Isham brings over 13 years of experience as an award winning sales professional and has a proven record of accomplishment in group business in various markets including corporate, association, pharmaceutical and social.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jen Isham to the Omni family,” said Robert Stanfield, area managing director of Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. “We know she will help drive the continued success of our property and the meetings experience for all of our valued guests.”

Most recently, Isham was the director of strategic accounts at Experient Inc. Among many things, she was responsible for maintaining and growing portfolios for strategic accounts with a focus on sales management, project management, event management and client service leadership within the event industry. Prior to that, she served as the senior sales manager at both the Hilton Lake Buena Vista and Hilton Orlando.

Isham looks forward to using her experience to continue to grow group business on property and continue build out the meetings experience.

About Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is a part of the Omni Hotels & Resorts family, which creates compelling, memorable guest experiences by tempting the senses in innovative ways, surrounding them with a balanced blend of scents, sounds, sights, textures and tastes. The resort offers luxury accommodations including 862 rooms and suites, two championship Greg Norman-designed golf courses, world headquarters of The Leadbetter Golf Academy, a signature Mokara spa, five heated outdoor pools including a wave pool and an 850-foot lazy river. The resort also features nine diverse dining experiences from savory sushi and sake at ZEN to an Italian herb garden and brick-oven flatbreads at Trevi’s.

About Omni Hotels & Resorts

Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences at 60 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business and leisure destinations across North America. With more than 25 iconic golf courses and 16 award-winning spas featured in dynamic locales nationwide, every Omni proudly opens its doors to share the true spirit of its destination. Reflected through local color, personalized service, unique wellness options, signature restaurants and creative culinary offerings, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every guest and a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program. As a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance, Select Guest is further expanded through the DISCOVERY® loyalty program offering members additional global benefits. Omni is committed to reducing hunger and is on a mission through its Say Goodnight to Hunger initiative to provide millions of meals each year for food banks to feed children, families and seniors in communities in which it operates. Omni Hotels & Resorts is the official hotel of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions. For information or to book accommodations, visit omnihotels.comor call 1-800-The-Omni.

Source: Omni Hotels

The Merrill Hotel & Conference Center, Muscatine, set on the banks of the picturesque Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, has joined Tribute Portfolio, Marriott International’s newest collection brand and growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike. 

“We are so proud to be part of the Tribute Portfolio family,” said Rebecca Howe, president of Riverview Hotel Development LLC, the hotel’s ownership group. “We look forward to providing an unforgettable experience for the modern traveler seeking local experiences and top-of-the-line customer service.”

Situated adjacent to the city’s River Walk Park, The Merrill Hotel & Conference Center, Muscatine features 122 uniquely-styled and well-appointed guest rooms, which include a Presidential Suite, Chairman’s Suite, Junior Suites, and have the flexibility of one, two and three-bedroom configurations. Located in the heart of historic downtown Muscatine in the scenic riverfront area, The Merrill Hotel has been recognized for its luxurious accommodations, outstanding customer service, and beautiful views overlooking the gently rolling Mississippi River.

A state-of-the-art conference center is located on the top floor and features 14 meeting and event spaces with a total of 12,723 square feet of meeting space, including the 4,719-square-foot Grand Ballroom featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a large outdoor balcony overlooking the Mississippi River. Additional amenities include an indoor, heated saltwater pool; lounge with adjacent outdoor patio; a large fully-equipped fitness center; the full-service restaurant Maxwell’s; gift shop; 24-hour business center; and concierge services.

The hotel is just 25 minutes from the Quad City area, and 30 minutes from Quad City International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Illinois. The Merrill Hotel & Conference Center, Muscatine will continue to operate under the same ownership and management companies, Riverview Hotel Development LLC & Hostmark Hospitality Group, respectively.

For more information on the hotel, call (563) 263-2600 or visit www.themerrill.com. For more information on Tribute Portfolio visit www.tributeportfolio.com.

SOURCE: The Merrill Hotel

VISIT Milwaukee has named Peggy Williams-Smith, Senior Vice President of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, as its new CEO, effective November 18. Williams-Smith replaces Paul Upchurch, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Williams-Smith was selected from a national field of candidates in a months-long search, headed up Omar Shaikh, Chair of the VISIT Milwaukee Board of Directors. She is the first woman to lead the organization.

