InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has named Janis Cannon, vice president, Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the Americas.

In her new role, Cannon is responsible for overseeing and driving the successful implementation of marketing strategies and tactical marketing programs for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in the Americas to support its short- and long-term growth and profitability objectives. She will develop overall profit growth strategies, including distribution methods and brand standards, as well as overseeing field marketing operations to ensure tactical and strategic plans are executed to maximize hotel profits in local, regional and national markets.

Janis brings a unique combination of experience and skills to her new role which makes her the right person to help grow the brand and lead InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to even higher levels of success, said Jenifer Zeigler, senior vice president, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.

With nearly 25 years` experience in the hospitality industry, Cannon most recently served as the Deputy Commissioner of Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development where she was responsible for managing domestic and international marketing and promotional plans for Georgia`s second largest industry. Ms. Cannon has an extensive background in sales and marketing, as well as hotel operations. Throughout her career, she has held several positions with Swissotel at the corporate level including senior vice president, Global Sales where she was responsible for owner and investor relationship management, and vice president, Americas Sales & Marketing where she established a regional sales and marketing structure. At the hotel level, Ms. Cannon served as general manager, Swissotel Buckhead where she was responsible for $26 million in annual sales and $9 million in annual profits, and director of sales and marketing, Swissotel Buckhead, leading the charge on creating forecasts, budgets and operational guidelines. Ms. Cannon also worked at several Holiday Inn properties in sales capacities.

Cannon began her career in the hospitality field in 1981 as a regional representative, Georgia Department of Industry and Trade where she was the state liaison for 29 counties in North Georgia.

Ms. Cannon has received significant recognition in the hospitality industry. She has been named by Travel Agent as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Travel and also received the American Express Silver Plume Award for General Manager of the Year.

She is a committee member of several hospitality organizations including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, National Council of State Tourism Directors, Travel South USA and Governor`s Commission for a New Georgia Tourism Task Force.

Ms. Cannon earned her B.F.A. in speech communications from Valdosta State University in Georgia.