Hilton Head Island, SC - October 9, 2012 – The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is pleased to share that Rick Bethea has joined the sales team at the resort. In this role, he will handle association meeting business in Atlanta, Washington DC and Chicago for meetings following the resort’s $30 million renovation slated for this winter.

A Certified Association Sales Executive, Bethea has over 20 years of association and destination sales experience.  He was most recently with the Hilton Savannah DeSoto Hotel.  Prior experience includes sales roles with the Harbor Court (now the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore), Renaissance Harborplace Baltimore, Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, and National Account Director for the convention and visitors bureau in Savannah.

The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a AAA approved Four Diamond resort offering 340 guest rooms and suites overlooking lushly landscaped semi-tropical gardens, with spectacular beach and lagoon-style swimming pool. First class amenities include full service restaurants, fitness center, lap pool, 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space and 24-hour business center. Complimentary transportation is provided to world-class golf and tennis located within the Shipyard complex. The hotel is located just 45 miles from Savannah, and 7 miles from Hilton Head Island airport, in an area surrounded by outdoor recreation, shopping and fine dining.

Discover Sonesta Hotels & Resorts in Baltimore, Boston, Hilton Head Island, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Sint Maarten (2), Chile (3), Colombia (4), Ecuador, Peru (7), and Egypt (13). Sonesta Hotels & Resorts are opening soon in: Panama City, Panama and Doha, Qatar.  Sonesta ES Suites is a new extended stay hotel brand managed by Sonesta. Each property features rooms with a dynamic work area designed for today’s traveler, locally inspired food and beverage and flexible common space for connecting with others. You will find Sonesta ES Suites in Andover MA, Atlanta GA, Auburn Hills MI, Burlington MA, Charlotte NC, Columbia MD, Dublin OH, Flagstaff AZ, Houston TX, Orlando FL, Parsippany NJ, Princeton NJ, Malvern PA, Myrtle Beach SC, St. Louis MO, Schaumburg IL and Somerset NJ. For more about the Sonesta Collection, visit Sonesta.com or call +1.617.315.9100 or 800.Sonesta (800.766.3782) in the U.S. and Canada.