Hospitality sales and marketing executive Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer of…
Hospitality sales and marketing executive Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer of Benchmark Hospitality, has been elected Chairman of the Americas Board for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
In this leadership role, Schmidt will guide the organization’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors for a two-year term, January 2006 – 2008.
“Through Jack’s long-standing career in the hospitality sales and marketing industry, he has seen first-hand the quickness in which the industry evolves. His constant ability to stay focused on the future and ahead of the trends will have a tremendous impact on HSMAI’s direction and mission to grow into one of the industry’s most powerful brands,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
In his role as HSMAI chair, Schmidt will work to further HSMAI’s awareness and credibility, as well as challenge the board and chapter leadership to create innovative and successful products and programs for it broad membership base of sales and marketing professionals.
“It is our responsibility as an organization to provide an information rich environment where professionals can access industry trends and issues that impact sales and marketing of the hospitality industry on a daily basis,” said Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer, Benchmark Hospitality, and incoming chair, HSMAI’s Americas Region.
“As the incoming chair for the Americas’ region of HSMAI, I look forward to building upon the successes achieved by some very talented predecessors and the very creative and committed team that continues to run our organization,” he added.
Schmidt’s career with Benchmark Hospitality began at the Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center in Northern Virginia. After taking a position and spending six years as a partner in a hospitality industry service company, Schmidt rejoined Benchmark Hospitality in 1999 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing working his way to his current role of Chief Marketing Officer.
Through his 26-year career in the hospitality sales and marketing industry, Schmidt has held sales and leadership roles for several companies throughout the country and Puerto Rico including: Del Webb Hotels in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Trump’s Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, The El San Juan Hotel and Casino, Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center, and Peachtree Executive Conference Center.
Schmidt studied Hospitality Management at Widener University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also taught Hospitality Marketing and Sales at Mercer County College and co-authored the original sales training materials for the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), for whom he also served on the Board of Directors for three terms.
Schmidt takes over the top spot from Maureen O’Hanlon, senior consultant, Prism Partners, who will remain on the Executive Committee as immediate past chair.
Serving on the HSMAI Executive Committee are:
Chair: Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer, Benchmark Hospitality
Chair-elect: Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing, Bestwestern International
Vice Chair: David Atkins, vice president and general manager, Interval International
Treasurer: Kim Schaller, vice president, chief marketing officer, Hershey Entertainment
Immediate Past Chair: Maureen O’Hanlon, senior consultant, Prism Partners
Additionally, the Board of Directors includes:
Rob Torres, vice president hotels, Expedia & Hotels.com – Expedia, Inc.
Frank Fredericks, director of sales & marketing, Wilde Dunes Resort
Richard Harper, vice president of sales & marketing, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Jens Thraenhart, executive director of marketing & strategy, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Mark Thompson, assistant executive director, Irving/Ias Colinas CVB
Dawn Walzpak, CHME, first vice president, Tishman Hotel Corporation
Hoyt Bacon, CHME, senior vice president revenue & distribution, Meristar Hotel Corporation
Barbara Bowden, corp director of revenue management, Peabody Hotel Group
Mike Fegley, vice president global sales the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group
Andrew Jordan, senior vice president of marketing, Wyndham International
Douglas Price, senior vice president, professional development, Destination Marketing Association International
Michael Pusateri, chief operating officer, Travel Industry Association of America
Steve Armitage, senior vice president, sales, Hilton Hotels Corporation
Carrie Turner, managing director, Memphis Chapter of HSMAI
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