LOS ANGELES
SMG alongside the City of Ontario today announced that Michael Krouse has been named President and CEO of the Ontario Convention Center & Visitors Bureau, effective immediately.
In this capacity Krouse will oversee the day-to-day management of the facility as well as play a key role in business development, helping to attract new conventions, meetings and events to the premier Ontario facility.
The City owned facility is professionally managed by SMG, the world leader in venue management, marketing and development with a specialty in operations of municipal facilities throughout the US.
“With his more than two decades of experience Michael has a proven track record of success in the hospitality and convention center business,” said Bob McClintock, Senior Vice President Operations at SMG. “While working through a rigorous selection process, Michael’s experience increasing yearly convention bookings in the City of Los Angeles made him the ideal choice for this position. I’m confident that the City of Ontario will benefit substantially from Michael’s expertise.”
Most recently Krouse served as the Senior Vice President of Sales & Client Services for Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB) making him responsible for managing the organization’s meetings and convention sales and client services departments. In that position he also had direct oversight of the Los Angeles Convention Center Citywide Convention Sales.
“The Ontario Convention Center and Visitors Bureau is a well-respected institution, and I am truly honored that SMG and the City of Ontario have entrusted me to build upon their success,” said Krouse. “Having been directly involved with the nation’s 16th largest convention center, I have become keenly aware of the success and reputation SMG has earned at so many of these venues. I am proud to join their team in helping to grow Ontario’s market share.”
The Ontario Convention Center is an ideal venue for mid-size conventions and meetings representing 250 to 950 hotel rooms on a peak night, with up to 10,000 delegates.
“Ontario’s economy benefits greatly when companies and groups bring their events to our City, so finding a CEO capable of attracting new business to our area was a key focus in our search for a President/CEO,” said Ontario City Manager, Chris Hughes. “I feel confident that Michael is the right guy for the job and that together with our longtime partner, SMG, Ontario will experience growth as the regions ideal location for events and conventions.”
Krouse spent over 20 years in a variety of senior hotel sales management positions. He was Interstate Hotels and Resorts Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Hilton Hotels Corporation Regional Director of Sales and Marketing – West for more than 13 years.
Krouse has a Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE) certification from the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification from the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and has earned the title of Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
Krouse has served as a Board Member of the UCLA Extension Executive Hotel Program and Creativity Advisory Council and Los Angeles Hotel/Motel Association. He is also a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Convention Industry Council (CIC).
Completing Ontario’s dynamic leadership team, SMG is also pleased to announce that Traycee Mayer has been promoted to the position of General Manager of the Ontario Convention Center. Traycee has previously worked with SMG at the Long Beach Convention Center and had most recently served as the Assistant General Manager at the Center. Traycee’s depth of experience and familiarity with the Ontario landscape make her the ideal choice to work alongside Krouse.
