LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2014) – Hospitality sales leader Darren Green has been named Senior Vice President of Sales for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism), it was announced today by the organization’s President and CEO, Ernest Wooden Jr. In this capacity, he will lead both the citywide convention sales team and the hotel sales team, along with the destination services team.  

Green brings over 20 years of hospitality sales experience, having worked with top brands such as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Nikko Hotels International, and KSL Resorts. Most recently, Darren was a Director of Sales for the Starwood Hotels of New York Metro Market Team, which drove the sales efforts for 8 hotels including the Westin, St. Regis, W and Sheraton brands.

“Darren has a long track record of sales leadership in top destinations such as New York City, Las Vegas, Hawaii and even here in Los Angeles,” said Wooden. “He has worked at a wide variety of properties and in various capacities, giving him a unique understanding of working in tandem with a destination, properties and client needs to achieve all goals and objectives. Los Angeles is enjoying exciting momentum with new developments in Downtown LA and throughout the LA region, and I look forward to working with Darren to maximize these opportunities.”    

Green has held sales positions with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in Buffalo, N.Y., Hilton Head, S.C. and Maui, HI. In 1995, he joined the Hilton Hotels Corporation as National Sales Manager for the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kamuela, HI. Green spent seven years at various properties as Director of Sales and Marketing throughout Hawaii including The Ihilani Resort and Spa, The Orchid at Mauna Lani and The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa. In 2002, he was named the Director of Sales and Marketing for two of the top Starwood Hotels and Resorts properties in Los Angeles, The Westin Century Plaza Hotel and Spa and The St. Regis Los Angeles. In 2006, he subsequently served as Vice President, Hotel Marketing for Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino by Sheraton in Las Vegas. Darren moved to New York in 2009 to lead the sales and marketing team for the four W Hotels in Manhattan as Complex Director of Sales and Marketing. He will officially join LA Tourism on February 1, 2014.

Last year, Los Angeles welcomed a record 42.2 million visitors from around the globe, making it one of the most visited destinations in the U.S. Hotel occupancy set a record at 76.8 percent, and hotel rooms sold set a record at 27.2 million hotel room nights.  

The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board was created in 1977 as a private, not-for-profit business association. It is recognized as the official branding, sales and marketing organization for Los Angeles, responsible for developing leisure and meetings business for the economic benefit of the community.