Hot Off the Presses
In 2019 Salt Lake City approved more than 400 permits for special events, film production shoots, and demonstrations. That year, a City survey found that 50 percent of event organizers wanted to see changes to the special events permitting process, including a technology update. Salt Lake City has now announced its decision to modernize its permitting protocols through an expanded partnership with OpenCounter in response to this overwhelming feedback, and in preparation for a resurgence in events post-COVID.
Sequence, an award-winning events agency, celebrates their 10-year anniversary this month alongside numerous repeat and first-time clients, as well as their dedicated team. Sequence’s mantra is Exceed Expectations Every day, and the agency's success over the past decade is a testament to the results of that effort, through the creation of indelible brand experiences and a strong sense of company culture.
White Lodging, one of the leading hospitality development and management companies in the United States, is enhancing the development of the next generation of hospitalitarians as part of the White family’s significant continued support of Purdue University. In addition, Purdue trustees voted Friday (Oct. 1) to rename the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in honor of the White family’s longstanding financial and in-kind support. At the request of Bruce White, White Lodging’s founder and CEO, the school’s name will also honor the career and contributions of J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board of Marriott International. Effective immediately, Purdue’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management will officially be known as the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Purdue’s hospitality and tourism program, housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences, is widely known as one of the best in the nation, with graduates serving in hospitality positions the world over. Dean Marion Underwood said this gift and new name will help extend its reach even further.
Two storied hotel and resort management companies have aligned forces, creating one powerhouse organization strategically positioned for the future of the global hospitality industry: Benchmark Pyramid. With a worldwide portfolio of 210 properties and annual operating revenue under management of more than $3 billion, the new company captures the passions and unique strengths of Benchmark Global Hospitality, a celebrated leader in the development and management of independent and lifestyle properties, and Pyramid Hotel Group, with its history of success across branded/franchise and resort properties. Benchmark Pyramid’s combined centers of excellence will make it the property manager and employer of choice as it delivers improved and accelerated results focused on service to owners and hotel guests. The new entity is backed by each company’s respective longtime investment partners, Gencom and TZP Group. Serving as co-chairs are Pyramid Hotel Group co-founder Rick Kelleher and Benchmark founder Burt Cabañas—both hospitality industry visionaries who built their respective companies from the ground up.
People on the Move
ETHOS Events Collective has expanded its national presence by adding offices in Chicago and Las Vegas, as well as two strategic, award-winning event management leaders Michelle Castady Orlando, DMCP, and Ana Lampas, to its growing team. ETHOS Event Collective is the Destination + Event Management Company that helps meeting and event planners stay ahead of increasing demands while supporting the people and places that make the experiences we create possible through “Purposeful Planning” to ensure results for companies and communities even after a meeting or event has ended.
The historic La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes Estates, California officially reopens under the leadership of its new operator, Megan Walker, CEO and Executive Chef of Southern California’s esteemed catering company, Made by Meg. As operator, Walker has led the revitalization and interior refresh of the beloved property, as well as established Made By Meg as the exclusive caterer at La Venta Inn. With the goal of revitalizing La Venta Inn’s classic beauty, all while accommodating popular preferences for modern weddings and events, Walker tapped local interior designer, Dannielle Albrecht of Dannielle Albrecht Designs, to create the property’s luxurious, yet understated, new interior design. As the 98-year-old property begins its next chapter, Walker intends to continue La Venta’s legacy of hosting idyllic seaside nuptials and events, with exquisite custom catering, for generations to come.
