Arlington names new sales executive
The former vice president of sales and services for the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has been appointed vice president of sales and revenue generation at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, the hotel announced Wednesday in a news release.
Alan Sims, who was vice president at the Little Rock CVB for six years, will plan, manage and direct sales and revenue policies and programs, both short- and long-range, targeted toward existing and new clients, with the goal of maximizing property revenues, according to Bob Martorana, the Arlington’s general manager.
“Alan Sims has a distinguished record of success in both hotel and destination sales and marketing, and we are pleased and excited to welcome him to the management team at Arkansas’ largest and most historic resort hotel and convention center,” Martorana said in the release.
“Sky Capital Group has a solid record of both restoring and
enhancing hotel properties and I am looking forward to serving the longtime clients of the historic Arlington as the hotel is restored and upgraded to meet the needs of both meetings and conventions and the growing leisure travel market,” Sims said in the release.
“In addition, we will continue to ‘sell our city’, marketing Hot Springs as one of the South’s great tourism and meetings destinations.”
Sky Capital Group LP CEO Al Rajabi told The Sentinel-Record in September he’s planning a $30 million renovation financed by tax credits and the help of a corporate hotel partner. The company purchased the hotel, Wade Building and several out parcels in July for $7 million, which included $1.9 million for the hotel’s personal property.
Prior to coming to Little Rock, Sims held top CVB sales positions for Dallas and Oklahoma City, the release said. He has also led the sales efforts for large hotels similar in size to the Arlington, including hotels under the brands Hilton, Radisson, Omni, Fairmont, Crowne Plaza, and Westin. Sims began his career in hospitality marketing as a regional sales manager for American Airlines in 1985. He holds numerous travel industry certifications and memberships in leading national meetings and association professional organizations. He is a native of Kansas and received his business administration education at John Brown University in Siloam Springs.
“The Arlington remodeled and upgraded our in-hotel convention center just two years ago, as well as an extensive restoration of the historic and beautiful 1925 Crystal Ballroom where so many great Arkansas events have been held. As our new owner, Sky Capital, continues to restore and upgrade the hotel we will actively compete for increased business for both the hotel and for Hot Springs,” Martorana said.