Appointments & Promotions

Preferred Group Appoints Christie Weller DoGS Southern California and Southwestern United States

CHICAGO - February 24, 2012 - Preferred Hotel Group™, a leading provider of sales and marketing support to independent hotels around the world is pleased to announce the appointment of Christie Weller as director of group sales for Southern California and Southwest.

In her new role, Christie will serve as a liaison between Preferred Hotel Group members in her region and meeting and event planners. She will actively work with the company’s events team to host a variety of client events, and will implement personalized meetings between the members and planners.

With over 10 years of hotel experience, Christie joins Preferred Hotel Group after departing Leading Hotels of the World where she served as group sales manger in Southern California. For the five years prior, she held a dual sales position with two boutique properties in San Diego: Estancia La Jolla and L’Auberge Del Mar. Passionate about sales, Christie also has extensive experience in a variety of markets including incentive, food and beverage, and management consulting.

Christie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and currently resides in San Diego, California.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nichole DiBenedetto
Director, Global Public Relations
Tel: +1 646 465 9783
Fax: +1 212 541 7245
ndibenedetto@preferredhotelgroup.com

Coming Up In The July Online Hotel Business Review


Feature Focus
Hotel Spa: The Biggest Challenges
The best hotels are not merely hotels; they are incubators for the next great trends in the hospitality industry and this includes spa services as well. Like all aspects of a hotel?s operation, the spa sector must continually assess and adapt to the needs and tastes of their patrons and to create captivating programs to fulfill them. Some of these programs are placing an emphasis on specialization, while others are offering creatively packaged services. Some spas are promoting new technologies, while others are expanding the definition of wellness in general. Among those that are specializing, feet are being given particular attention. Some spas are offering computerized gait analysis and treatments in zero-gravity chairs, while others are teaching their patrons how to improve their posture and strengthen the muscles in their feet. There are even 100% foot-focused med-spas which combine podiatric medical care, along with a menu of foot-pampering treatments. Kids are also receiving special attention due to an emerging trend that finds they are attending spas much earlier than in the past, around the ages of 12 or 13. The industry is evolving to accommodate them, from opening kids-only spas to offering services on everything from childhood obesity to the development of lifelong wellness practices. The July issue of the Hotel Business Review will examine all the trends and challenges that the spa industry is experiencing, and how they are adapting in order to thrive.
In this issue...
Treading Lightly into New Territory: The Challenges Related to Bringing Spa to New Destinations
By Kimberly Setzermann, Co-Founder, Pure Strategic Solutions
Challenges Between Hotels and Free Standing Spas
By Judy Hou, CEO, Les Roches Jin Jiang
Capturing the Educated Spa Customer
By Holly Zoba, Senior VP Marketing, Signature Worldwide
How Spas Help Hotels Book More Rooms
By Stacy Dreyfus, Founder & CEO, Orchid Resorts & Escapes
PLUS: Customized Treatments, A Spa's Evolution, Capturing the Educated Spa Customer, New Green Standards & Certification Systems, Spa Industry Trends & Much More!