The People

Dawn Young first joined Choose Chicago in June 2005 as director of association sales, and in May this year, was promoted to vice president of hotel sales. It’s a perfect example of rising up the ranks for someone who’s so passionate about moving tourism forward. Though her experience in the industry runs deep, she’s got her work cut out for her to keep the numbers growing: Chicago set a tourism record in 2017 with more than 55 million visitors. A major reason for that? “Chicago just rocks accessibility,” says Young.

Each morning at 6:15 a.m., Spiaggia Director of Sales Erica Yack wakes up, drinks her coffee, walks a mile to her office at 980 N. Michigan, and works on returning hundreds of emails and voicemails (including at least 12-15 RFPs a day). But if that was the most rigorous part of her routine, it would be a quiet day for Yack, who is constantly caught in a balancing act that includes managing client demands, following up on leads, executing events and leading a small sales team at the fine-dining restaurant. 

Guillermo Veloso has joined the team at Ocean Place Resort and Spa as their new executive chef. Veloso is no stranger to the region, being a New York City and northern Jersey native. 

Veloso has an extensive culinary career extending more than 35 years, but he has also spent time as an archaeologist and naturalist. He was the executive chef at Miami’s Yuca Restaurant and has also served as executive chef at Philadelphia’s Cuba Libre and the Please Touch Museum. 

“All my life, my dream was to come to the States,” recalls Pierre-Louis Giacotto. “It was a country that we dreamed of every day.” Though the 51-year-old grew up in Lyon, France, like many of his peers, he had visions of heading west, which was further stirred by an early interest in hospitality and hearing about an explosion of possibilities in America.

These interviews are part of a series that highlights new hires within the industry. Have you recently started a new role or do you know someone who has? Submit your ideas to brittany.trevick@tigeroak.com.

Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has selected Richard Staub as the senior vice president, convention sales. 

In his role, Staub will be in charge of leading the CVB’s convention sales and services team in hitting booking goals through the marketing of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. He will start in September. 

Connect Magazine recently published its 40 Under 40 list, and Daniel Gallagher, national sales manager, Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission, made the list.

He’s handsome, friendly and fit. But that’s not the only thing attracting hotel guests to this particular greeter. He’s furry, too.

Jack, an Australian Shepard that lives at Lone Star Court with General Manager Marcus Latner, spends his days greeting guests, supervising group activities, doing walkthroughs of the property and meeting with business associates.

Young versus old. It's a tale as old as time. Ever since there have been parents and children, teachers and students, bosses and new hires, there has been a divide of authority. So, in this era when boomers and millennials coexist in a world so polarized by lifestyle choice and growing technology, we have to wonder: is age really just a number anymore?

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