Food and beverage manager Reggie Parks celebrates with fellow
employee Claudia Crespin.
San Diego Marriott food and beverage manager Reggie Parks and
fellow employee Claudia Crespin joined with local dignitaries and
other hotel staff at “San Diego’s Largest Champagne Toast” on Jan.
13. The event celebrated the grand opening of the San Diego
Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, a 306-room luxury hotel located one
block from San Diego’s Petco Park. A giant 15-liter bottle of
champagne was uncorked to mark the opening of the Stanford Hotel
property, which was restored for an unprecedented $45 million.
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM WINS
The 15th Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association
honored South African Tourism and its agency, The Portfolio
Marketing Group, with a Platinum Award for South Africa’s 10th
Anniversary Celebrity Chefs’ Tour, a special events campaign
designed to raise awareness of South Africa as a destination. From
left, above: Robert A. Gilbert, President/HSMAI; John Bateman,
Acting Country Manager, South African Tourism; Judy Pillay,
Operations Manager, South African Tourism; Noel Mignott, President,
The Portfolio Marketing Group; Maureen O’Hanlon, Board of
Directors/HSMAI.
SAN DIEGO PATA CELEBRATES
Chapter members enjoy the party as the San Diego chapter of the
Pacific Asia Travel Association celebrated its 25th anniversary on
Nov. 16 at the El Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park.
The event was sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board of Los
Angeles. From left, above: Debbie Cowles, Regency Travel of San
Diego; Amy Bianchi, Account Rep., Runaway Tours; John Gilruth,
Corp. Sales Manager, The Villa Group; Carmen Figueroa, San Diego
Sales Rep., for Vacations for Less and Royal Solaris Hotel.
FAIRMONT NAMES NEW CFO
John Carnella has been appointed executive vice president and chief
financial officer of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc., effective
March 1. He will report to William Fatt, Fairmont’s CEO.
Carnella recently served as senior vice president of finance and
treasurer of Host Marriott Corporation. He holds an MBA from The
Wharton School for Business.
