CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (January 19, 2012) – The Chattanoogan hotel, Chattanooga’s only AAA Four Diamond-rated full-service hotel, has hired three new members of its sales team and promoted a seasoned sales manager.  Traci Parker, who has worked at the hotel for seven years, was appointed senior sales manager.  Rebekah Kindel was hired as sales manager; Nichole Thomas was appointed the new catering sales manager; and Courtney Palmer is the hotel’s corporate sales manager.

Hospitality industry veteran Traci Parker was promoted to senior sales manager and willcontinue to oversee sales initiatives in parts of Tennessee and work with various state association and government clients. Ms. Parker, who has 16 years of experience working in the meetings industry, has held several positions at The Chattanoogan including sales manager and senior conference planning manager.  She has been honored with prestigious awards for her outstanding work, including Benchmark Hospitality’s Award of Excellence, CMP Sales Award and Sales Leader of the Year.

Ms. Parker’s career highlights include serving as senior meeting planner for Carlson Wagonlit Travel, where she worked exclusively with Shaw Industries, and sales manager and operations manager for Summit Destination Services where she worked at Benchmark Hospitality’s Resort at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Chattanooga native Nichole Thomas has joined The Chattanoogan as the catering sales manager.  For the past year, she served in the same position at The DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Chattanooga, where she was responsible for corporate and social events and coordinating with the hotel’s catering and food and beverage departments.

Before moving back to Chattanooga, Thomas worked for more than nine years at The Pridwin Hotel in Shelter Island, N.Y.  She served in several positions there including assistant general manager and front office manager.

Ms. Thomas attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Rebekah Kindel, The Chattanoogan’s newest sales manager, is responsible for working with the corporate market in Tennessee and parts of Atlanta. She spent almost five years working in various positions of increased responsibility at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C.; most recently, she was the catering sales manager there.  Ms. Kindel also held several meetings positions at We Are Arizona Destination Management Company in Scottsdale, Arizona and Bald Head Island Club in Bald Head Island, N.C.

Kindel is a graduate of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.  She is active in several professional organizations, including Hospitality Facilities Management & Design, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, and Convention Management and Service.

Courtney Palmer was hired as the corporate sales manager. Ms. Palmer has worked for the past three years in the reservations department of The Chattanoogan, most recently as the group rooms coordinator. Before joining The Chattanoogan, she spent four years as the manager at Curves of Trenton.  Ms. Palmer also worked at Walt Disney Company in Florida.

She is a student at University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and will graduate from the school in the spring.

The Chattanoogan, a five-story upscale hotel with 199 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, has three outstanding dining establishments, a 25,000 square-foot conference center with comprehensive meeting planning and audiovisual support services and a spa with four treatment rooms, steam room, sauna, fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and patio overlooking the hotel’s courtyard.

The property is conveniently located within a two-hour drive from Atlanta; Nashville, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Huntsville, Ala.; and Birmingham, Ala.  It is within walking distance of the city’s museums, galleries, retail stores, restaurants and The Tennessee Aquarium.

For more information or reservations, call (423) 756-3400, toll free (877) 756-1684, or visit The Chattanoogan's Website at www.chattanooganhotel.com.

About Benchmark Hospitality International
Benchmark Hospitality International, the company that operates The Chattanoogan, is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and the Personal Luxury Collection.   The independent company, launched in 1980, is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations.  Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. Benchmark Hospitality is also a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers.  The company's northeast regional office is in New Jersey, with international offices in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark's properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.