Quick Chat With Randy Tanaka

Randy Tanaka
Hawaii Convention Center As if his duties as assistant general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu weren't enough, Randy Tanaka also is serving as chief operating officer of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2011 Hawaii Host Committee for APEC's Leader's Week. The event will take place Nov. 7-13 in Honolulu and is expected to draw some 20,000 international government officials, corporate executives and media representatives to discuss business interactions between member nations.       

What career path led you to the Hawaii Con­vention Center? Early on I was part of the team that opened the Westin Kauai, the first of the mega resorts in the islands, and I eventually became executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. I joined the center as director of sales and marketing in 1996.

What are some of the challenges you face at the center? It's a new day, the market changes quickly and the competition responds just as quickly. Technology has speeded up the game. Because of this, opportunities are very fluid. If you mull over the challenges too long, you will be to market too late. That said, we're well positioned to be the place where people come from all over the world to share information face-to-face.

Why is the APEC Leaders' Meeting so important? APEC is unique; it's about cooperation among the world's fastest growing economies. Hawaii, by example, repre­sents how things can be balanced -- socially, economically and environmentally. APEC not only will help highlight what we have to offer, it will better position the U.S. in regard to Asia Pacific economic relations and initiatives.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy physical work -- building stuff, planting fruit trees. But there's not much spare time.

On the Move PlannersAspen, Colo.-based destination services/planning firm Rocky Mountain Connections has hired Jennifer Adams as sales manager, Aspen office; Jack Kimball as senior operations manager, Park City, Utah, office; Jillian Livingston as sales manager, Denver office; and Laura West as regional director of sales.Suppliers Chris Anderson has been appointed director of sales for the Huntington Beach (Calif.) Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The George R. Brown Conven­tion Center in Houston has named Terry Beutler director of sales. Previously, she served as director of group sales at the InterContinental Houston Near the Galleria. At the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center, Brian Casey has been named general manager. Brigitte Diem-Guy has been hired as vice president of sales and marketing for Vancouver, British Columbia-based Silver­Birch Hotels & Resorts. In Tennessee, the 199-room Chatta­noogan hotel has appointed Lauren Gillespie (left) as manager of corporate sales for most of Georgia, and Traci Parker as sales manager for parts of Tennessee and liaison with various state association and government clients. Laura Hammond has joined Associ­ated Luxury Hotels International as national sales manger for the Southeast region. At the 185-room Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City, Scott Koster has been named general manager.   Jared McLach­lan has been appointed director of sales at the 2,265-room Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. At the 439-room Loews Corona­do Bay in San Diego, Javaud Mushtag has been promoted to director of sales. Previously, he served as director of national accounts at the property. At the Durham (N.C.) Convention Center, Jennifer Noble has been named general manager. Mark Peterson has been promoted to senior sales manager at the 1,740-room Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss. At the 452-room Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, Vincent Russo has been appointed executive chef; previously, he served as the property's executive sous-chef. Melissa A. Ursin has been promoted from food and beverage manager to catering sales manager at the 500-room Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans.