HSMAI Names Revenue Management Professional & Resort Marketer of the Year

Melissa Graves as Revenue Management Professional of the Year and Agnelo A. Fernandes as Resort Marketer of the Year

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. June 29, 2012

MCLEAN, VA - June 29, 2012 - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI ) is pleased to announce the recipients of this year's Revenue Management Professional of the Year Award and Resort Marketer of the Year Award to two deserving hospitality professionals.

Melissa Graves, director of revenue at Platinum Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas, has been named as Revenue Management Professional of the Year, and Agnelo A. Fernandes, vice president of sales & marketing for Terranea Resort in Los Angeles, has been named Resort Marketer of the Year. The respective candidates were chosen for the distinguished awards because of their high degree of excellence and commitment to the hospitality industry.

The HSMAI Americas Revenue Management Professional of the Year Award, co-presented by HSMAI and Rainmaker, was presented to Graves on June 25 during the HSMAI Revenue Optimization Conference (ROC) in Baltimore. Graves implemented innovative online marketing strategies and created a report format that has since been adopted across all Marcus Hotels. Her hard work and new strategies led to a 15.3 percent increase in revenue for the 2011 fiscal year. Graves also attends regular in-market training and is active in the Las Vegas revenue management community as a whole in order to foster new relationships and support new ideas.

“Graves' innovation, drive and involvement make her an extremely qualified recipient of the Revenue Management Professional of the Year Award, and we are proud to bestow this honor upon such an individual,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President and CEO of HSMAI. “Additionally, Fernandes is a valuable member of the hospitality industry and his passion for success is easy to see when you look at all he has accomplished throughout his career.”

Fernandes received the Resort Marketer of the Year Award during HSMAI's Resort Marketing Strategy Conference on June 26, also in Baltimore. With more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Fernandes has brought a breadth of knowledge and innovation to his position at Terranea Resort. Fernandes has helped increase revenue and online presence of the resort by implementing a new seasonal marketing strategy and an online marketing campaign. In addition, Fernandes has been active within HSMAI, a board member of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and has been a guest lecturer at various schools and universities.

Nominations for both awards come from HSMAI chapters and the industry at large, and nominees represent the very best in revenue management and marketing. They are judged by a panel of revenue management and marketing leaders, respectively, on a variety of criteria.

HSMAI's ROC and Resort Marketing Strategy Conference at the Sheraton City Center in Baltimore, Md., gave attendees the chance to network with other professionals and learn about new trends in their respective industries. ROC keynote speakers included Scott Deaver, executive vice president, strategy, Avis Budget Group; and Craig Eister, vice president of revenue management, Intercontinental Hotels Group. Resort Marketing Strategy speakers included Lorraine Sileo, vice president, research, PhoCusWright; and Renie Cavallari, owner, Aspire Marketing & Training.

About HSMAI
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals & their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as HSMAI's MEET, Adrian Awards, and Revenue Optimization Conference. HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at www.hsmai.org, www.facebook.com/hsmai, www.twitter.com/hsmai and www.youtube.com/hsmai1 .

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