NEW: Connie Pion Joins Destination Worcester as Director
Friday, June 28, 2013
The board of directors of Destination Worcester has announced the hiring of Connie Pion as the organization's new director.
Ms. Pion brings more than 25 years of experience in the hotel industry in sales and marketing. Most recently, she was Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester for seven years. Prior to Worcester, she held that same position at the Hilton Garden Inn and at the Sheraton Springfield Country Inn and Suites, both located in Springfield, MA. All three hotels are operated by the Columbus Hotels group headquartered in Springfield.
The board of directors voted unanimously at their meeting on Wednesday, June 19 to hire Ms. Pion for the job. “We’re excited to have Connie on board – she’s really the right person at the right time,” said Troy Siebels, chair of the Destination Worcester Board of Directors. “We’ve got a strong board of directors in place to support her, and every one of us is committed to making the new Destination Worcester a success in bringing a new level of activity and visibility to all that’s good about greater Worcester.”
Tim Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and member of Destination Worcester's executive committee, supports the board's decision to hire Ms. Pion. “Connie is a champion of Worcester and understands the needs of the region's visitors, what attracts them, and how the business community can be a part of their experience. We are fortunate to have her join the partnership between Destination Worcester and the Chamber. Connie will be an asset as we lay out our platform of recruit, retain, and incubate and take a greater leadership role in economic development.”
City Manager Michael V. O’Brien calls Destination Worcester a “success story.” According to O’Brien, “their laser focus to bring multi-day conventions and events to the City like the Fed Cup, NCAAs, and US Rowing Masters National Championships, helps fuel our local economy and assists in positive national and international branding. Destination Worcester's board, working in synch with the Chamber of Commerce, has set the right table for continued growth in these endeavors. I have been briefed on the hire of Ms. Pion and I am very familiar with her work. She is a proven commodity in the convention, event and hospitality industry in Worcester and the Region. She is a welcomed addition to the Destination Worcester team and I look forward to even more convention and event activity here as a result of Destination Worcester and her efforts.”
Her experience includes opening the Worcester Hilton Garden Inn in 2006 as well as the groundwork she did for a year prior to the hotel opening. The hotel has 199 guest rooms and 4,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space in the heart of downtown Worcester. Connie was responsible for hiring, budgeting, marketing, business development, and many other aspects of the hotel's daily operations.
Ms. Pion's first day on the job will be July 8. “I am very excited to work for Destination Worcester, the board of directors, hand in hand with Bob Murdock and the many partners we currently have in the City to see positive changes.”
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