People News: MMBC’s New Co-Chair, PCMA’s COO and More Fall Hiring News

October 8, 2020

From appointments to awards to new hires and promotions, this fall is keeping us on our toes for people announcements. Take a look:

Meetings Mean Business Coalition unanimously selected Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment, as its next co-chair in September. Effective January 2021, he will join Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, in guiding the coalition and the meetings industry through the continued recovery from the pandemic.

PCMA has appointed Bruce MacMillan to the position of chief operating officer, effective Sept. 2. He was previously the organization’s chief marketing officer and brings more than 30 years of experience to his new position. He was also the architect behind PCMA’s Recovery Discovery initiative.

Jeff Hughes was named chief operating officer for Pittsburgh-based NEP Group, a technical production company for live sports and entertainment events. He was most recently with FOX Networks’ Digital Consumer Group, where he was president and COO.

Trumbull, Conn.-based Clarion Events has promoted Liz Irving, who's been with the company four years, to executive vice president and head of marketing, technology and customer experience. She will lead the company’s virtual product team on product development, integration, customer journey and audience engagement, as well as oversee new digital product offerings including virtual product showcases.

International Market Centers announced a new organizational structure for its leasing and leadership teams last month. Effective Sept. 11, Dorothy Belshaw and Scott Eckman are promoted into new executive leadership roles; and Ryan Mahoney, Julie Messner, Terence Morris and Caron Stover expand their category-specific leasing responsibilities across all IMC’s campuses. Belshaw is chief customer and marketing officer, also having executive oversight of LightFair, the world’s largest architectural and commercial lighting trade show; and Eckman will now oversee all permanent showrooms and temporary tradeshow leasing as chief revenue officer.

International Housewares Association named seven new directors, with three-year terms that began Oct. 1 that run through Sept. 30, 2023. They are: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener Inc.; Kristine Malkoski, business unit CEO, foods, Newell Brands; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president and CCO, Bradshaw Home; Keith Mirchandani, principal and CEO, Tristar Products.; Michael Otterman, president and CEO, Lodge Cast Iron; and Luke Peters, president and CEO, NewAir. Also elected were new board officers: Chairman William Endres, president, Select Brands; Vice Chair/Chair Elect Yvette Laugier, managing director, Peugeot Saveurs North America; and Treasurer Steve Greenspon, CEO, Honey-Can-Do International.

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Chief Operating Officer Rolando Aedo will join Destination International Foundation’s Board of Trustees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destinations globally to excel through innovation and resource incubation.

Claudia Stephenson has been appointed managing director for London-based [INVNT GROUP], EMEA region. She was most recently with Freeman and brings two decades of experience to her new position.

Fernando Gorbarán, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt Argentina, was selected as one of 15 most influential leaders in Latin America’s meetings industry by Latinamerica Meetings Magazine. With 20 years of experience in the sector, he has led the Argentine subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt GMbH since 2003 and served as regional director for South America since 2010.

Venue management company Spectra has brought on David DiSalvo as director of sales for the 102,000-square-foot Owensboro Convention Center in Kentucky. Most recently, he served as director of sales at Kalahari Resort in Mount Pocono, Penn.

Have more People announcements? Send them to kogletree@tsnn.com.

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Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.