The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has announced its 10th annual list of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” as part of its annual Adrian Award sReception and Gala on January 28.
Those included in the “Top 25” list have made groundbreaking contributions to the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. A panel of senior industry executives selected the 2012 “Top 25” recipients based on recent work meeting 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 2012 HSMAI “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” are:
- Anil Aggarwal, CEO, Milestone Internet Marketing Inc.
- Uri Argov, founder and CEO, Tourico Holidays Inc., a Travel Holdings Co.
- Brian Best, corporate vice president of e-commerce, Boyd Gaming Corp.
- James Boyd, vice president, public relations, Americas region, Singapore Airlines
- Elizabeth Cambra, corporate director, pricing and revenue optimization, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
- Lawrence Cassenti, senior manager, marketing and e-commerce, Marriott International
- Sloan Dean III, vice president of sales and marketing, Interstate Hotels & Resorts
- Nancy Deck, vice president, multi-brand and loyalty marketing, Hilton Worldwide
- Gareth Gaston, senior vice president, global e-commerce, Wyndham Hotel Group
- Melissa Graves, director of revenue, Platinum Hotel and Spa, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
- Cedar Hames, CEO and chief strategy officer, Paradise Advertising & Marketing Inc.
- John Lee, vice president, brand marketing, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Worldwide
- Marina MacDonald, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Red Roof Inn
- David Pavelko, head of travel, Google Inc.
- Garth Peterson, regional director of sales, IDeaS Revenue Solutions
- Donna Quadri-Felitti, clinical associate professor, New York University, Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management
- Andre Rojer, marketing manager, North America, Curaçao Tourist Board
- Mark Sergot, vice president, global sales, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
- Steven Sickel, senior vice president, distribution and relationship marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Maureen Siman, executive director, public relations, Revel
- Craig Smith, managing director, communications, Best Western International
- Chris Thompson, president and CEO, Brand USA
- Brian Tkac, senior vice president of marketing and sales, Hostmark Hospitality Group
- Leigh von der Esch, managing director, Utah Office of Tourism
- George Zimmermann, vice president, Travel Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corp.