Todd McAninch
McAninch is general manager for Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine in California. He recently worked as general manager for Hyatt Centric Park City in Utah; before this, he worked as general manager for Hyatt Regency Long Beach in California. McAninch has also held leadership roles for Hyatt Regency Knoxville in Tennessee, plus Hyatt Regency Sacramento and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, both in California.
Melissa Woodley
Woodley is area director of events and event operations of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino; and Resort at Squaw Creek in Incline Village, Nevada. Woodley previously worked as director of events for Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. She also worked as director of events for Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Hawaii and associate director of sales and events for Andaz San Diego.
Bill Liedholm
Liedholm is general manager for Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. Most recently, Liedholm was general manager for Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa in Pennsylvania. He also worked with Quorum Hotels, Milestone Hotels, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts and The New Sanno in Tokyo.
Fidencio Mata; Erin Dennis, CPCE; and Cristal Moncur
Mata is general manager, Dennis is director of group sales and celebration, and Moncur is director of corporate sales for Hyatt Centric SouthPark Charlotte in North Carolina.
Before joining SouthPark Charlotte, Mata was interim general manager for Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. In Mata’s 25 years with Hyatt Hotels, he has worked in directorial roles at Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Florida, Grand Hyatt Atlanta and Hyatt Regency Miami.
Dennis previously worked as director of sales and marketing for Hampton Inn & Suites SouthPark at Phillips Place; before this, she was adjunct instructor for Central Piedmont Community College’s Hotel and Restaurant Management program in Charlotte. Dennis is a charter member in National Association for Catering & Events’ (NACE) Charlotte Chapter. Her accolades include 2009 Spirit of NACE Mary Margaret Traxler Award and 2018 CRVA Partners in Tourism Hospitality Professional of the Year award.
Moncur most recently worked with Homewood Suites by Hilton in Davidson, North Carolina, as director of sales. Moncur has held leadership positions with Embassy Suites by Hilton, Residence Inn by Marriott, and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts properties. Moncur’s recognitions include Visit Lake Norman’s Stellar Seller Award in 2013, Hilton Hotels’ Spirit Award in 2009 and MVP status with Homewood Suites in 2006.
Brian Hilterbrandt
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater named Hilterbrandt sales manager for its Florida market. Hilterbrandt previously worked with Marriott International, where he held positions of director of sales and marketing; and area sales manager, for which he managed six Marriott properties’ sales teams.
Denise Acuna
Acuna is director of sales and marketing for Marriott San Antonio Airport Hotel. Before this, Acuna worked in directorial positions for Texas-based companies; most recently, as director of sales for Icon Lodging in Colleyville. She has also worked as director of sales for Topgolf in El Paso and director of sales and marketing for Home2 Suites by Hilton El Paso.
Sonia Fong
Louisville Tourism named Fong senior vice president of convention development, effective Aug. 23. She was previously vice president of convention sales and services for Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. She also worked with The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, and several Miami-based Marriott International properties.
