Benchmark Appoints Wende Blumberg GM Hotel Contessa in San Antonio
HOUSTON, TX, Deceember 21, 2009 - Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Wende Blumberg as general manager for Hotel Contessa, the Personal Luxury Hotel™ on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. Greg Champion, chief operating officer, made the announcement.
"I am pleased to welcome Wende to her new role with Benchmark Hospitality,” said Mr. Champion. “She brings a solid history of strong and capable leadership to Hotel Contessa, and we welcome her to this remarkable property in this storied destination.”
Wende Blumberg previously served the Benchmark Hospitality organization as field staff support for Naples Bay Resort, its luxury property in Naples, Florida. She also led an important initiative to expand and upgrade the company's system-wide Extranet, Benchmark Central. Prior to this, she held the title of general manager for Mission Inn Resort & Club near Orlando, which Benchmark operated at the time.
Ms. Blumberg invested a decade of her distinguished hospitality career with Hilton Hotels Corporation, serving as general manager for the Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel and in the same role for The Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville, which she opened.
In addition to operations positions, Wende Blumberg has been director of sales & marketing for Sandestin Resort of Destin, Florida, and served as director of customer retention and director of conference planning for the landmark Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. She initially worked for Benchmark Hospitality International as director of conferences for The Cottages at Shipyard Plantation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, which Benchmark previously operated.
Wende Blumberg is the past president of the International Association of Conference Centers, the leading professional organization governing the multi-billion dollar conference center industry on five continents. Over her productive career she has also served in leadership roles with numerous chambers of commerce, sports and tourism boards.
Ms. Blumberg earned her Masters Degree in Recreation & Parks from Penn State University, and her undergraduate degree in the same discipline from the University of Florida, Gainesville. She is an avid golfer and equestrian. Ms. Blumberg is relocating to San Antonio with her husband.
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