Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
| May 4th, 2009 |
Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment Vice President Don Ross Honored at Hospitality Industry Dinner
For Immediate Release:
LAS VEGAS – May 4, 2009 – Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment Vice President of Catering, Conventions & Events Don Ross was honored as an Industry Executive of the Year during the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration’s 5th Annual Vallen Dinner of Distinction on Thursday, April 30. Ross was one of three distinguished industry executives honored for their exceptional contributions to the hospitality industry.
The Vallen Dinner of Distinction honors exceptional industry executives, innovative corporations and notable alumni for the significant impact they have made in the hospitality industry. Don Ross has more than 26 years of experience in management positions with various hotels, resorts and casinos. As Vice President of Catering, Conventions & Events for Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment, Ross is responsible for the entire operational side of the company’s convention business in Las Vegas including catering, conference services and banquets. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities within those key areas, Ross is also responsible for transitioning single property customers into multiple property customers, and making it simple for them to utilize various properties and venues across Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment’s seven properties.
Ross has been employed at Bally’s for 16 years and was part of the Paris opening team. Before joining Bally’s, Ross held the position of Director of Convention Services at Caesars Palace, as well as various positions in food and beverage with the Boca Raton Hotel & Club; Amfac in Oahu, Maui and Dallas; Hilton Hotels in Dallas and Miami; and the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Most recently, Ross was honored with the Spirit Award at the Las Vegas Hospitality Association’s Distinction Awards.
“Don has had tremendous success within the hospitality industry and is a passionate and dedicated industry professional,” said Michael Massari, vice president of meeting sales and operations for Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment. “He has been instrumental to the growth and success of our organization, and he continues to show his exceptional leadership with our team and with our customers.”
Named in honor of Jerome Vallen, founding dean of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the event also featured silent and live auctions to benefit the Vallen Professorship Endowment Fund, which was established to honor Vallen’s dedication to the hospitality industry and to help bring distinguished industry or educational leaders to teach at UNLV’s Hotel College.
In addition to Ross, this year’s honorees included:
The Vallen Dinner of Distinction honors exceptional industry executives, innovative corporations and notable alumni for the significant impact they have made in the hospitality industry. Don Ross has more than 26 years of experience in management positions with various hotels, resorts and casinos. As Vice President of Catering, Conventions & Events for Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment, Ross is responsible for the entire operational side of the company’s convention business in Las Vegas including catering, conference services and banquets. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities within those key areas, Ross is also responsible for transitioning single property customers into multiple property customers, and making it simple for them to utilize various properties and venues across Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment’s seven properties.
Ross has been employed at Bally’s for 16 years and was part of the Paris opening team. Before joining Bally’s, Ross held the position of Director of Convention Services at Caesars Palace, as well as various positions in food and beverage with the Boca Raton Hotel & Club; Amfac in Oahu, Maui and Dallas; Hilton Hotels in Dallas and Miami; and the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Most recently, Ross was honored with the Spirit Award at the Las Vegas Hospitality Association’s Distinction Awards.
“Don has had tremendous success within the hospitality industry and is a passionate and dedicated industry professional,” said Michael Massari, vice president of meeting sales and operations for Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment. “He has been instrumental to the growth and success of our organization, and he continues to show his exceptional leadership with our team and with our customers.”
Named in honor of Jerome Vallen, founding dean of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the event also featured silent and live auctions to benefit the Vallen Professorship Endowment Fund, which was established to honor Vallen’s dedication to the hospitality industry and to help bring distinguished industry or educational leaders to teach at UNLV’s Hotel College.
In addition to Ross, this year’s honorees included:
- Industry Executives of the Year: Sal Semola, associate, Warner Gaming; Kevin Rabbitt, president and CEO, GES Exposition Services International Gaming Institute Recognition of Achievement Award: Stan Fulton, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Harrah’s Excellence in Innovation Award: Tapcode, Inc., entertainment and hospitality software company
- Alumnus of the Year: Bob Boughner, president, Echelon Resorts
About the Company:
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. More information about Harrah's Entertainment is available at its website: www.harrahs.com.
About Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment
The 2005 merger between Harrah's Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment launched a groundbreaking philosophy aimed at offering more choices to meeting planners by unifying the meeting sales and operations of seven distinctive Las Vegas properties into a single city-wide operation under one leadership umbrella. This unique concept led to the creation of Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment, which comprises some of Las Vegas' most notable properties: Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah's Las Vegas, Imperial Palace Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The combination offers 1 million square feet of cumulative meeting space, 18,000 guest rooms and suites, and countless options for dining, entertainment and leisure. The distinct advantage for the meeting planner is the convenience and leverage of one contact and one contract, combined with the access and freedom to enjoy the wide variety of venues and amenities across all seven Las Vegas properties.
Property Summaries:
For information on Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment, call 877-MEET-702 or email lvmeetings@harrahs.com. Visit our website at www.lvmeetingsbyharrahs.com.
About Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment
The 2005 merger between Harrah's Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment launched a groundbreaking philosophy aimed at offering more choices to meeting planners by unifying the meeting sales and operations of seven distinctive Las Vegas properties into a single city-wide operation under one leadership umbrella. This unique concept led to the creation of Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment, which comprises some of Las Vegas' most notable properties: Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah's Las Vegas, Imperial Palace Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The combination offers 1 million square feet of cumulative meeting space, 18,000 guest rooms and suites, and countless options for dining, entertainment and leisure. The distinct advantage for the meeting planner is the convenience and leverage of one contact and one contract, combined with the access and freedom to enjoy the wide variety of venues and amenities across all seven Las Vegas properties.
Property Summaries:
- Bally's Las Vegas: 2,814 guest rooms and suites • 175,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Caesars Palace: 3,348 guest rooms and suites • 300,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Flamingo Las Vegas: 3,565 guest rooms and suites • 73,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Harrah's Las Vegas: 2,550 guest rooms and suites • 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Imperial Palace Las Vegas: 2,640 guest rooms and suites • 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Paris Las Vegas: 2,916 guest rooms and suites • 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino: 2,563 guest suites • 163,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
For information on Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah's Entertainment, call 877-MEET-702 or email lvmeetings@harrahs.com. Visit our website at www.lvmeetingsbyharrahs.com.
Preferred Public Relations & Marketing
(702) 576-3574
(702) 576-3574