Ray Hammer
General Manager, Sheraton Dallas Hotel
With 1,840 guest rooms and 230,000 square feet of meeting and event
space, the Sheraton Dallas is one of the largest hotels in the city.
Overseeing the entire operation since early 2008 is general manager Ray
Hammer. Over his 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry are
stints as general manager of the Sheraton Park Central in Dallas and,
early on, executive chef at the ITT Sheraton World Headquarters in
Boston. He recently took some precious time out to talk with M&C.
What do you like best about your job?
For one thing, every day is different. Our guests' requirements and
expectations keep us busy – and creative -- as we figure out the best
format for delivering on those expectations. Plus, our employees form
such a close community within the hotel, we've been recognized for three
years in a row as one of the best places to work in Dallas.
Is there anything about the hotel that might surprise planners?
They might be surprised by the sophisticated technology we have here,
everything from our own teleconferencing center to the amount of
bandwidth we have the ability to deliver throughout the hotel. Moreover,
they can bring in their own technology and we can lay it over our own
distribution system, using fiber optics, across the property. That's a
big part of what we deliver.
What kind of mistakes do you see planners make?
Well, let's put it this way: When I see planners taking the time to
plan on-site in advance so they truly understand what we have here, I
know they will be able to lay out their meetings with an effective
format and great flow.
How do you spend your spare time?
My two teenage daughters keep me and my wife pretty busy; plus, I have a
background as an executive chef, so cooking and eating are high on my
list.
On the Move
PlannersScottsdale, Ariz.-based global site-selection and meeting procurement company Hospitality Performance Network Global has hired Kristin Vines as regional vice president for Hawaii.
SuppliersAnthony Annunziata
has been named vice president of marketing at the 432-room Marriott
Fallsview Hotel & Spa and 260-room Marriott Gateway on the Falls in
Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Armando Emanuelli has been appointed director of sales and marketing at the 240-room Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino in Puerto Rico.
The 917-room National Conference Center in Leesburg, Va., has promoted
Kelli S. Mueller from to senior conference planning manager.
Todd O'Leary has been promoted from director of membership to director of marketing for Visit Milwaukee.
At the 1,014-room Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa in the Walt Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.,
Doris O'Neill has been hired as national sales manager and
Bernard Grossman as sales manager.
Fred Peterson
has been elected regional director for the Boston-based International
Association of Venue Managers. He also serves as director of facilities
operations for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.
The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau has hired
Regina Rink as director of national accounts and
Julie Nicolazzi as national sales manager with a focus on hotel and resort sales in the Midwest market.
At the 453-room Hyatt Regency Tulsa (Okla.),
Todd D. Scholl has been named director of sales and marketing.
In Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International has named
Mary Ann Sena-Edelen as director of regional sales–diversity.
Ruby Serra and Associates
has been appointed as sales representative, U.S. and Canada, for
marketing consortium Destination Asia. Serra is based in Schaumburg,
Ill.
The 396-room Peabody Little Rock (Ark.) has hired
Bruce Skidmore (right) as director of sales and marketing and
Alain Piraux as director of F&B.
At the 398-room Half Moon, a Rock Resort, in Rose Hall, Jamaica,
Lee Weinstock has been hired as director of sales and
Wouter Tjeertes as executive pastry chef.
Mark H. White has been named the new president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks (Nev.) Convention & Visitors Authority.