“Peggy is well known in the Milwaukee community as a leader and as a woman who makes things happen, so she was a natural choice for the role,” said Shaikh. “Ultimately, the search committee was impressed with her vision for VISIT Milwaukee and her passion for the destination.”

Williams-Smith is a lifelong Milwaukeean, proud UWM Panther, and has honed her hospitality skills at Marcus Corporation since 1997. She has co-chaired the citywide UPAF campaign and is a member of Professional Dimensions and TEMPO Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Business Journal named her as a “40 under 40” winner in 2010 and a “Woman of Influence” in 2017.

“I could not be more excited to take the reins at VISIT Milwaukee as we go headfirst into a very busy and exciting year, featuring national events such as the DNC, the USA Triathalon, The Ryder Cup, and the 140th Annual Meeting of Northwestern Mutual Agents,” said Williams-Smith. “It is an honor to be selected to lead this organization into the next decade. I look forward to working closely with the dynamic team at VISIT Milwaukee, Marty Brooks and the Wisconsin Center District, and the hospitality community to make 2020 a banner year for our city.”

Source: Visit Milwaukee

Waldordf Asotria Hotels & Resorts, Hilton’s iconic luxury hotel brand announced the debut of Waldorf Asotria Los Cabos Pedregal transforming The Resort at Pedregal as the brand´s first property in Mexico. The award-winning Forbes Five Star Resort and Spa, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was acquired by affiliates of Walton Street Capital Mexico and now invites guests to enjoy Mexican-inspired, unforgettable experiences through the brand’s True Waldorf Service.

The resort boasts 119 guest rooms and residential-style suites including the one-bedroom Dos Mares suites, two-bedroom beachfront suites, and the presidential beachfront suite, all featuring their own private plunge pools. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal creates a unique sense of place with a relentless commitment to personal service provided by a team of Personal Concierges who are available around the clock to assist guests with their requests.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal debuts as the premier offering in the region, with an array of best-in-class facilities and immersive experiences such as concierge services, a private chef upon request, transportation via the resort valet, and customized daytime itineraries. In addition, guests will continuously feel welcomed through an array of complimentary amenities including locally inspired drinks, daily afternoon surprises featuring regional cuisine, and a welcome bottle of Clase Azul Tequila in guests’ rooms.

Source: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

The Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, one of Baltimore’s most popular Inner Harbor hotels, has just completed a multi-million dollar renovation, it was announced by Chris Madoo, General Manager.

The five-month renovation project for this Baltimore luxury hotel focused on a complete redo of the hotel’s 622 guest rooms and suites including wall covering, carpeting, bedding, furnishings, and decorative items. The design features a calming palette of grays and blues. Guests will find supreme connectivity at their fingertips with multiple power and USB outlets to charge devices as well as 55-inch HDTVs and a new entertainment package with phone-to-TV Bluetooth connectivity. The rooms also feature upgraded spacious bathrooms with Carrera marble and luxurious showers as well as laptop compatible safes.

The hotel’s Club Lounge design was also elevated including the addition of 700 square feet of space, making it one of the largest lounges in Baltimore. The facilities and decor were also modernized including the addition of upscale wine and coffee dispensing stations to appeal to traveler’s desires for on-trend beverage access.

According to Mr. Madoo, “Our meeting and event space as well as our public areas were renovated in 2016, so the entire hotel has a fresh new look just waiting for guests to discover.”

Source: Renaissance Baltimore

Renaissance New York Times Square continues to provide travelers with unparalleled experiences in the heart of Manhattan with the official debut of its completely redesigned 317 guestrooms and suites, following the earlier completion of its unique terrace suites. The hotel’s chic renovations pay homage to its bustling Times Square neighborhood and the area’s evolution as an iconic hub steeped in theatrical history.

“This redesign fully encapsulates the pulsating energy of this city,” said Renaissance New York Times Square General Manager Christine Devers. “We’ve created an authentic New York experience for guests to discover from the moment they enter their rooms.”

