Sales Staff

Thanks for considering Houston for your next meeting, convention, or event.

Our team of destination sales professionals stand ready to assist with everything from a 10 person board meeting to a 70,000 person event. The Greater Houston area consists of over 84,000 hotel rooms, numerous convention, meeting and event facilities, and over 10,000 restaurants and bars providing a memorable attendee experience.

For assistance with planning your next event in Houston, feel free to contact us directly at 713-853-8309.

Or, to submit your RFP click here.

Sales Leadership Team

- John Solis
- Senior Vice President of Sales & Client Services
- Phone: 713-853-8926
- Mobile: 713-213-9978
- Email: jsolis@visithouston.com
- Nathan Tollett
- Vice President, Citywide Sales
- Phone: 713-853-8977
- Mobile: 832-993-2278
- Email: ntollett@visithouston.com
- Jason Purifoy
- Director, Citywide Sales
  
  (1,500+ Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8338
- Mobile: 713-824-0778
- Email: jpurifoy@visithouston.com
- Melinda Mintz
- Director, Hotel Sales
- Phone: 713-853-8314
- Mobile: 832-655-3228
- Email: mmintz@visithouston.com

In-House Sales

Our in-house sales team assists customers that need 10 to 999 hotel rooms on peak.

- Dakotah Appelhans
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: 10-99 Peak
- Phone: 713-853-8129
- Mobile: 832-367-0803
- Email: dappelhans@visithouston.com
- Juan Bradford
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: 100+ Peak Weekends/Holidays
- Phone: 713-853-8367
- Mobile: 832-851-5321
- Email: jbradford@visithouston.com
- Alyssa Abdulla
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: Midwest/West (100-300 Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8051
- Mobile: 832-763-1729
- Email: aabdulla@visithouston.com
- Cory Campbell
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: East (100-300 Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8935
- Mobile: 713-325-3525
- Email: ccampbell@visithouston.com
- Len Valka
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: Midwest/West (301-999 Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8295
- Mobile: 713-725-6310
- Email: lvalka@visithouston.com
- Joel Rugerio
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: East (301-999 Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8934
- Mobile: 713-819-2151
- Email: jrugerio@visithouston.com

Austin Market Sales & Services

Our Austin based sales and services team assists customers with the sales and client services phases of their events.

- Karen Villagomez
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: Association, Corporate, SMERF, and Sports located in Austin, Texas (301+ Peak)
- Phone: 512-263-2380
- Mobile: 713-737-5689
- Email: kvillagomez@visithouston.com

Citywide Sales Team

Our citywide team manages both corporate and association accounts requiring no less than 1,500 rooms on peak. Please meet our associates:

- Mercedes Williams
- Associate Director, Corporate Sales
  
  Market: Corporate Accounts, Entire US
- Phone: 713-853-8927
- Mobile: 832-358-1168
- Email: mwilliams@visithouston.com
- Amra Elmore
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: Association – Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland
- Phone: 410-864-8227
- Mobile: 713-737-5623
- Email: aelmore@visithouston.com
- Lindsay Rhoden
- National Account Executive
  
  Market: Mini-Wide (1,000-1,499 Peak)
  
  Market: Association – Midwest Region (1,500+ Peak)
- Phone: 713-853-8939
- Mobile: 281-352-7735
- Email: lrhoden@visithouston.com

George R. Brown Convention Center - Consumer Sales

Our George R. Brown Convention Center – Consumer Sales team helps customers find space at our convention center for consumer trade shows, conferences or events.

- Anita Robles
- National Account Executive
- Phone: 713-853-8033
- Mobile: 713-748-9635
- Email: arobles@visithouston.com

International - Group Sales

Our International – Group Sales team assists customers with meetings, conventions, and events that are on an international rotation or with the majority of attendees traveling from abroad.

- Daniel Palomo
- Director, International Sales and Leisure
- Phone: 713-853-8326
- Mobile: 713-516-4184
- Email: dpalomo@visithouston.com

Sales Support Team

- Kristen Gutierrez
- Executive Assistant
- Phone: 713-853-8924
- Email: kgutierrez@visithouston.com
- Kim Duffaut
- Administrative Assistant
- Phone: 713-853-8807
- Email: kduffaut@visithouston.com