August 24th, 2007
National Tourism Week, May 12 - 20, 2007
What: The U.S. will celebrate National Tourism Week May 12 - 20, 2007. During this time, Americans are encouraged to honor the industry and recognize the impact it has on our economy with this year’s theme, “Travel & Tourism: America’s Front Door.”
One company making a significant impact on the travel and tourism industry is Delaware North Companies. Delaware North serves half a billion customers each year, with a large percentage of those customers in the travel and leisure segment. It is one of the largest global hospitality providers serving venues such as Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, national and state parks, award-winning hotels, airports, major league sporting venues and gaming destinations.
When: National Tourism Week, May 12 - 20, 2007
Who: Dennis Szefel, group president of Delaware North Companies Hospitality and Entertainment
Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts
Nick Biello, president of Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services
Respected veterans of the tourism and hospitality industry, Dennis Szefel, Kevin Kelly and Nick Biello can provide informative interviews on trends in American tourism, how strategic lodging and hospitality directives impact the industry and how management companies like Delaware North are helping to preserve the nation’s treasured destinations — benefiting tourism now and in the future.
Szefel’s leadership within Delaware North Companies includes overseeing the recreation and hospitality management of the company, one of the fastest growing providers of hospitality and recreational services in the U.S. One of its biggest industry-leading initiatives includes GreenPath®, a formalized, innovative and comprehensive environmental management program. With GreenPath, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts was the first company in the U.S. to achieve registration to ISO 14001 and pioneered numerous award-winning programs that have helped set today’s industry standards.
Kelly has direct oversight over all parks and destination resorts owned or managed by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts. Locations include Yosemite National Park ; Sequoia and Yellowstone national parks; Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex ; Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, British Columbia; Niagara Falls State Park ; Old Town San Diego; and The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, New Hampshire .
Biello has overall responsibility for all aspects of Delaware North’s 60-plus-year-old airport hospitality company, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services. In total, Biello oversees more than 300 food, beverage and retail outlets in more than 25 airports throughout America.