• Sandra Updegraph, a hospitality veteran who led the hotel�s sales efforts in 2001, has returned as director of sales.
• Christine Perry, a hospitality/food and beverage professional who has worked for respected lodging properties in Portland, Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., has joined the Eastland Park as director of catering.

Updegraph most recently was director of sales for the Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown in Maine.  In her new role at the Eastland Park, she will oversee employee sales training, marketing, advertising, as well as sales bookings in all market segments.  

Updegraph began her hospitality career in 1980 as owner/manager for The Vintage Year, a restaurant and event venue in El Paso, Texas.  After that, she worked as a catering sales manager/director of convention services for the Westin Paso del Norte Hotel.  She worked in the Washington, D.C., area from 1993-2001, serving as director of catering for the Old Town Holiday Inn Select, a catering sales manager for the Westin Hotel, director of catering for the Latham Hotel and Citronelle Restaurant in Georgetown, director of sales and catering for the Cliff House Hotel, and director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Midland & Towers.  She moved to Maine in 2001, working as the director of sales for the Eastland Park and the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, and the Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown. 

Updegraph serves on the membership committee of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and the marketing committee of the Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau.  She is a founding member of the Friends of Ballpark District in Portland. 

Perry most recently was director of catering for the Double Tree Hotel in Portland.  In her new role, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the catering department, including bookings, menu development, coordination of corporate and social events, and budgeting.

Perry began her career as a catering sales manager for the Annapolis Ramada in Maryland.  After that, she served as the director of catering for the Annapolis Holiday Inn.  She moved to Baltimore in 1995, serving as a catering sales manager for the BWI Holiday Inn and later as director of catering for the BWI Marriott Hotel.  During her stint at the BWI Marriott, she helped increase the hotel�s catering revenue by $2.6 million.

Perry serves on the membership committee of the Portland Convention and Visitor�s Bureau. 

The Eastland Park Hotel features 18,000 square feet of meeting space, 202 newly renovated guest rooms, an upscale restaurant called Adeline�s Grille, the renowned Top of the East Lounge, and a Concierge Club Level with a complimentary business center.  The top-floor lounge offers breathtaking views of Portland�s waterfront.

�The Eastland Park is the ideal gathering place for business and leisure travelers, as well as meeting and social groups,� Updegraph said.  �I�m looking forward to helping build the property�s reputation as the best place to meet in Maine.�

�I am happy to be part of a professional and dedicated team,� Perry said.  �The Eastland Park is the hotel jewel of Portland.�

The Eastland Park, which is managed by the Rhode Island-based Magna Hospitality Group LC, is located at 157 High St. next to the Children�s Museum of Maine and the Portland Museum of Art.  For more information, call (207) 775-5411 or (888) 671-8008, or visit the hotel�s web site at http://www.eastlandparkhotel.com.       

Felicia Comer
[email protected]
Magna Hospitality Group
(401) 886-4484