HSMAI Member Update - Summer 2008 - (Page 18) memberupdate Hospitality Industry Mourns Loss of Celebrated Leader, Mike Dimond; Foundation Scholarship Fund Established The hospitality industry suffered a loss with the death of Michael J. “Shiny” Dimond, 67, who passed away after suffering a heart attack, June 24. Widely recognized as one of the top hotel marketing executives in the nation, Dimond’s career spanned more than four decades. He served in top management and marketing positions with Hyatt Regency Hotels; the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee; Doral in Miami, Florida; the Boca Raton Hotel & Club in Boca Raton, Florida; and Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, Dimond served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Gaylord Entertainment Company. One of the many milestones of his illustrious career included the branding and positioning of Opryland Hotel & Convention Center in Nashville, placing Nashville on the map as a convention destination. He retired from The BROADMOOR as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2006, and was one of the most celebrated leaders in the leisure and hospitality industry. He believed in giving back to the industry he loved and was active in numerous professional organizations, serving on the boards of both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Meeting Planners International (MPI). Dimond was the recipient of the ASAE’s “Academy of Leaders” award, MPI’s “Supplier of the Year” award, was named “Sales Executive of the Year” for Insurance Conference Planners, and is a member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the prestigious Convention Industry Council’s (CIC) Hall of Leaders in 2002 and honored as one of “The 25 Most Extraordinary Sales & Marketing Minds in Hospitality & Travel” for 2003 by HSMAI. He also received the Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) designation from HSMAI. Dimond was born Feb. 2, 1941 in Lima, Ohio and was a graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School and University of Dayton. He was preceded in death by his brother, Steve, mother, Lee, and father, Ward. Dimond is survived by his wife, Lou; daughter, Debbie Stahl, and husband, Tom, of Columbus, OH; son, Michael, of Nashville, TN; step daughter, Lucy Swayze, and husband, Charlie, of Greenwood, MS; step daughter, Jenny Mutter, of San Francisco, CA; sister, Carol Mingarelle, and husband, Patrick, of Erie, PA; brother, Drew, and wife, Nancy, of Nashville, TN; granddaughter, Gabriel, Debbie and Tom’s daughter; and six nieces and nephews. Donations can be made to the Mike Dimond HSMAI Foundation Scholarship Fund online at www.hsmaifoundation.org, or can be mailed to: 1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. For more information, call (703-506-3280). Revenue Idol Awards Honor Chapter Professionals In its inaugural year, HSMAI’s Revenue Idol Award, designed to promote excellence and advance the Revenue Management profession in the hospitality industry, produced steep competition. The 2008 HSMAI Revenue Idol Award winner was Angie Belknap, director of revenue management, Radisson Ft. McDowell Resort & Casino and Radisson Poco Diablo Resort (nominated by the Arizona Chpater). Christine Kramer, director of revenue management, Omni Hotel San Diego, was a finalist (nominated by the San Diego Chapter). The awards are sponsored by TravelCLICK. Each HSMAI chapter was allowed to nominate one person for consideration as the Revenue Idol on the national level. To be eligible for the award, nominees must have a minimum of one year of experience dedicated to revenue management and be a member of HSMAI. Selection criteria included nominees’ implementation of best practices, their commitment (Left) Scott Farrell, vice president, revenue strategy, TravelCLICK, presents the HSMAI Revenue Idol Award to Angie Belknap of Radisson Ft. McDowell Resort & Casino and Radisson Poco Diablo Resort; (Right) Christine Kramer of the Omni Hotel, San Diego, was a finalist. to communication and education, their ability to enhance and develop talent in the revenue management discipline, and their ability to build and strengthen relationships with other disciplines, allowing these disciplines to be more effective. The nomination process was managed by the HSMAI Revenue Management Special Interest Group Advisory Board. More information on the 2009 Revenue Idol competition will be available in December 2008. 18 www.hsmai.org http://www.hsmaifoundation.org http://www.hsmai.org
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