Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1436811
B M & T ••• November/December 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 12 N E W S M A K E R S THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (GMCVB) ANNOUNCES NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CONVENTION SALES & SERVICES The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) recently appointed Carol Motley as the next Senior Vice President of Convention Sales & Services. In her new position, Carol will be responsible for driving occupan- cy and attendance for conventions, trade shows, and meetings in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. She will work with meeting plan- ners and executives to generate leads, bookings, and room nights to ultimately produce a positive economic impact for the community. Working alongside GMCVB President & CEO David Whitaker, Carol will also establish and coordinate all conven- tion sales strategies to assist in overall corporate objectives. "We are delighted to welcome Carol to our team," said Whitaker. "Carol brings to the table over 26 years of direct experience and a track record of sales success representing some of the top convention centers, big box hotels and des- tinations in the country. This diversity of experiences will serve her, her team, and our partners well here in Miami and Miami Beach both in support of our hotel partners' in-house meetings, our newly reimagined and expanded convention center campus and our commitment to winning future con- ventions, trade shows and meetings that will convene here." "I am thrilled to join the GMCVB Bureau and promote Greater Miami and Miami Beach as a world class destination that is revered for its international leisure, event, and meeting appeal." said Carol Motley. "It's an exciting and important time to help sell the newly renovated and expanded Miami Beach Convention Center, creating additional opportunities to wel- come world travelers. Supporting the sales and services team will be a privilege and I can't wait to apply my years of expe- rience and relationships to expand our business portfolio." Carol Motley brings several years of experience in the tourism industry in sales and leadership roles. She is relocat- ing to Miami from Washington, DC, where she previously acted as Director of Convention Sales at Destination DC. In this role, prior to the pandemic, Carol led a team of 16 sales professionals, which included four citywide managers (2,500 rooms on peak and above), four mini-wide managers (1,350- 2,499 rooms on peak), four in-house managers (10-599 rooms on peak) and four assistants. Before Destination DC, Carol was Senior National Account Director at Visit Orlando. Carol's other previous experience includes posts with Choose Chicago, the Hyatt Regency Chicago, and the Baltimore Convention Center. "Carol has a wealth of event and industry knowledge, well- established connections, professional experience, and leader- ship qualities." said Freddie Peterson Spectra's General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC). These attri-butes, in combination with the strength of our GMCVB partner-ship, perfectly position our $620M reimagined MBCC, attached HQ Hotel, City Center Campus, and this amaz- ing destination, for even more success". Carol Motley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communications Studies from the University of Virginia. BRANSON BENSON A STANDOUT PERFORMER AT MEMPHIS TOURISM Brandon Benson has spent the last 15 years working in hospitality with a focus on the meetings and convention seg- ment. Brandon is currently the Director of National Accounts for Memphis Tourism, responsible for showcasing Memphis as a meeting destination that provides a great experience for an exceptional value, offering a much lower cost per attendee rate than other destinations. Previously, Brandon served as a National Sales Manager for The Peabody Hotel Memphis, a Forbes Four Star property, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic, Religious and Frate-rnity markets. Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Tennessee State University. Benson is very active in the com- munity. He's a member of Meet-ings Professional International,