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Bas Lemmens
Meetings.com has named Bas Lemmens as chief executive officer. Lemmens brings nearly two decades of experience in travel and hospitality to the role — he is the co-founder of booking.com and served in various roles within the European hotel business. Lemmens will be based in one of the company’s newest offices in Amsterdam, where he will help grow the company’s support services to professional meeting, event, and group hotel planners worldwide.
Todd Garofano
Todd Garofano has announced he will leave his role as president of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau (DBA Discover Saratoga) after eight years of service, effective April 6. He is leaving to pursue interests outside of the industry. During his time with Discover Saratoga, sales grew nearly 125 percent. A search committee has been formed to find the next president of the organization.
Tina Gaccetta
The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has named Tina Gaccetta as head of events, effective March 1. She will be responsible for the strategy and execution of events hosted by SITE and the SITE Foundation. Gaccetta, who has years of expertise in event marketing and incentive travel, previously served as vice president of client services for One10 Marketing.
Aretha Kelly
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has appointed Aretha Kelly as director of sales. She will be based in the global sales team’s Washington, D.C., office. In her new role, Kelly will assist meeting professionals, association executives, incentive specialists, and business executives in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region interested in holding meetings at ALHI’s properties. Kelly last worked as business development consultant for CaseWorthy, Inc.
Deanna Varga
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has appointed Deanna Varga as representative, MICE, for Australia and New Zealand. In this newly created role, Varga will devote her time to driving meetings, conventions, exhibition, and incentive business to Los Angeles from Australia and New Zealand. Varga has 20 years of sales and marketing experience, and previously held roles at Business Events Sydney and Business Events Australia.