Andrew Dryden and Christopher Toy

Toy (left) and Dryden (right)

Dryden is general manager and Toy is director of sales for Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District in Texas.

Dryden most recently worked with Aloft Philadelphia Downtown as hotel manager. Before this, Dryden was director of guest services at Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue and front office manager at The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia. He’s also held roles in F&B, including banquet manager for Columbia Sussex Hotels in Philadelphia and management positions for White Lodging Services.

Toy was previously director of sales and marketing for The Ruby Hotel in Round Rock, Texas, and 7A Ranch in Wimberly, Texas. Toy worked as director of sales and marketing for Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown Convention Center and Embassy Suites Austin Arboretum; before this, he worked with DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown San Antonio, in the same role.

Nicolas Messian

Messian is general manager for Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick, Canada. Messian was previously hotel manager for Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He has worked with hotels in Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Caribbean, including The Ritz Carlton, Toronto; Dorchester Hotel in London and Royal Mirage in Dubai, also in the United Arab Emirates.

Kara Franker

Franker has been named CEO for Visit Estes Park in Colorado, effective early May. Before Estes Park, Franker worked as senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Lauderdale in Florida. Before joining Visit Lauderdale, Franker founded her own communications and marketing firm. An experienced journalist, she has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Travel Channel and HGTV.

Andrew Pawlowski and Ashley Ramirez

Pawlowski (left) and Ramirez (right)

Pawlowski is director of sales and Ramirez is general manager for Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Ramirez has spent the last decade with Hilton Hotels, most recently as director of rooms and human resources for Embassy Suites by Hilton Noblesville Indianapolis Conference Center.

Pawlowski was previously sales manager for Embassy Suites Plainfield Indianapolis Airport. He also worked as sales manager for Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown.

Sonya Bradley

Bradley, chief marketing officer for Visit Sacramento for the last 15 years, will become chief of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for the DMO, a role that was designed by Bradley herself. She currently serves as chair of California Travel Association DEI committee.

Lissa Frenkel

Frenkel is CEO for Charleston Gaillard Center in South Carolina. Frenkel recently worked as managing director for Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Before that, Frenkel worked at Lincoln Center Development Project, a cultural redevelopment of the Lincoln Center complex in Manhattan.

Marshall Hilliard

Hilliard is vice president of sales for Explore Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau in North Carolina. Hilliard has held leadership positions with Hilton Hotels; Westin Hotels & Resorts; Bissell Hotels; and The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Boston; he has also held positions in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte, North Carolina. He recently worked as area director of sales and marketing for Renaissance Asheville.

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