A New and Innovative Position Guiding Sales, Marketing and
Revenue Management
ST. LOUIS, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Explore
St. Louis announced today the
appointment of Ed Skapinok as Chief
Commercial Officer of the destination marketing organization and
operator of America's Center Convention Complex effective
July 29, 2024.
With deep experience in hotel industry sales, marketing and
revenue management, Skapinok is relocating to St. Louis to take a newly created position
which combines the consumer-facing functions of Explore St. Louis
for a unified and comprehensive approach to selling St. Louis to the world. "After conducting an
extensive national search, we're excited to welcome Ed to our team
where he can apply the commercial strategies he's refined at
leading hotels to selling St.
Louis," said Kitty Ratcliffe,
President of Explore St. Louis.
While the Chief Commercial Officer role has become integral and
established in large hotel organizations, this is likely the first
time the position has been introduced within a destination
marketing organization. According to Skapinok, "I've loved working
in the hospitality industry and building successful organizations
and brands. The opportunity to bring that knowledge and experience
to a destination like St. Louis is
something I just couldn't pass up." On his decision to relocate to
St. Louis, "no other destination
has the same combination of iconic sites, cultural activities,
professional sports and amazing food scene," said Skapinok.
Skapinok earned his undergraduate degree at California State University Long Beach and MBA from
the University of California Davis. He
has served in senior marketing and sales leadership roles with the
Intercontinental Hotels Group, Hostmark Hospitality Group,
Aqua-Aston Hospitality and most recently with culinary-forward
hotel startup, Appellation. Ed was named one of the "Top 25 Minds
in Hospitality" by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing
Association International (HSMAI) and is a regular contributor to
hospitality industry periodicals and thought leadership.
According to Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer of Explore St.
Louis, "Ed and I served together on the America's Board of HSMAI
where he has been at the forefront of commercial leadership. I am
excited about the future for St.
Louis' hospitality industry and look forward to
collaborating with Ed."
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SOURCE Explore St. Louis