Kansas City, Mo. – Visit KC, the region’s leading hospitality and tourism authority, is pleased to announce the recent additions of Kristine Becker (National Account Manager), Carlissa Riddle (Sales Manager), and Mackenzie Nelson (Convention Sales Coordinator) to the Visit KC Sales Team.
Kristine Becker is a native Oregonian who has served in the travel industry for over 25 years. Kristine moved to Kansas City with her husband in 2009. Prior to the pandemic, Kristine worked for Travel Portland from 2004 until 2020, the last 13 years remotely. Prior to working at Travel Portland, she held various hotel sales roles in the Portland area. Kristine joins Visit KC as the new National Account Manager. Kristine’s start date was March 1.
Carlissa Riddle, a Kansas City native, brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry to the organization as Sales Manager. She was most recently a Director of National Accounts for Global Cynergies, based in Kansas City where she handled a portfolio of corporate and association-based customers in site selection and meeting support. Prior to, she opened the Home2 Suites by Hilton near the Kansas City International Airport in the role of Director of Sales. She also worked at the Ritz Carlton, Philips House Hotel and was part of the opening team for the Argosy Hotel in Kansas City. Carlissa started in her new role Jan. 26.
Mackenzie Nelson, also a native of Kansas City, has been hired as Convention Sales Coordinator for Visit KC. Mackenzie graduated from the University of Missouri in 2020 with a degree in Hospitality Management. She recently worked as a Benefits Coordinator with Lathrop GPM LLP and executed several internships with the Mizzou Alumni Association, the Kauffman Foundation, and Starlight Theatre among others. Mackenzie also volunteers with the Mizzou Alumni Association – Kansas City Chapter as the Social Media Chair. Mackenzie’s first day with Visit KC was Feb. 28.
“Kristine, Carlissa, and Mackenzie all come to Visit KC with a proven track record of sales and hospitality experience, said Nathan Hermiston, Senior Vice President of Sales & Service. “As the hospitality and convention industry continues to recover from the pandemic and we begin to look forward to the impact the industry will have on our city, these new individuals will fill our need perfectly. We believe that Kansas City sits on the periphery of growth with the excitement of the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport, the 2023 NFL Draft, KC Streetcar expansion and the recently passed $45M bond investment in the Kansas City Convention Center. As we also look to the future and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the addition of these three talented individuals will be essential in propelling the convention and hospitality industry in Kansas City.”
To learn more about Kansas City as a leisure and convention destination, go to Visitkc.com.
About Visit KC
Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of creating global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 41,000 local jobs. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.
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