Mark Sanders
Sanders is general manager for New York Hilton Midtown. He comes from Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan Hotel, an IHG Hotel, where he worked as managing director. In his 40 years of experience, Sanders has managerial roles at convention hotels in New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and New York.
Ashley Johnson, CDME
Johnson is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Newport Beach & Company in California. Johnson most recently worked at Visit Laguna Beach in California as president and CEO, the organization with which she spent most of her hospitality career. She serves on the industry boards and committees of Destinations International, Destination Marketing Association of the West, Visit California and California Travel Association.
Mike Pearce
Pearce is destination sales executive at Seattle Marriott Bellevue. Pearce has been with Marriott International for 12 years, most recently working as a multihotel salesperson, supporting the Western Mountain Pacific region. He’s also worked in sales positions with The Westin and W Bellevue complex. In 2022, he was recognized as a Top Performer by Marriott.
Jennifer Hendricks
Visit Spokane in Washington named Hendricks director of regional accounts in convention sales and services. Most recently, Hendricks worked as store manager for Nordstrom in Spokane. She is a former member on the board of directors for Visit Spokane.
David Tortora
Tortora has been named director of operations for Conrad New York Midtown. Before this move, he was director of rooms for Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. He has also worked with Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas (formerly Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas) on the transitional task force team and The Wigwam in Phoenix as director of front office.
Kendahl Rasnick
Pacific Hospitality Group named Rasnick director of sales of AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria and Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas by the Galleria. Before this, she worked as director of sales for Aimbridge Hospitality-managed properties AC Hotel Dallas Frisco by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas Frisco.
Thuy “Twee” Vuong
Vuong is assistant general manager for Miami Beach Convention Center. Vuong previously worked as director of operation for Informa Markets, managing event logistics, transportation, security, sustainability and signage for Florida Boat Shows.
She has also worked for ASM at Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for more than 20 years, as well as The Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Orange County Convention Center and Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.
Nick Dorney
Dorney is visitor services manager for Explore Cabarrus in North Carolina. Most recently, Dorney worked as director of the Blues Hall of Fame Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Dorney has also worked with Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, where he held multiple roles, such as museum guide, museum lead and assistant manager of museum and tours.
Josh Delgado
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin, Texas, named Delgado director of sales and marketing. Before this new role, Delgado was director of sales and marketing for Embassy Suites by Hilton at the Denton Convention in Texas. He has also worked for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, where his start in hospitality leadership began.
Keith Kirsten
Kirsten is the first director of sales for the new Sierra Nevada Resort, an Outbound Hotel in Mammoth Lakes, California, slated to open Nov. 1. Before taking on this inaugural position, Kirsten was director of sales with Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau; he also worked in the same capacity at Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and Reno-Tahoe Convention and Visitors Authority.