Dash Design, a leading NYC-based interior design and branding agency by founder David Ashen, was selected to spearhead the makeover. When envisioning the hotel’s new look, the firm aimed to inspire guests with a sense of endless discovery and unexpected twists at every turn.

“Every aspect of each guestroom is a piece of art,” said Dash Design President David Ashen. “We created a local pied-à-terre for guests with a vision to capture the pulsating energy of Times Square while paying reference to Broadway’s theatrical roots.”

Color palettes depict shades synonymous with New York City – cement gray represents the concrete jungle, white mimics markings on the street’s blacktop, and yellow accents evoke the New York City taxi. Guestroom windows and their ombre window treatments serve as frames for the theater that is Times Square. Above the bed, the ceiling steps in as a matte canvas featuring strokes of glossy, white feathers, a nod to a festive spirit of theater district. Refurbished bathrooms are outfitted with refinished vanities, cheeky artwork, and mirrors featuring a frosted outline of the city’s famed skyline. Carefully curated touches include multifunctional, custom-designed furniture, which transform from seating to storage, and NYC snow globes, which provide playful moments.

In essence, the design invites the guest to decide how to work, relax, and play in their personal space. At every turn is a moment of discovery.

To learn more or make reservations, visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycrt-renaissance-new-york-times-square-hotel/ or call 212-765-7676.

Source: Renaissance New York Times Square

Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announced that a study by Oxford Economics shows Brand USA’s marketing efforts are generating a high return on investment (ROI) and driving significant incremental international visitation and spend, which is helping to fuel the nation’s economy.

The report shows Brand USA has consistently driven strong results over the past six years, including record results in Fiscal Year 2018 (FY2018) for incremental international visitor spending, tax revenues generated, and total economic impact.

Highlights of the study show Brand USA’s marketing efforts in FY2018 alone (October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018) helped drive:

13 million incremental international visitors to the USA who spent
$4.1 billion on travel and fare receipts with U.S. carriers, and generated
$1.17 billion in federal, state, and local taxes and
$8.9 billion in total economic impact, and supported
52,305 incremental U.S. jobs

The resulting FY2018 marketing ROI was 32:1—meaning that every $1 Brand USA spent on marketing generated $32 in spend by international visitors.

The study also shows that the cumulative results of Brand USA’s marketing efforts over the past six years (FY2013 through FY018) has helped bring:
6 million incremental visitors to the USA who spent
$21.8 billion on travel and fare receipts with U.S. carriers, and generated
$6.2 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, and
$47.7 billion in total economic impact, which has supported, on average,
Nearly 52,000 incremental U.S. jobs each year

The six-year results equate to an average marketing ROI of 28:1.
“International visitation is an important driver for the nation’s economy—benefiting a wide range of industries well beyond travel and tourism,” said Christopher L. Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international travel to the United States is the nation’s top services export and represents 11 percent of all U.S. exports, contributing a $77.4 billion trade surplus.

“The FY2018 ROI study reinforces the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and how our efforts are supporting communities and employment throughout the country. The United States provides international travelers more value in its diversity of experiences than any other place in the world, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to market the USA as the ultimate travel destination,” added Thompson.

Each year, Brand USA deploys a number of market-driven platforms and programs as part of its mission to increase incremental international visitation, spend, and market share for the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the USA with worldwide travelers.
Brand USA also collaborates with federal partners to communicate U.S. visa and entry policies and correct misperceptions about those policies as required by the Travel Promotion Act.

The Oxford Economics study includes an analysis of Brand USA’s work in nine markets – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and the United Kingdom—and also considers the organization’s total impact in other international markets where Brand USA’s marketing was active during the year via consumer, trade outreach, and cooperative marketing programs.

Source: Brand USA

The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center is putting an exclamation point on a multi-year, $25 million property wide transformation with the introduction of a transcendent Executive Chef. Chicago-native Victor Martinez, who’s worked his way up from his father’s bistro as a teen to some of the most respected kitchens in the country, now looks to redefine hotel dining in the suburbs. By bringing an experiential, farm-to-fork culture to culinary operations at Oak Brook Hills Resort, Victor is setting out to change the way people think about hotel food outside the city.

