Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1356169
B M & T ••• March/April 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11 experience and knowledge will complement our mission impact to existing customers, while also helping expand our outreach and growth among new audiences who want the opportunity to experience rustic and inviting settings for vacations, retreats, meetings and conferences,'' said Watkins. Junior is President of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, and she serves on the Diversity Task Force for Destinations International. Her additional board service includes The International School of Hospitality, Delta Education Foundation, and Association of Latino Professionals for America. She is a member of Meeting Planners International (MPI) and Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA). LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU HIRES SALES DIRECTOR FOR MULTICULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS MARKET RECRUITMENT As Convention Planners Resume Future Event Bookings, LRCVB Fills Sales Position to Manage Multicultural and Religious Accounts L ittle Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) has hired Brenda Hatton-Ficklin as sales director for multicultural and religious markets. Ficklin is responsible for securing future business in these key niche market segments as meeting planners begin to re- boot their booking efforts after the COVID-19 pandem- ic forced event cancellations nationwide — more than 200 in Arkansas's capital city. Ficklin brings with her more than 20 years of expe- rience in developing and implementing organizational processes for effective man- agement and allocation, with the ability to build col- laborative relationships with key stakeholders and build consensus from diverse groups. She comes to LRCVB from Little Rock's Philander Smith College where she served as director of alumni relations. She was also events director and operations director for Little Rock's St. Mark Baptist Church for 11 years. "Little Rock has a rich history of hosting multicultural and religious meetings and conventions, and it's business that we value and appreciate," said LRCVB President and CEO Gretchen Hall. "Brenda brings a wealth of knowl- edge and understanding to this position and is an asset for the bureau and the city," she added. Little Rock is a prime meetings destination for multi- cultural and religious groups. It is home six U.S. Civil Rights Trail destinations — including Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site listed as a Top 10 Trail destination; it's conveniently located in the heart of Arkansas; the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is less than 10 minutes from the Downtown Convention District; the city has more than 7,200 hotel rooms; both the Statehouse Convention Center and Robinson Center are anchored by two convention hotels; and dining, entertainment and shopping venues are easily walkable from meeting facilities. NICOLE ROGERS NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF SALES OFFICER WITH SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL T he San Francisco Travel Association has announced the addition of Nicole Rogers as Executive Vice President/- Chief Sales Officer, effective March 1st, 2021. In her new position, Rogers will oversee all Convention division activities including the development and implementation of sales strategies, citywide group business optimization, long- range sales and marketing of the City and County of San Francisco's major conven- tion facilities including Moscone Center. Rogers is starting in her new role at a pivotal point in time, as the industry is expected to start recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic in the course of 2021. After a record 1.2 million definite convention room nights booked in 2019, the year 2020 closed on a mere 124,931 convention nights. Cancellations of citywide conventions alone represent an estimated loss in direct spending of over $922.0 million. Moving forward, the goal is to bring the industry back to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. San Francisco's Moscone Center - a world class, state-of - the-art convention center - will be a major competitive advantage for the city on the road to recovery. Nicole Rogers has worked with the Marriott organiza- tion for the past 20 years. Positions included on-property Director of Sales & Marketing (Marriott Union Square, Marriott Marquis, Marriott Fisherman's Wharf), Area Sales Leader, Market Account Leader, and Account Sales Leader/Regional Director – U.S. and Canada.