HSMAI Washington DC Chapter, which serves hospitality professionals throughout the Washington metropolitan area, today announced the appointment of Christopher Zindash, Amadeus Hospitality regional vice president, as chapter president.

He succeeds Sheila Hession, executive director of sales at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, who served as president for four years and continues as a board member.

Other board members are J.J. Abuelhawa, director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency Dulles in Virginia; Jake de Boer, area manager at Booking.com in Washington; Linda Caruso, director of sales & marketing at the Hyatt Centric Arlington at Key Bridge in Virginia; and Jennifer Hill, vice president, commercial strategy, at Kalibri Labs, Washington.

Additional board members are Bernard “Bernie” Howe, assistant director of sales at The Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle; Jeremy Huvard, area director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Place Washington DC National Mall; Tina Meredith, vice president of revenue management at PM Hotel Group, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Jennifer Phillips, senior director of revenue management support, U.S. and Canada, for Marriott International in Bethesda, Maryland; Jeff Spaccio, senior vice president, enterprise/brands, for Tambourine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Vanessa Wilson, director of sales & marketing at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf in Alexandria, Virginia.

The following chapter board members serve in committee assignments: Hill, vice president of the Collegiate Experience Committee; Phillips, vice president of the Education Committee; Spaccio, vice president of the Marketing & Communications Committee; and Wilson, vice president of the Membership Committee.

“Christopher Zindash is a talented and accomplished sales leader with an extensive resume in the hotel industry,” said Ellen Wilson, managing director of the HSMAI Washington DC Chapter. “We are fortunate to have his insight and vision as board president.”

Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Zindash oversees sales and total account management for Amadeus in the Northeast and eastern Canada through six sales executives and is responsible for over $40 million in annual sales. He leads a team that assesses clients’ needs and matches products and services to help hotels drive revenues and bookings.

He formerly was director of sales for TravelClick in Washington; director of sales and marketing for hotels managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Fairfax, Virginia; regional general manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Washington; and general manager of numerous hotels in the greater Washington metropolitan area.

About HSMAI Washington DC Chapter

HSMAI Washington DC Chapter is an affiliate of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region.

HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs including the Adrian Awards, Marketing Strategy Conference, HSMAI ROC revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum.

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