“I see through ingredients, into their soul,” says Victor. “Where they came from, what they’re intended to be. My cooking philosophy is to tell the ingredients’ story.”

Shadowing that sentiment, Victor’s elevated food program at his new suburban retreat, from banquets to restaurant service, incorporates a classically-trained French ideology that highlights the integrity of ingredients. He’s focusing heavily on hyperlocal sourcing so that he can build relationships with his materials. When in season, fresh produce for recipes will come from the expansive Chef’s Gardens located on the Resort’s 150 acres of Audubon-certified grounds. Another interesting culinary component that Victor integrates into all his menus is the widespread use of house honey, farmed on-site in the Resort’s Hive Garden. He’s doing things differently in Oak Brook to give people opportunities to have authentic experiences in the moment.

“Bringing a sense of mindfulness to the table is a key element of who I am as a cook,” adds Victor, “and a reason why people will want to return to rediscover the Resort!”

If given the opportunity, Victor encourages people to get to know what goes into a recipe before eating it. Some of the unique ways diners can have an interactive experience at Oak Brook Hills Resort is by: picking their own veggies and herbs from the Chef’s Gardens for use in their dishes, observing (in protective suits) the resident beekeepers farming for honey, enjoying a private tasting with Chef in his office, or shopping for fresh ingredients at the Resort Farmer’s Markets (hosted periodically on-site).

Victor’s upbringing in the kitchen is where he honed his love for cooking. His earliest memories are working at his father’s bistro growing up in Chicago, beginning as a dish washer and eventually helping with food prep. It was at that time when young Victor was first inspired by his dad’s passion for cuisine and longed for the Chef’s life. After culinary school, Victor’s resume quickly took shape within the hotel Food & Beverage world. There was a first brush with Oak Brook Hills Resort, followed by Hyatt, Sofitel, and Four Seasons – where he started to look at cooking as an art form. Victor eventually received a high-profile position for Hilton Corporation, helping run the show at the luxurious Conrad Chicago, before ultimately returning “home” to where his heart is, Oak Brook Hills Resort.

“We’re committed to setting the bar for excellence after relaunching this Resort as the Hidden Gem of the Suburbs,” says General Manager Steven Ellingsen. “To help us cultivate our new culture and give guests an experience that’s top-notch, we’ve identified an extraordinary Chef who can take us there.”

Victor takes over a culinary program at Oak Brook Hills Resort that already had a strong reputation for chef-driven execution. At the Resort’s restaurant outlets, B., a contemporary farm-fresh dinner concept, and Tin Cup, an all-day gastropub, he’s committed to seasonal menu diversity and simple preparations accented by dynamic flavors. In addition, the Resort hosts some of the suburb’s most esteemed private banquets and public holiday brunches, such as the upcoming Easter from the Chef’s Table event, all of which center on the wide-ranging skills of the Executive Chef.

“Our desire is to be regarded as one of the leading Resorts in the Midwest,” asserts Steven. “With the talents of Victor Martinez now on board and an outstanding new culinary approach, we can honestly say we’ve reached the next level!”

About the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center:
The Midwest’s premier lifestyles and conference resort is nestled away in the upscale suburb of Oak Brook, Illinois – just 30 minutes west of Chicago. After a 4-year property wide renovation culminating in late 2018, the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center is now considered “The Hidden Gem of the Suburbs” (3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523). Designed by hospitality architecture visionaries O’Kelly Kasprak, the new look of the Resort carries a stylish aura reminiscent of the Golden Age of Leisure. The designers have created a chic identity at the IACC-certified 150-acre property, where modern innovation meets mid-century elegance. With over 42,500 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, the resort is an ideal venue for conferences, weddings, banquets or social functions. The 386 guestrooms and 39 suites are complemented by an all-season tented pavilion, full exercise and spa facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and the 18-hole Championship Willow Crest Golf Club. The artistic talents of Executive Chef Victor Martinez can be seen throughout the resort’s culinary program, from catering to the resort’s two signature restaurants, a farm-to-fork called B. and a gastropub, Tin Cup. Visit http://www.oakbrookhillsresort.com for reservations or call the hotel direct at 630.850.5555.

SOURCE: Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort