Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau names new executive for sales

GREATER PALM SPRINGS, California – “We are at an important point in our tourism recovery and Rick’s invaluable sales and marketing expertise will be critical to our long-term success,” said Sc

GREATER PALM SPRINGS, California – “We are at an important point in our tourism recovery and Rick’s invaluable sales and marketing expertise will be critical to our long-term success,” said Scott White, President/CEO for the Greater Palm Springs CVB, commenting on the recent hire of a new executive of Convention Sales.

Rick Blackburn has joined the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) as Vice President of Convention Sales. In his new position, Blackburn will oversee all convention and meeting sales activities and programs. His priorities will include: strategic development of key niche markets, growing mid-week, shoulder and summer group business.

Blackburn joins the Greater Palm Springs CVB from La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST where he served as Executive Director of Sales and Marketing. With more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience, Blackburn worked with the Marriott Global Sales team, providing strategic leadership for a team of well-seasoned sales professionals. Prior to that, he was the Director of Sales and Marketing for The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, where he helped significantly increase property revenues, achieving record-setting room sales for the five diamond resort. He was also Area Director of Sales and Marketing for three distinctively different Marriott properties in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. He began his hospitality career at Marriott International in Atlanta, GA, holding a series of increasingly responsible leadership positions in food and beverage and sales and marketing.

Additionally, Blackburn has served as a guest speaker for numerous organizations, including the College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and The Hospitality College of Johnson & Wales University. He has been a facilitator for Marriott International sales training schools and is a certified speaker for The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. In 2002, his team won the North American Sales Team Special Achievement Award from Marriott International, and in 2009 the Intermediary Team won the prestigious Global Sales Team of the Year Award.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...