Tom Wakita of Outrigger® Enterprises Group Is Honored with Sales and Marketing Award
Honolulu, Hawaii (PRWEB) October 23, 2013 -- Tom Wakita, corporate director of sales for Outrigger Enterprises Group, has been honored with the Distinguished Sales & Marketing Award® (DSMA) in the accommodations/hospitality category by the Honolulu Chapter of Sales & Marketing Executives International (SMEI). The award was presented at the organization’s annual red carpet event on October 9, 2013, and recognizes Hawaii’s best and brightest in the field of sales and marketing for their outstanding dedication to the profession, enduring sense of aloha, and positive attitude in all that they do.
“I couldn’t think of a more deserving person to receive this noteworthy award than Tom,” said Barry Wallace, executive vice president-hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises Group. “His selfless and exemplary contributions on a daily basis have been invaluable to the success of our company.”
Wakita oversees a multitude of sales efforts on behalf of Outrigger Enterprises Group, including Outrigger® Hotels and Resorts, OHANA® Hotels and Resorts, oversight of the company’s U.S. and Canadian field sales staff, and leading the company’s groups and sports sales teams in Hawaii. Wakita also is the primary contact for tour operators and travel agents in the company’s Korea and China offices and is the corporate sales contact for Outrigger properties in Australia, Thailand, Fiji, Guam and Mauritius.
In 2007, Wakita won a prestigious TravelAge West Wave Award for “Most Effective Hotel Advertising Campaign” for the OHANA Waikiki Connection guest amenity package that he launched and implemented. Prior to joining Outrigger 24 years ago, Wakita worked for five years in the sales & marketing department at Hawaiian Airlines.
About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging, retail and hospitality companies in the Asia-Pacific, Oceania and Indian Ocean regions and continues to expand its presence throughout these areas. A family-owned company with 66 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded portfolio of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger® Hotels and Resorts, OHANA® Hotels and Resorts, Embassy Suites®, Holiday Inn® Best Western®, Wyndham Vacation Ownership® and Hilton Grand Vacations. Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 45 properties with approximately 11,000 rooms located in Hawaii; Australia; Guam; Fiji; Bali; Thailand; Mauritius; Vietnam; and Hainan Island, China. Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, and Asia. For on-line information, log on at http://www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com and http://www.outrigger.com.
About the DSMA Program
The SMEI Distinguished Sales & Marketing Award was established to recognize the best in the sales and marketing profession. With standards of sophistication and skill in sales and marketing professions continually improving, the wider business community has become increasingly aware of the value and role that these professionals play in the achievement of business success. http://www.smeihonolulu.com/category/events/dsma/
About SMEI
Sales & Marketing Executives International (SMEI) is the worldwide organization dedicated to ethical standards, continuing professional development, knowledge sharing, mentoring students and advancing free enterprise. SMEI a personal and professional community devoted to providing knowledge, growth, leadership and connections between peers in both sales and marketing. http://www.smei.org/ and SMEI-Honolulu.
Nancy Daniels, APR Public Relations Director, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, 808-921-6839, [email protected]
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