Sales Team

A successful Sales Team works together to achieve common goals. At Houston First, collaboration means building strong relationships, creating meaningful experiences for our clients, and performing at the highest level to support the success of every event.

Our team partners with meeting planners and organizations around the world to deliver exceptional conventions, meetings, and events in Houston.

From the initial conversation through event execution, we focus on understanding your goals, connecting you with the right resources, and helping you create impactful attendee experiences.

For assistance with planning your next event in Houston, feel free to contact us directly.

Meetings, Conventions, Facilities, Space and Date Availability: 713-853-8300

To submit your RFP click here

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Sales Leadership

Nathan Tollett

Senior Vice President, Sales & Client Services
Phone: 713-853-8977
Email: ntollett@visithouston.com

John Solis

Senior Vice President, Convention Growth and Development
Phone: 713-853-8926
Email: jsolis@visithouston.com

Jason Purifoy

Vice President, Sales
Phone: 713-853-8338
Email: jpurifoy@visithouston.com

Melinda Mintz

Director, Hotel Sales
Phone: 713-853-8314
Email: mmintz@visithouston.com

Quicklinks:

Hotel Sales

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Our Hotel Sales Team works with clients seeking accommodations and meeting and event space at a single hotel property. This team supports groups requiring 10-999 guest rooms on peak. Please meet our associates

Dakotah Appelhans

Dakotah Appelhans

National Account Executive
Market: 10-99 Peak
Phone: 713-853-8129
Email: dappelhans@visithouston.com

Kris Vargas

National Account Executive
Market: 100-300 Peak, Central/West
301-999 Peak, In Austin
Phone: 713-853-8210
Email: kvargas@visithouston.com

Cory Campbell

National Account Executive
Market: 100-300 Peak, East
Phone: 713-853-8935
Email: ccampbell@visithouston.com

Juan Bradford

National Account Executive
Market: 100-999 Peak, Weekends/Holidays
Phone: 713-853-8367
Email: jbradford@visithouston.com

Len Valka

National Account Executive
Market: 301-999 Peak, Midwest/West
Phone: 713-853-8295
Email: lvalka@visithouston.com

Joel Rugerio

National Account Executive
Market: 301-999 Peak, East
Phone: 713-853-8934
Email: jrugerio@visithouston.com

Convention Sales

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Our Convention Sales Team works with clients requiring multiple hotel properties and meeting and event space across one or both of our major convention centers in Houston. The team supports groups requiring 1,000+ guest rooms on peak. Please meet our associates:

Mercedes Williams

Associate Director, Corporate Sales
Market: : 1,000+ Peak, West

Phone: 713-853-8927
Email: mwilliams@visithouston.com

Amra Elmore

National Account Executive
Market: 1,000+ Peak, East Coast
Phone: 410-864-8227
Email: aelmore@visithouston.com

Niki Nanavati

National Account Executive
Market: 1,000+ Peak, Northeast
Phone: 713-853-8154
Email: nnanavati@visithouston.com

Lindsay Rhoden

National Account Executive
Market: 1,000+ Peak, Midwest
Phone: 713-853-8939
Email: lrhoden@visithouston.com


Melonee Townsend

National Account Executive
Market: 1,000+ Peak, Central/Southeast
Phone: 713-203-6418
Email: mtownsend@visithouston.com

George R. Brown Convention Center - Consumer Sales

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Our Consumer Sales Team partners with clients to secure convention center space for consumer trade shows, conferences, or events.

Anita Robles

National Account Executive
Phone: 713-853-8033
Email: arobles@visithouston.com

Matthew Carmona

National Account Executive
Phone: 713-853-8045
Email: mcarmona@visithouston.com

International - Group Sales

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Our International Group Sales Team focuses on programs with meetings, conventions, and events produced by organizations with headquarters outside of the USA, as well as those events that rotate internationally.

Daniel Palomo

Senior Director, Global Sales and Institutional Relations
Phone: 713-853-8326
Email: dpalomo@visithouston.com

Sales Support Team

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Kristen Gutierrez

Manager, Sales and Client Services Administration
Phone: 713-853-8924
Email: kgutierrez@visithouston.com

Jazmin Ramirez

Coordinator, Sales and Client Services
Phone: 713-853-8197
Email: jramirez2@visithouston.com

Sydney Chase

Administrative Assistant
Phone: 713-853-8124
Email: schase@visithouston.com

Esperanza Guerrero

Administrative Assistant
Phone: 713-853-8978
Email: eguerrero@visithouston.com