Since February, event industry suppliers across the country have been welcoming new leadership, growing their teams, as well as saying goodbye to industry veterans who are moving on to new ventures. 

CEN’s take on the biggest recent move: Visit Baltimore President and CEO Al Hutchinson will be stepping down from his leadership role, effective June 30. Hutchinson will stay on in a consultant role to assist with the transition until his successor is identified, and a committee comprised of several members of the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board (BCTB) has been established to help ensure a smooth transition. Meanwhile, Visit Baltimore Vice President of Sales & Customer Experience Kireem Swinton has been tapped to serve as interim president and CEO, starting July 1. 

The big picture: Under Hutchinson’s more than eight years of leadership, Baltimore’s tourism and hospitality industry has demonstrated remarkable growth, with Visit Baltimore achieving numerous milestones. These included attracting a host of leading event industry and top-tier sporting events to the city; achieving record-breaking visitation of 27.5 million visitors in 2023, with domestic travel generating $4 billion for the city’s economy; establishing a Tourism Improvement District, which provides additional resources directly from the city’s hotels towards sales and marketing efforts that generate tax revenue from visitors; a major marketing rebrand and launch of a mobile visitor center showcasing the destination; myriad social inclusion initiatives, and much more. 

Need to know: Before coming to Visit Baltimore in 2016, Hutchinson served as president and CEO of Visit Mobile, Ala. for more than two years, and as vice president of sales for the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for 11 years. 

What he’s saying: “Serving as President and CEO of Visit Baltimore has been the opportunity of a lifetime. It has been the most challenging job that I’ve ever had and also the most fulfilling. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to step back from full-time executive leadership to focus on other personal interests and opportunities, once my existing contract concludes. Baltimore’s potential as a premier destination continues to flourish, and the foundation we’ve built over the past several years ensures that our city’s tourism industry will continue to thrive.”  

What they’re saying: “Under Al’s transformative leadership, Baltimore’s tourism industry has thrived, bringing visitors, investment and new opportunities to our city,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “We are grateful for Al’s many contributions to Baltimore. His commitment to telling positive, community-focused stories that showcase the breadth and diversity of our neighborhoods has set the stage for a bright future.” 

Terramar DMC  

Terramar, a DMC Network Company, promoted seasoned operations professional Geraldine Gracidas to senior director of U.S. operations. Since joining Terramar in 2012, she has steadily moved up the ranks of management and senior roles, most recently serving as director of operations for more than two years, and prior to that, as operations manager for more than nine years. 

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk  

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk has appointed Ryan Fender as general manager, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the 1,003-room downtown hotel while leading the team through the completion of the property’s $9 million renovation project.  

Originally from the UK, Fender has worked his way up the ranks at Hyatt U.S. properties, including Grand Hyatt DFW, Grand Hyatt New York, Hyatt Times Square, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Saint Kitts, Andaz Mayakoba, and Hyatt Centric properties in Lima, Santiago, Guatemala, and many other destinations.  

He most recently held GM positions at Alila Ventana Big Sur in California, as well as Hotel 50 Bowery and Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City, before accepting the position at Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk.   

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau 

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has named Matthew Pivarnik as its new president and CEO. He brings more than 30 years of proven leadership experience to his new role at the South Carolina destination, most recently serving as CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership in Kan., where he oversaw operations of the Greater Topeka Chamber, Visit Topeka, GO Topeka, and Downtown Topeka Inc., among others.  

Pivarnik played a pivotal role in forming the Greater Topeka Partnership in 2018, a collaboration that successfully unified regional efforts and contributed to the area’s significant revitalization. Under his leadership, the capital city metro received national recognition as a top U.S. city to live and visit, experiencing a $2 billion increase in GDP. Prior to his time in Topeka, he served as the executive vice president and COO of the Tulsa (Okla.) Regional Chamber.  

Rainwater Conference Center  

Following nearly $1 million in upgrades in 2024, The Rainwater Conference Center in Valdosta, Ga., recently welcomed three new team members to enhance the facility’s meetings and event capabilities. 

As catering sales manager, Susie Ellington will serve as the on-staff specialist for all events at The Rainwater, including weddings, conferences, and meetings. 

As marketing manager for The Rainwater & Visit Valdosta, Patrick Pearson will establish and execute marketing strategies, including creating marketing-driven events and campaigns. 

As director of group development, The Rainwater & Visit Valdosta, Danielle Robards will work to drive group sales and cultivate relationships with event planners, tour operators, and organizations. She will also spearhead efforts to increase visitation and economic impact by developing strategic partnerships and collaborating with local stakeholders. 

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center  

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has promoted 25-year team member Elaine Williams to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), responsible for continuing to oversee the development and execution of growth strategies, and working closely with all aspects of sales, marketing, event services, and operations. 

Formerly senior director of sales and event services, Williams was appointed interim CCO in November 2024 when former CCO Tim Hemphill announced his transition into a part-time executive advisor role after 17 years with the facility. She began her career at the NOENMCC in 1996 as a sales manager for Aramark, and after joining the venue’s sales team in 2007 as a national sales manager, was promoted to director of sales in 2013. 

Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park  

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park recently expanded its leadership team with the appointment of four women to key management positions. 

As director of operations, Nicole Thomure will leverage her extensive experience in food and beverage operations to elevate the guest experience by enhancing service standards and refining dining offerings. 

Chloé Gray-Le Coz bringing a strong background in brand strategy and marketing to her new role as director of sales and marketing, she is focused on enhancing the hotel’s presence in the market, fostering meaningful partnerships, and building relationships within the Chicago community to drive business. 

Danielle La Pointe, director of talent and culture, will focus on fostering a dynamic and inclusive workplace environment, while Sandy Hsu, director of revenue management, will drive financial strategy and optimizing revenue growth. 

Have some corporate event-related people news to share? Please send announcements and high-resolution headshots to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.

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