Emerging Leaders in the Group Travel Hospitality Industry
West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) November 18, 2015 -- HotelPlanner and Meetings.com is excited to announce several promotions within the company’s senior level management team in the areas of corporate development and international sales.
Melissa Le’ppin, former Vice President (VP) of Corporate Development, has now been promoted to Executive Vice President. Since 2010, Ms. Le’ppin has been responsible for the strategic direction, planning, business development and product management for the company. Throughout her extensive experience in the hospitality industry, she has continued to progress through key positions that include Property Development and Acquisition, General Property Management, and Regional Operations. She currently manages the team in identifying, negotiating, and closing key transactions within all corporate and government market segments. As a Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), Ms. Le’ppin also recently helped negotiate two major government contracts with GSA and U.S. Communities.
Pat Smith, former Corporate Accounts Director, has been promoted to Vice President (VP) of Government Travel. Ms. Smith has worked with the company since 2012 and is responsible for identifying, negotiating and closing strategic transactions within the Corporate Market Segment; participation in the development of business strategies; analysis of market opportunities and overall growth, retention and strategic planning. She negotiated a multi-year contract with the State of Louisiana and oversees all bookings for Louisiana’s 90,000 employees. With expertise and experience in travel agency management, meeting management, regional hotel management and airline sales management, her career has included leadership positions with Sheraton, Westin, Continental Airlines and Meetings and Events Network. Ms. Smith has attained certifications as an Accredited Cruise Counselor, a Marriott Meeting Professional and a Starwood Pro.
Britta Roberts, former Group & Extended Stay Specialist and Senior International Product Manager, has been promoted to Senior Director of International Sales. Born in Muenster, Germany, she graduated from the Schlungszentrum Muenster as an Economical Correspondent in English and French, and speaks three languages: English, French, and German. Ms. Roberts’s hospitality career began in 1992 where she worked at the 5 star Brenner’s Park & Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, followed by top sales positions at the Reids Hotel and Design Hotel Mauritzhof overseas. Ms. Roberts now lives in the United States where she owned her own Bed & Breakfast in the North Carolina mountains and since joining the company in 2010, she manages all leads and hotel relationships within Canada.
Monika Holland, former Regional Senior Product Manager and International Senior Product Manager for Europe, has been promoted to Director of International Sales. Ms. Holland has worked with the company since January of 2013 and has 15 years of travel industry experience working in hotels in Italy, the U.S. and the UK. Previous employment includes Corporate & MICE Sales Manager at Novotel London Paddington and Corporate Sales Manager at Best Western Santaka Hotel. Born in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and fluent in five languages, learning her sixth, she has a Bachelor’s degree in languages from Roma Tre University in Rome and obtained her Master’s degree in Hotel Management from Luiss Guido Carli Business School in Rome. Ms. Holland manages hotel bookings and leads in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, Denmark and Russia.
“Melissa, Pat, Britta, and Monika have all made significant contributions to both HotelPlanner and Meetings.com, each demonstrating a commitment towards improving all facets of hotel purchasing & operations that will allow us to meet the needs of clients as effectively as possible," stated Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner and Meetings.com. “Our leadership team has a solid background in hospitality and they have each helped build a stronger network in assisting this company towards navigating a growing group marketplace which encompasses hotel lodging procurement, hotel operations management, and hotel sales management. Together, their leadership and vision will help to ensure that HotelPlanner and Meetings.com is able to attain our goals and reach more clients worldwide.”
About HotelPlanner & Meetings.com
HotelPlanner.com provides online services to the global group hotel market. The company’s service ensures the lowest rates by allowing customers to receive quotes online directly from hotel group sales managers. HotelPlanner allows customers to book hotels for business meetings, conferences, conventions, family reunions, weddings, extended stays, tours, military reunions, church events, and group travels. The company also provides mobile applications for booking group hotel reservations. The company owns and operates Meetings.com, a site that provides information and booking services for group, meeting, and individual hotel stays for the corporate and business to business enterprises. Founded in 2002, the company has offices in in West Palm Beach, FL (USA Headquarters), Las Vegas, Nevada, London, England, (European Headquarters) and Hong Kong (Asia Headquarters).
For more information, please contact Bruce Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer, at (818) 661-0244 or via email at Bruce(dot)Rosenberg(at)hotelplanner(dot)com.
Claudia Flores, HotelPlanner.com, http://www.HotelPlanner.com, +1 1-800-898-1347 Ext: 221, [email protected]
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