Smart Moves at the Anaheim Hilton, INNOV8 Meetings + Events, and

Martin Mattix

San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) appointed Mattix as its deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Mattix joined the SDCC team in 1998 and has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2018. She has been an integral part of SDCC through moments of change, including transforming the building into an emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. As CFO, she successfully implemented new sales strategies to attract high-value events, delivering impactful economic growth to San Diego. As SDCC enters 2025 (the center will celebrate its 35th anniversary), Mattix’s responsibilities will expand and she will provide strategic direction, drive business initiatives, manage financial operations and oversee day-to-day operations.^th anniversary, its events are expected to generate an estimated $1.7 billion in regional economic impact and $40.2 million in tax revenue for the city.

justin underwood

Anaheim Hilton Hotel Named Underwood Director of Hotel Operations. He brings nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality industry to this new position, where he will lead Orange County’s largest hotel and work to enhance the hotel’s reputation for delivering an exceptional guest experience. He will oversee all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, culinary programs, banquets and events, housekeeping, maintenance and more, at a critical time as the hotel begins a multi-million dollar renovation project.

Aoife Delaney

DMC network Promotes Delaney to managing director from his current position as vice president of business development. She will assume her new role on January 1, 2025. She has worked in the DMC space for more than two decades and has been instrumental in expanding the DMC Network’s reach across six continents. A long-time volunteer leader at SITE and a leading speaker and popular panelist, Delaney is a familiar face to many in the meetings and events industry.

Abigail Fernandez

Fernandez joins INNOV8 Conference + Events The team acts as managers and is responsible for global accounts. She started her career in 2001 as a sales associate in the corporate travel and national sales departments, before moving into the events team and later as catering sales manager. Throughout her career, she has become a seasoned professional in full-service event planning, specializing in the procurement, coordination and execution of impactful events. She has extensive industry contacts and extensive experience.

Catherine Gregory

Gregory serves as Director of Sales and Marketing sagamore pendry baltimore. She will be responsible for all aspects of the hotel’s group and temporary business, catering sales, meetings and events, and marketing and public relations. She has more than 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, starting her career at Hilton and later leading the sales team at W Hotels in Chicago, where she played a key role in the transition from Starwood to Marriott. She later introduced Convene to the Chicago market as regional sales director and guided the team to successfully open four hotels. Most recently, she served as Director of Sales and Marketing for Thesis Hotel in Miami.

Kay Lerman and James Overbo

peninsula hotel Two important leadership appointments were made.

Lerman has been named senior vice president of Peninsula Signature Events. He has been a cornerstone of Peninsula Hotels since 2009 and has been Managing Director of The Quail since 2017. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels team and leading the motorsport experience at both hotels.

Oferbo succeeds Lerman as managing director quail. He has been with the Peninsula Hotel brand for more than 16 years, starting as Executive Chef at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. He subsequently rose through the ranks, eventually serving as Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations at The Peninsula Hotels Group’s Hong Kong headquarters.

John Luckett

Southeast family-led hotel brand Kessler Named Luckett president of hotel operations. Luckett, who previously served as Kessler’s chief operating officer, has more than 30 years of industry experience, 15 of which he spent with Kessler. He will contribute to the operational strategy and continued growth of corporate, commercial and human capital across the portfolio.

Luis Gonzalez

Gonzalez appointed sales director Terrini Resort. He has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has a reputation for exceeding sales and profit targets. He most recently served as Executive Director of Sales for the Fontainebleau Group in Miami Beach and brought insight, knowledge and expertise to take over the management of all aspects of revenue generation associated with the Terranea Group division.

Kaylin Miller

Hyatt Centric Denver Downtown Miller has been named Catering Events Sales Manager. With over 13 years of experience in the events industry, Miller will be responsible for working closely with clients to bring their vision to life, curating impactful, high-quality events and ensuring events reflect the brand’s standards of service and refinement. She has held several key event management positions, including serving as Community Outreach and Events Manager for the City of Dacono and most recently as Event Sales Manager for the Hyatt Regency Denver.

Michael Bayette

Balyeat appointed sales and marketing director Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverfront and Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverfront. In his new role, he will oversee all sales and marketing initiatives for both hotels and implement strategies to increase brand awareness. He worked in hotels from 2012 to 2014 as associate director of sales before joining the Arcade Hyatt Regency Cleveland as director of sales, events and marketing and later the Hyatt Regency Columbus. He is now back in San Antonio.

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