Meet Our Sales & Marketing Council Leaders!

Erica Kimble
​President
Hilton Garden Inn Billings

Melissa Sigmundstad
​Vice President
Cottonwood Inn & Suites Glasgow

We are so excited to be a part of the Sales & Marketing Council!  Behind every great hotel, there’s a great salesperson. The Sales & Marketing Council of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association is a group of just such professionals networking and training to become more effective in their jobs.  We would like to personally invite you to join this valuable organization. Below are some of the benefits you will enjoy with your membership.  We look forward to welcoming you to the council.  Please let us know if you have questions or comments.

Networking

  • Annual retreat specifically for sales professionals with classes and guest speakers.  Click here for more information.  
  • Specialized seminars at the MLHA annual convention
  • Quarterly Council meetings where all members are involved in setting policy and guest speakers give a quick lesson on different aspects of hotel sales.
  • Reimbursement for half of the preparation materials and exam fee for successful completion of the Certified Hospitality Sales Professional exam.

Professional Development

  • Sales & Marketing Council Facebook page providing immediate access to people able to answer virtually any question related to hotel sales.
  • A mentor program for new hotel sales people.
  • Increased exposure with Montana Society of Association Executives through sponsorships and event attendance.
  • Information on the MLHA website specifically for the Council listing upcoming events and opportunities.
Rates
First member: $125
Additional members of the same property: $65

Testimonials

The Sales and Marketing Council has been such a valuable asset to me as a hotel Sales Director.  Over the years, I have met the most amazing hotel sales people from all over Montana.  Through our networking, we have become great friends and shared many ideas, questions and advice.   The council is not only a wonderful way to network but also offers a variety of beneficial educational opportunities at our annual retreats.
Julie Shelton, CHSP, Director of Sales, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
​It has been very educational, as well as fun, being a member of the MLHA Sales & Marketing Council.  I have attended several of the Sales & Marketing Professional Development Conferences, and I always go away feeling like I learned a lot from both the speakers and my peers.  There are always some fun events and for me, not being from Montana, it is great to get to see different areas of our beautiful state.  I always go back to my property feeling more excited about my position and with some great ideas.         
Tonya Ater, Chico Hot Springs Resort

2019 Sales & Marketing Retreat - Cottonwood Inn & Suites Glasgow

From the small plane ride in with turbulence, to the amazing workshops to better define yourself on who you are, to the Fort Peck Theater to see behind the scenes of what the theater production goes through, to the Fort Peck Interpretive Center to realize that there was a Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered 20 miles southeast of Fort Peck, to the Power House tour and to complete it off with a pitch fork fondue in the park. This Sales and Marketing Retreat was very well organized with so much thought and care that was put in to detailing it out. I can’t wait to until 2020 to see where we are going next!
Monique Lane, Director of Sales Home2 Suites Billings
What a great opportunity to experience all of Montana…… So many times our conferences only include the larger cities I loved the fact that the location was a smaller city. The speakers were great, and being new in my position it was awesome to connect with other Sales Leaders from around the state.
Becky Meidinger, Director of Sales Towne Place Suites by Marriott Billings
Having  been part of the MLHA for 4 years, I have journeyed to multiple Sales and Marketing retreats & I always find the same thing- positive connections with amazing people. These retreats are not only important for the educational seminars and property tours, but also forming relationships within our career community. This is also a great way to aid Montana tourism and economic growth as we are able to direct travelers to our new friends all over the state knowing that they will be treated to the best that each property has to offer. Melissa Sigmundstad, Director of Sales Cottonwood Inn and Suites Glasgow
This is my first year in Montana and my first position in Sales and the MLHA Sales and Marketing retreat was a valuable experience. I learned about issues affecting Montana hospitality as a whole and got to more insight into the hospitality community. Creating relationships around the state with people having the same challenges provides a strong network and support which I am grateful for. Glasgow was incredible and I can’t wait to go back to the Middle of Nowhere. Hannah Pennington,  Events and Weddings Sales Glacier Park Collection
Words cannot even begin to express the way I feel about Erica and Melissa’s efforts before, during and after the 2019 Sales and Marketing Retreat in Glasgow, Montana. They were extremely communicative, created a comfortable and welcoming environment, hosted powerful meeting sessions and livened up the overall experience. Even though a smaller number of attendees decided to make the trek to Glasgow, every single one of us appreciated the more intimate conversations and relationship development that took place over those three days. I would highly recommend this retreat to other members and non-members looking to become a part of a meaningful and proactive group of individuals. GO TEAM GO! Lauren Schoenborn, Sales and Events Coordinator Spring Hill Suites Bozeman
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