2018 Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Lynn Mitchell Vice President of Operations, NV & FL Soleil Management Vice Chairman Cheraz Ecker Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Officers Vice Chairman Mary Ann Burns Boyd Gaming Secretary/Treasurer Alex Canales Sr. Regional Managing Director - LV Hilton Grand Vacations Club Executive Board Audrey Damonte Attorney Holley, Driggs, Walch, Fine, Wray, Puzey & Thompson Mary Giuliano Vdara Hotel & Spa Shannon McCallum Crawford Executive Director of Hotel Operations Aria Resort & Casino Debra S. Lang Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Minden Cliff Atkinson Senior Vice President, Hotel Strategy MGM Resorts International Jonathan Boulware Vice President of Nevada Operations Jacobs Entertainment, Inc. Donald Bowman Mandarin Oriental Chris Breed Tahiti Village Resort & Spa Matt Carter Director of Hotel Operations Carson Valley Inn Greg Chase Vice President, Guest Strategy & Insights MGM Resorts International Jason Dougan M Resort Spa and Casino Eric Eisenberg Director of Hotel Operations Boyd Gaming Downtown Region Patrick Flynn Executive Director of Hotel Operations Peppermill Resort Reno Directors Niki Gross Managing Director Whitney Peak Hotel Angelica Palladino Hotel Manager Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas Simon Pettigrew The Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino Michael Rounds Resort Manager Bluegreen Vacations Corporation Vicki Savini Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel Max Tappeiner The Venetian/ The Palazzo Matt Tyburski, CAM, CMCA, AMS Wyndham Desert Blue Josef Wagner Vice President of Food & Beverage Aria Resort & Casino Patrick Wallace Corporate VP of Hotel Operations Station Casinos
Executive Staff To ensure full resources, visibility, representation and member benefits, Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association is led by two key executives under the direction of the NHLA Board of Directors. Diane Gandy, President, CGSP Diane Gandy serves as President and has over 30 years of hotel and travel industry experience in Southern and Northern Nevada including hotel management, OTA major market management, online marketing, sales, event planning, communications and technology expertise. Diane s NHLA responsibilities include general organizational management and business development with a focus on hotel industry member relations and benefits, sales, marketing, communications, association programs, educational resources, seminars, webinars, networking, special events, community representation and strategic partner development. Diane launched the Nevada State Chapter of Women in Lodging in 2015 and serves as an officer on the executive council of WIL. Diane was also the recipient of the 2015 Southern Nevada Women of Distinction Award. Diane has achieved designation from the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute for Certified Guest Service Professional. While managing hotels she held certification as a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) through AHLA, as well. Diane serves on the Board of Directors for The Shade Tree, Dress for Success NNV, and the Society of Association Executives. Irving Pamblanco, Vice President of Finance & Operations, CGSP Irving Pamblanco serves as Vice President of Finance and Operations and has been with NHLA since 1988 when he joined the firm as the business Accountant. He has served several corporate clients including the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association, Nevada Restaurant Association, Nevada Tourism Alliance, the International Food Service Executive Association (IFSEA), and Heffner & Associates, Inc. Irving s responsibilities include overseeing all accounting and finance functions, general operations, database and I.T. management, website updates and maintenance, membership email broadcasts, event participation, and new membership processing. Irving has achieved designation from the American Hotel and Lodging Association Education Institute for Certified Guest Service Professional through passing the Guest Service Gold course and exam.
Mission Statement To serve the lodging industry by providing representation at the local, state and national levels in industry affairs; provide comprehensive and robust educational resources and programs; offer valued member benefits; provide industry communications and value-added member based services. About NHLA The Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association is the leading industry association in Nevada and one of the strongest in the USA. Since 1979, NHLA has been the unifying voice for Nevada s multi-billion dollar resort and lodging industry. With over 200 hotels and industry supporting vendor members, NHLA is the state s largest industry advocate. The Goal: Advocate, Educate, Engage and Enrich NHLA is the most effective and inclusive source of information for Nevada s lodging industry. Members receive timely information that directly impacts their business and the industry. Educational programs help lodging professionals to sharpen their skills and develop business. NHLA s advocacy and strong governmental voice impacts legislation and regulatory policies affecting Nevada s lodging and tourism industry. Networking events bring hoteliers, vendors and industry professionals together in various settings. Association members receive the latest and most important news and information that directly affects their properties and the entire industry. Communication channels are in place to provide the latest information, trends and resources for our members. The channels also provide a tool for members to broadcast news about their companies, as well. Deals and discount programs provide members with impressive cost-savings benefits for their employees.
Partnerships
Get Involved Joining the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association provides many benefits for our members for immediate involvement, education and networking. It is essential to become involved to maximize opportunities of membership and business development. WIL (Women in Lodging) The Women in Lodging forum is exclusively for female hospitality professionals to connect with top professionals and leaders nationwide while networking, enhancing education, supporting the industry, mentoring and advancing careers. NHLA Women in Lodging supports The Shade Tree, Noah s Animal House, Dress for Success NNV and Dress for Success LV by providing resources, fundraising, donations, classes, event assistance and other activities. NHLA Committees Committee members guide our members in relevant areas of operation within the industry and provide resources including Sustainability, Education, Governmental Affairs, and Safety and Security. NHLA committees are open to all members. Next Reigning Generation (NRG) The young professionals group is comprised of members under the age of 36. It serves to engage the industry professionals in the Nevada hospitality and support industries through development of unique local resources including networking, mentorship, philanthropic, and educational opportunities. Deals and Discounts NHLA has a special program whereas members can offer deals and discounts to other members. The offers will appear on the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association website and in other communication channels. Stars of the Industry The Stars of the Industry is the most prestigious hospitality awards event of the year and is hosted by the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association. The super star employees throughout Nevada are recognized and awarded at this formal gala. Sponsorships are available for this highly visible event. Seminars, Webinars, Networking Socials and Special Events NHLA sponsors and hosts many activities throughout the year. Monthly seminars are provided for members, free of charge, as well as webinars. Social networking events at member properties are scheduled quarterly at the best hotels in Las Vegas and Reno. Special events such as golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, and online auctions are held annually. Communication Channels NHLA has several outlets for communicating information to and about our members. We have the www.nvhotels.com website, The Master Key blog, NHLA Facebook, NHLA LinkedIn, WIL Facebook, WIL LinkedIn, and the Hospitality Headliner online, and NRG Facebook.
Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association Events and Activities Special Events NHLA coordinates and manages several industry renowned events annually. These events include the Stars of the Industry Hospitality Awards Gala, the Van Heffner Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament, the Annual Hospitality Bowling Tournament benefitting The Shade Tree, sustainability events and revenue management conferences. Seminars and Webinars NHLA members consistently rate education and networking with peers as the top priorities in benefits of membership. NHLA offers an average of 50+ seminars, workshops, webinars and other educational activities each year. NHLA members attend NHLA sponsored seminars, webinars and summits at no charge. NHLA Social Networking Events NHLA understands the importance of networking with professionals throughout the industry and therefore presents a social networking event quarterly in Southern Nevada and semi-annually in Northern Nevada. The events are held at member hotels from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and a special guest presenter is generally part of the event.