The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) announced the recent hire of Hillary Burton as executive director of convention sales western region.
Burton is responsible for overseeing sales efforts throughout California and other western states, as well as room night generation related to meetings and conventions in that region.
Burton comes to the RSCVA with more than 20 years of experience directing sales activities related to California’s meetings and conventions industry. Most recently, she was the national account director for Visit Newport Beach Inc., where she focused on bringing in business from northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana and Idaho.
“If Reno Tahoe is to meet its ambitious growth targets, our sales team must create new and long-lasting partnerships throughout the industry,” said RSCVA Vice President of Sales Mike Larragueta. “Hillary’s extensive experience will help us accomplish these goals, and I’m excited to see her contribution to the organization.”
Burton is a board member of the Corporate Event Marketing Association, and a past board member of the California Society of Association Executives.
The RSCVA also announced the addition of Shaun Tracy as national sales manager southeastern region. This is the first Reno Tahoe representative to fill its new satellite office in Atlanta, Ga.
Tracy is responsible for creating new meetings and conventions customers throughout the southeastern U.S.; a mission with a renewed focus for the RSCVA.
“We certainly haven’t ignored the southeastern U.S., but now is the time for Reno Tahoe to be much more aggressive in that region,” said RSCVA Vice President of Sales Mike Larragueta. “With a strong sales record and a service background, Shaun knows how to cater to the needs of our customers. This is a new opportunity for the RSCVA, and for Shaun, and I’m excited to watch him develop our client base in this market.”
With more than a decade of sales experience, Tracy also has more than 25 years of experience in food service, including time as the director of banquets and catering at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Most recently, he spent the last six years generating revenues via meetings and room night bookings for 38 U.S. properties owned by Caesars Entertainment Corp.
