Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19029
Lois McLaughlin has been named director of event services at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – the sixth largest convention center in the nation. In her role as director, she will supervise the plan- ning and execution of all events held at the Convention Center. McLaughlin will head a team of nine Event Services managers who boast a whop- ping 136 years experience at the convention center, with five members serving 22 or more years. A 23-year veteran of the hospitality industry, McLaughlin comes to New Orleans from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, where she served as director of event services. The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism wel- comes a new hire to the Columbia Metropolitan & Visitors Bureau (CVB). Ryan Melvin has joined the CVB as their new sales assistant. Melvin will be responsible for researching and qualifying groups that are a great fit for the Columbia prod- uct. A recent Winthrop University graduate,Melvin joined the CVB sales team with some mar- keting experience and will expand his knowledge in the tourismindustry. In his spare time,he enjoyswatching sports, cooking and spending time with his family. Earlier this year, Mid-South Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment hiredGeorgia resident and salesman- ager Michael Wilson to promote and sell over 65,000 sq. ft. of meeting and convention space at Harrah’s Casino, Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, and Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Miss. Wilson currently resides and works out of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Wilson has held varying positions within the hospitality industry with companies including: StarCITE, Incorporated, Atlanta; Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Buckhead; Accenture Atlanta; The Ritz Carlton Atlanta; Renaissance Chicago Hotel, Chicago; Park Springs, LLC, Stone Mountain Georgia; as well as owning and operat- ing his own event planning and services company. Island Routes Caribbean Adven- ture Tours is pleased to announce the appointment ofMiguelArthurs as the company’s new director of Operat- ions. Arthurs is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the tour outposts in the island destina- tions that the company serves, includ- ing Jamaica, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Antigua and shortly in the Turks & Caicos. In this capacity as director ofOperations,Arthurswill also oversee the training and development of the team of IslandRoutes Specialists, themanagement of the tours owned and operated by Island Routes, and the relationship with the company’s Certified Partners. Arthurs joins Island Routes CaribbeanAdventureTours fromJamaicaZiplineAdventure Tours. TheNewYorkerHotel has promot- ed Lisbeth Recio to the position of director of Catering and Conventions Services where she oversees four departments in the hotel including catering, convention services,banquets and the kitchen. PreviouslyRecio was the catering salesmanager. As director,Recio will train, super- vise and work with all catering and convention services staffmembers to solicit functions at prop- erty as well as plan and execute events. She will participate in catering sales presentations, property tours and customer meetings. Other responsibilities include administering all phases of the banquet department including sales, planning and marketing procedures; development of banquet menu pricing; and revenuemanagement for the department. The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has announced the hiring of a senior man- ager for Corporate Affairs & Communications to support the orga- nization’s strategic growth plans. Appointed as the senior manager, Corporate Affairs & Communicat- ions, Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi will lead efforts to manage MyCEB’s strategic relationship with key stakeholders, particularly the government, and to develop corporate branding and commu- nications. Previously senior assistant director with Tourism Malaysia, Nuwal specialized in bidding for association meet- ings, research and event servicing. MyCEB was established in 2009 by the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia to further strength- en Malaysia’s business events brand. Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 13