Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau has appointed Doug Bennett as Senior Vice President of Convention Development. He replaces Jennifer Barnett who retired from the position after 22 years of service.
Bennett’s responsibilities include managing the convention sales team to achieve annual room night goals, developing and implementing the convention sales and marketing plan, outlining specific sales objectives and priorities for the convention sales staff and establishing sales policies and procedures to maximize Louisville as a convention destination.
Bennett has worked in the hospitality industry for 32 years. Prior to coming to the Louisville Bureau, Bennett was Director of Sales for the Central Division of Global Experience Specialists (GES) Exposition Services. Before GES, he worked at the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association as Vice President of Sales and for eight years as Director of Sales & Marketing for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Through his past work experiences, Bennett has worked with the NFL and the Super Bowl, the NCAA and many national tradeshows through his work with GES.
“Louisville is positioned for phenomenal growth in the convention market with the expansion of the downtown convention center, a growing number of top hotel inventory and new attractions. Doug’s extensive background with hotels, destination management and large national tradeshows will help guide our sales effort to drive business to our transforming destination” said Cleo Battle, Executive Vice President. Said Doug Bennett, “I am very excited to join the Louisville team. The city’s future is growing as it adds some very important and game-changing assets to its hospitality infrastructure”.
Bennett is a graduate of Purdue University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is both a Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE) and a graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis (DLAGI). Bennett is married with five children.
The appointment is effective Oct. 2, 2015.
