FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information, contact:
Meghan Risch, 312/567-8540
(Chicago, IL) February 8, 2006 - Tim Roby, a veteran hospitality industry sales and marketing executive, has been named President of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB), it was announced today.
Roby takes over the top spot at the CCTB after serving in senior sales and marketing positions with Kerzner International Resorts Inc., MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. He starts at the CCTB on April 3.
Roby, 45, currently is Senior Vice President for Kerzner International Resorts, where he is responsible for sales and marketing of the company's flagship property, Atlantis, on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Atlantis has consistently achieved one of the highest occupancy levels of any major resort in the Caribbean and is considered the catalyst for the revitalization of tourism in The Bahamas.
"Our mission is to sell Chicago, its rich tourism assets and its industry-leading trade show facilities to convention, business and leisure travelers around the globe. We're fortunate to have someone with Tim's strong sales and marketing track record and impressive credentials," said Phil Stefani, Chairman of the CCTB and President of Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants.
The announcement of Roby's appointment follows a national search that began after the departure last August of the CCTB's previous top executive, Chris Bowers. In the interim, the Bureau's senior leadership post was held by Bill Utter, who also continued as Vice President of Marketing.
"We're grateful for Bill's professionalism, integrity and commitment to the Bureau and the city over the past several months," said Stefani.
Roby is a native of the Chicago area. He grew up in west suburban Winfield and graduated from Wheaton North High School.
"I'm excited about coming home and being part of a team that is creating the greatest combined business and leisure tourism destination in the United States," said Roby. "Chicago has become one of this country's few truly global cities, and that's a great selling point. Not only does the city have world-class facilities in McCormick Place and Navy Pier, along with tremendous hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions and nightlife -- it also has a fertile business environment in which trade show exhibitors have access to a vast network of connections and opportunities."
A primary mission of the CCTB is to book conventions and trade shows into McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and Roby joins the Bureau at a time when new conventions, tradeshows and meetings -- as well as those returning to Chicago -- are contributing to strong growth in that area. New shows coming to Chicago as a result of the Bureau's sales efforts include BIO2006, the global biotechnology industry showcase, and the National Business Travel Association. In addition, three shows were relocated to Chicago in 2006 as a result of Hurricane Katrina - the recently concluded Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting, the American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons' annual conference and the 66th annual conference of the National School Boards Association.
"I look forward to building a strong team that will continue and expand upon this growth," Roby said.
Prior to joining Kerzner International Resorts, Roby was Vice President of Sales for MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where he supervised sales of the 5005-room hotel as well as MGM Grand Adventures 32-acre theme park.
He started his 23-year career in the tourism and hospitality industry with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, where he worked for 13 years. He held the Director of Sales and Marketing position at several Hyatt hotels in Texas and California. He joined Hyatt in 1983 as Convention Services Floor Manager at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
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