Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Names U.S. Virgin Island DOT Deputy Commissioner One Of Top 25 Extraordinary Minds In Sales & Marketing

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is delighted to announce that Deputy Commissioner Chantal Figueroa has been selected as one of the 2011 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Board of Directors. The honor is given to leaders in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries for measured accomplishment during the past year.

The 2011”Top 25” recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains, according to HSMAI.

Chantal Figueroa
“The ‘Top 25’ is our who’s who list of sales and marketing professionals that we celebrate each year as they are innovators and have produced strong results in their respective industries,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “These professionals have succeeded in growing business for their own organizations and have continued to inspire and raise the bar for the rest of the hospitality industry.”

In her role as Deputy Commissioner, Figueroa has oversight of the Department’s marketing initiatives including advertising, public relations, film promotion and online marketing. A Virgin Islands native, Figueroa has held various positions within the Department since 1997, first serving as Director of Meeting & Conventions, then Assistant Director and Director of Marketing before assuming her current role. She holds a Master of Science degree from New York University in the field of Travel & Tourism Management.

Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty congratulated Figueroa by saying, “Chantal is an exceptional leader whose hard work and dedication to our tourism industry is evidenced by the many successful destination promotions and marketing campaigns she’s led over the last several years. We are proud of her accomplishments and pleased she has been recognized by this distinguished international trade organization.”

Deputy Commissioner Chantal Figueroa gratefully expressed, “I am truly honored by this award and will continue to give my all to promote the U.S. Virgin Islands as a world-class destination with a special Caribbean charm.”