salutes the greatest minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing with the release of its “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” for 2006. The “hot list” pays tribute to outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement.
“We see such outstanding campaigns and smart strategies all year long, and this is our opportunity to shine the spotlight on individuals who stand out in the industry for their creativity, intelligence, and passion for their work,” stated Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “With our annual release of the ‘Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing’ in hospitality, travel and tourism, we are looking to honor those whose work has really made a difference and raised the bar for the industry,” he added.
The 2006 winners, who join an impressive roster of previously cited industry leaders and trendsetters, are:
- George Aguel, Senior Vice President for Disney Destinations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
- Cheryl Andrews, Founder, Cheryl Andrews Marketing
- Ronald N. Andruff, President, The Travel Registry
- Chris Avery, CHME, CMP, Vice President Business Development, Passkey International
- Chuck Bowling, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, MGM Grand Resorts
- Maureen Callahan, Vice President, Marketing, Destination Hotels & Resorts
- Paul W. Crafton, Director of Travel Industry Sales, The Greenbrier
- David G. Gabri, President, Associated Luxury Hotels
- Christopher Hartley, Chief Executive, Global Hotel Alliance
- Sue Heilbronner, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, TIG Global LLC
- Terry Jicinsky, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Las Vegas CVA
- Shafiq A. Khan, Senior Vice President, Ecommerce, Marriott International
- Kevin Kowalski, Vice President Marketing/Crowne Plaza, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Kevin Krone, Vice President of Interactive Marketing, Southwest Airlines
- Jasper Malcolmson, Senior Director, Travel, Yahoo!
- Michael Meade, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company
- Cindy Novotny, Managing Partner, Master Connection Associates
- Matt Ouimet, President, Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
- Eric Pearson, Senior Vice President of Channel Marketing, InterContinental Hotels
- Michelle Peluso, President & CEO, Travelocity
- Florence Quinn, President, Quinn & Co.
- David A. Renker, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Destination Hotels & Resorts
- Ted Souder, Midwest Travel Vertical Manager, Google, Inc.
- Maurice A. Trosclair, Marketing Maestro, DNO-Destination New Orleans
- Alejandro Watson, Director of Marketing/Mexico, InterContinental Hotels
Recipients were nominated through a “call for entries” to the industry at-large and judged by a panel of senior industry executives. Individuals were judged for their work over the last year based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting-edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.
The Top 25 will be honored on stage at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala on Jan. 29, 2007. In addition, these individuals will receive a personalized plaque and be featured in the spring issue of HSMAI Marketing Review.
To attend the Adrian Awards, tables of 10 can be reserved for $2,950 or $295 per ticket if purchased by Jan. 15, 2007, after which the price increases to $3,200 per table or $320 per ticket. For more information or to purchase tables, visit
HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events, including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings®. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 36 chapters in the Americas Region.