Moving up or moving on—these industry professionals are part of a talent pool testing new career waters. Good luck!
Lisa Buchanan and Stephanie Phillips, IAEE
The Dallas-based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has promoted Lisa Buchanan to Senior VP of Operations on the executive leadership team and hired Stephanie Phillips as director of digital engagement and member experiences.
Buchanan joined IAEE in 2014 as director of membership and chapter engagement and was promoted to vice president of engagement and digital strategy in 2022. Prior to joining IAEE, she spent 10 years in the medical and dental industries serving in various roles overseeing operations, purchasing, revenue cycle management, marketing, and business development. Buchanan began her exhibitions and events career with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), serving for eight years in various roles including director of global chapter relations and member services, a position in which she oversaw all membership and chapter functions for more than 50 chapters worldwide.
In her new role, Buchanan will direct the general management of IAEE staff to ensure effective and timely accomplishment of all tasks and initiatives. She will also assume the helm of various departments including membership, chapter relations, digital strategy, public relations, marketing, and communications, leading efforts toward growing IAEE membership and exploring new revenue streams.
With a strong background in association management, Phillips brings valuable experience to IAEE from her previous position as the manager of marketing and membership at the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC). Phillips has more than 14 years of experience managing membership, marketing, volunteers, events, and programs for various associations. She has a passion for working with members and optimizing digital platforms. Phillips holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In her role as director of digital engagement and member experiences, Phillips is responsible for the association’s digital and data tech stack and driving membership growth and retention strategies that align with the association’s strategic objectives. She is also responsible for the day-to-day management of member and customer engagement journeys.
Lisa Messina, Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando has announced that hospitality and meetings industry veteran, Lisa Messina, is joining the organization as Chief Sales Officer.
Messina’s impressive career spans three decades in leadership roles at several of the meetings and events industry’s leading organizations. Most recently, Messina served as the Chief Sales Officer for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, which also owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Throughout her career, she has received a host of prestigious awards and served on key industry boards. In 2023, she was named one of MPI’s 50 Most Influential Meeting Professionals and was inducted into Smart Meetings Hall of Fame. Messina has also served on CVENT’s Advisory Board, HSMAI’s Advisory Board and the Executive Board of the American Heart Association Southern Nevada. Messina currently serves on the Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Board of Directors.
At Visit Orlando, Messina will oversee several departments including the meeting & convention sales and experience team, travel industry sales, membership and supporting services. She joins the organization at a crucial time as the Orange County Convention Center is set to embark on an expansion project to the North-South Building, opening up opportunities for new businesses to the region. She will begin her role August 19 and report to Visit Orlando’s president and CEO, Casandra Matej.
Larry Tsoumas, Thompson Zihuatanejo
Thompson Zihuatanejo, a beach resort by Hyatt located in Mexico’s idyllic La Playa Ropa, has announced the appointment of Larry Tsoumas as the new Director of Sales & Marketing. With over 25 years in five-star world-class luxury markets, Tsoumas returns to the Hyatt corporation where he will drive hotel performance and commercial strategy through marketing, sales, revenue management, events and communications.
Tsoumas brings an extensive background in brand innovation and sales leadership, as well as expertise in driving action, accountability, productivity, and market share. Over the years, Tsoumas has held director-level positions in sales and marketing across several top hotels and hospitality groups, including Kerzner International and the One & Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, The Peninsula Hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, he worked as Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, where he oversaw all aspects of hotel sales and marketing strategies in order to maximize revenue opportunities and property goals, presenting the hotel as a leader in the industry. Tsoumas’s success in delivering specific and practical solutions while inspiring a culture of engagement has resulted in revenue increases, revitalized branding, and hotel profitability.
To experience Thompson Zihuatanejo or for more information, please visit www.hyatt.com/thompson-hotels/zihth-thompson-zihuatanejo.
Dania Duke, Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe
Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, the brand’s first lodging location in a mountain destination, has appointed Dania Duke as Managing Director. Nestled at the base of Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the new Margaritaville property is the only all-suite resort in the South Lake Tahoe basin.
In her new role, Duke will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, focusing on enhancing both guest satisfaction and operational efficiencies as well as fostering a positive work environment. With over 30 years of hospitality experience, Duke’s expertise spans across luxury resort operations, food and beverage innovation, and project management.
Duke comes to Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe from Davidson Resorts, which now manages Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, where she served as the VP Area Managing Director, overseeing the Davenport Hotel Collection in Spokane, Washington. Prior to that, she served as the area general manager for Davidson Resorts, overseeing the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter and Hotel Solamar.
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