A senior marketing professional with experience at the world’s largest timeshare development company will now direct sales efforts for Spirit Incentives, one of the nation’s most respected incentive organizations.
Jim Walsh, a veteran of over two decades in the timeshare industry, has been named Vice President of Sales by Spirit Incentives president Gary Barron. Walsh joined Spirit after nine years with Wyndham Vacation Resorts, where he most recently served as Senior VP of Marketing, helping to lead that company to its status as the nation’s largest vacation ownership company. His formerly held positions at Wyndham include: Vice President of Marketing and Director of Marketing.

In his new position, Walsh will develop, manage and guide all sales activities, including its primary (Direct and Value Added Retailers) and its secondary (Brokers and Resellers) distribution channels. In coordination with product development, production, finance, marketing, and servicing, Walsh will also interface with internal support areas to maintain high service standards and client relationships.  As the new VP of Sales, he will also review and implement marketing initiatives, in coordination with all aspects of the sales organization, providing recommendations to support improvement and growth.

Added Walsh, “Having used Spirit Incentives as a valuable vendor for the last 18 years, I am confident that our past relationship will serve as a springboard to help provide further growth successes for the company.”
Prior to his affiliation with Wyndham Resorts, Walsh was president of a marketing company that  provided marketing support functions for Marriott Vacation Club and Fairfield Resorts, now Wyndham Vacation Ownership.   He also served as Project Director for three Caribbean resort properties in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Spirit Incentives is a full service, privately owned incentive marketing firm specializing in marketing programs delivered as customer acquisition, retention and reward incentives. Founded in 1990 and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spirit has become respected as the premier incentive solution provider for small to medium sized businesses as well as private and Fortune 500 companies. Spirit’s client list and travel vendor partners are among the most successful and prestigious in the country.
Visit: www.Spirit-Incentives.com

Robb & Stucky Interiors and its affiliate, FineDesign Interiors of Fort Lauderdale, were recently awarded a contract to handle a multi-million dollar renovation for the guest rooms, lobby and common areas of the prestigious and historic The National Hotel, located in the heart of the Art Deco Historical District of South Beach in Miami, Florida.

According to Dan Lubner, who oversees both Robb & Stucky Resorts and FineDesign Interiors, “We are delighted to have been chosen to handle the design and lead the renovation project for the National Hotel. It is truly an amazing property and has long been an icon among South Beach Miami hotels. In providing renovations to historic hotels, we thoroughly understand the importance of preserving all of the historical aspects of each property while also providing a fresh look to the interiors. Since the National is a member of Historic Hotels of America and an affiliate of Preferred Hotels and Resorts, incorporating this feeling of history is even more important.”

Robb & Stucky Resorts’ affiliate FineDesign Interiors designers Kelly Greeson and Barbara Grady were chosen to lend their legendary vision and style to the new look for the South Beach hotel. The FineDesign Interiors design team will work with Robb & Stucky and The National to update the hotel’s public spaces and outdoor areas, enhancing the hotel’s elegant Art Deco features seamlessly with new updated materials suitable for today’s traveler. A sophisticated mix of styles will pay homage to the building’s significant presence in this historic district. The team will also handle renovations for the food and beverage areas in addition to the 36 luxurious Cabana units and other guest units.

The design and renovation project is expected to begin in December 2009, and will be completed in phases. Originally opened in 1940 on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, The National of today has long been a favorite celebrity hideaway and includes 115 historic tower rooms and suites, 36 deluxe rooms and suites in the Cabana Wing, plus the triplex, the National’s exclusive tri-level penthouse suite.

As an Alliance Partner for the internationally respected Preferred Hotel Group, Robb & Stucky provides interior design services for Preferred Hotel Group’s more than 700 member hotels, resorts and fractional ownership properties located in over 70 countries.

As President of Robb & Stucky Resorts Division, Lubner directs interior design and purchasing-related services to hospitality, timeshare and fractional ownership properties and other commercial clients in North America and international locations. The company has extensive experience in furnishing newly completed hotels, refurbishment projects and the renovation of historic properties.

About Robb & Stucky. Founded in 1915 in Fort Myers, Florida, Robb & Stucky is one of North America’s largest home furnishings and interior design companies with showrooms in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. The nationally respected interior design and premier furnishings retailer provides complete turnkey furnishings for commercial clients including custom-designed furnishings as well as the coordination of every facet of the design, manufacturing, shipping, import documentation and installation process. For more information, visit www.RobbStucky.com

Tara Cappadona has been named to the newly created position of Resource Manager for Spirit Incentives, one of the nation’s premier incentive companies.

A Spirit Incentives employee for nearly two years, Cappadona works directly with vendor partners and Spirit’s internal fulfillment department to ensure that all product certificates are properly serviced. This involves establishing and building vendor partner relationships and negotiating contracts with various cruise lines, hotel wholesalers, airlines and car rental companies. She also coordinates the input of vendor information into the company’s extensive database and assists in preparing materials for agent training.

According to Taylor Billington, Executive VP for Spirit Incentives, “With her extensive background, Tara is the ideal person to serve as liaison between our company and our travel partners. Her skills as a negotiator, marketing analyst and long-term strategic planner have been highly beneficial to our corporation. We are delighted have her in this key position.”

“Since I have been with Spirit Incentives, I have met some truly amazing people,” added Cappadona, “My goal is to help provide the optimal experience for our customers.”  Prior to joining Spirit Incentives in January 2008, the Northeastern University graduate gained nine years of experience working in product development as well as providing strategic planning guidance to various travel industries, including cruise lines and hotels.

Spirit Incentives is a full service, privately owned incentive marketing firm specializing in marketing programs delivered as customer acquisition, retention and reward incentives. Founded in 1990 and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spirit has become respected as the premier incentive solution provider for small to medium sized businesses as well as private and Fortune 500 companies. Spirit’s client list and travel vendor partners are among the most successful and prestigious in the country.
Visit: www.Spirit-Incentives.com