Sonoma County Tourism Bureau Earns Certified Meeting Designation
SONOMA COUNTY, CA, September 18, 2009 - Four of Sonoma County Tourism Bureau's sales managers have earned the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Earning the designation were Mark Crabb, CMP, FCDME, director of sales; Jamie Graham, CMP, national sales manager; Paula Higgins, CMP, associate director of sales; and Robin McKee-Cant, CMP, meeting sales and services manager.
"We had a goal to train and certify our sales staff with the foremost certification of professionalism in today\'s meetings industry," said Ken Fischang, CHME, CMP, Sonoma County Tourism Bureau (SCTB) president and chief executive officer. "The fact our entire sales management team have now earned their CMP designations says a lot about our organization's dedication to professionalism."
The team joins Fischang; Chyrl Collins, CMP, CTIS, tour and travel sales manager; and Marta Hayden, CMP, chief business architect; and Barb Quigley, CMP, Midwest sales representative; as CMP designants.
I'm excited about earning this designation," Higgins said. "It opens up new opportunities for networking. The training, education and certification process expanded my knowledge of the meetings profession industry. It will enable me to better serve my clients."
SCTB provided a leadership role in facilitating the nine-month course and opening the training workshops to qualified area hospitality professionals. Study group leaders were recruited from local hotel and meeting professionals who have the designation.
"Our goal to elevate professionalism within our industry extends beyond our staff," Fischang said. "We put our resources behind our goal so Sonoma Country, as a destination, is better positioned in this challenging industry."
The CMP program recognizes individuals who have achieved the industry's highest standard of professionalism.
The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau is the Destination Marketing Organization for Sonoma Country. The SCTB markets Sonoma County as a leisure, business and group travel destination. Tourism generates in excess of $1 billion annually for the local economy. The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau offices are located at 420 Aviation Blvd., Suite 106, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. For more information call 800-576-6662 or visit www.sonomacounty.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
