Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) Welcomes Tom Santora As Chief Commercial Officer

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. July 13, 2016

ORLANDO, FL. July 13, 2016 - To address the significant growth of its worldwide hotel and resort membership, its growing client base and demand for its Global Sales Organization (GSO) services, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has announced the addition of highly respected hospitality industry sales, marketing and operations executive Tom Santora as Chief Commercial Officer to its executive leadership team. In the newly created executive-level position, Santora is responsible for overseeing the commercial strategy and the further development of the ALHI brand and alliances worldwide, according to ALHI CEO David Gabri.

Associated Luxury Hotels International has established itself as the leading independent Global Sales Organization serving the North American Meetings & Incentive marketplace, encompassing 30 years of meeting, incentive and convention sales development exclusively for its distinguished Membership of over 250 luxury-level hotels and resorts worldwide, as well as “Alliance” members including 23 meetings and incentive program-savvy luxury cruise ships, and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in over 100 locations worldwide. 

Santora joins ALHI with over 30 years of extensive hospitality industry sales and marketing experience, including serving for the past eight years as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Sales for Omni Hotels & Resorts. In that senior executive-level position he led a corporate team of over 100 sales, marketing, loyalty, communication and revenue strategy associates. During his tenure with Omni Hotels & Resorts he architected the brand strategy across all disciplines and communication channels to evolve Omni's brand position and drive top-line revenue to $2 billion. At Omni Hotels & Resorts Santora developed and managed a multi-million-dollar sales and marketing budget; and co-developed and introduced Omni's award-winning loyalty program (DISCOVERY), which included multiple brands with 550 hotels in 76 countries across the globe. In addition, he oversaw 500 field-based sales professionals, which included sales leadership, group, business travel, leisure, and catering and conference services.

Six years prior to Omni, Santora served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the independent luxury lifestyle brand Viceroy Hotels & Resorts; and for 17 years in various sales and marketing positions for Marriott International.

In his new position at ALHI, Santora will primarily focus on ensuring the integrated commercial success of ALHI. His responsibilities include further advancing the leading Global Sales Organization's systems and market connectivity as a recognizable full-service “soft brand,” which serves independent luxury-level hotels, resorts and independent brands worldwide. In order to accomplish ALHI's long-term business growth objectives, increased market share and broaden the global footprint he will be involved with marketing, sales, segment and product development, customer service and communication.

Santora is based in ALHI's Global Sales office in Dallas, Texas, and he may be reached at [email protected] .

“We are proud to have Tom joining our incredible ALHI team,” said Gabri. “We've experienced significant growth over the last several years and know this is the perfect time to strategically expand our executive leadership team. Tom is ideal for the job and trajectory of ALHI and the services we provide to our exclusive membership. He combines extensive corporate experience from his tenure with Omni and Marriott; with the full appreciation of the distinctiveness of independent hotels and resorts, and independent hotel brands like Viceroy. Tom is highly respected, and matches well with the strong core values and character of ALHI. He also shares our passion to serve clients, as he will help us meet the demands, expectations and future needs of our Membership and the Accounts we are privileged to serve.”

Santora will join Gabri, President Jim Schultenover, Chief Operating Officer Mike Coutu, and Division Vice Presidents Ashly Balding and Chris Riccardi on the ALHI executive team.

“I am very proud to join such an exceptionally respected and committed organization as ALHI,” said Santora. “ALHI is the leader in the North American M.I.C.E. market, with an incredibly successful and stellar reputation for serving its prestigious Member hotel and resort portfolio, Alliance members, and valued clients. I look forward to working with Dave, Jim, and the entire ALHI team to help expand ALHI's commercial strategy, branding, and global footprint.”

Associated Luxury Hotels International (alhi.com) is an authorized membership-based, dues-funded Global Sales Organization, providing extensive GSO sales services throughout North America at no cost to the Accounts served. To access the ALHI GSO sales network for local professionals, go to alhi.com to identify the nearest of 20 professionally-staffed ALHI Global Sales offices situated coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada. ALHI GSO offices are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Richmond, Southern California (3), Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Washington (state). The ALHI GSO professionals are there to provide valuable sales assistance, expertise and market intelligence, with viable options for programs of all types. Collectively ALHI assists Accounts in the U.S. and Canada with their programs in the U.S.A. and over 90 other countries worldwide.

For more information about ALHI, to inquire about any of the ALHI portfolio properties and Alliance partners, and/or to acquire a free copy of ALHI's “2016 Meeting Facilities Guide” or the ALHI app, contact your nearest ALHI Global Sales Office, or call the “ALHI Group Desk” toll-free at 866-303-ALHI (2544), and visit alhi.com .