CLEVELAND (Nov. 7, 2016) - Destination Cleveland, the
convention and visitors bureau of Greater Cleveland, today announced the
addition of Jennifer Sullivan and Alexis O'Connor as national sales managers
serving the association market in the District of Columbia. Sullivan and
O'Connor will leverage the positive meetings and conventions sales momentum
that the organization is experiencing as a result of both its successful
hosting of the 2016 Republican National Convention and the media attention the
city continues to receive about its revitalization.
An enhanced presence in the Mid-Atlantic region allows the Destination
Cleveland team to showcase the city's more than $3.5 billion in visitor- and
meetings-related infrastructure development over the past five years, including
the opening of a new convention center, multiple new hotel properties and the
redevelopment of Public Square, the city's primary downtown greenspace.
"Cleveland is experiencing unprecedented
interest and attention from meeting and event planners in 2016 - leads for
future conventions continue to be received at a record pace," said Mike Burns,
senior vice president of convention sales and services, Destination Cleveland.
"This strategic investment in the Mid-Atlantic market, which is home to more
than 1,000 national associations, will help sustain the positive trajectory as
Alexis and Jennifer bring strong relationships in this region to their work
with Destination Cleveland. They can actively introduce potential clients to
the benefits of meeting in Cleveland."
Jennifer Sullivan joins Destination
Cleveland with 12 years of sales experience focused on the meetings and
conventions segment. Previously, Sullivan spent six years at Visit Baltimore.
In her role as a senior national sales manager, she specialized in government
and union markets. Sullivan is also experienced with the sports market having
worked directly with the Maryland Sports Commission to secure and organize
numerous sporting events for the region. She held sales- and meetings-related positions
with hotels in the Baltimore area earlier in her career.
Sullivan is a Certified
Association Sales Executive (CASE) and member of the Society of Government Meeting
Planners (SGMP), Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPS) and Professional
Convention Management Association (PCMA) where she serves on the board of
directors. Sullivan lives outside Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and
daughter.
Alexis O'Connor brings to
Destination Cleveland nearly eight years of experience selling mid- to large-scale
meetings and conventions with a focus on medical and sporting events. Most
recently, O'Connor served as national sales manager for Visit Baltimore where
she secured numerous new and emerging meeting and convention opportunities that
resulted in significant economic impact for the region. Through additional
experience earlier in her career, O'Connor is a knowledgeable sales resource
for medical conferences and conventions, a focus that allows her to bolster
Cleveland's sales growth at the national level.
O'Connor obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication
from Towson University and is a member of PCMA, Meetings Professional
International (MPI), AMPS, International Association of Exhibitions and Events
(IAEE) and National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC). She lives in Catonsville,
Maryland with her husband.