CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (August 30, 2012) – Joe Crimmins, Vice President and Managing Director of Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), today announced that Jack Schmidt has been appointed to General Manager at The Carolina Inn. Since February 2011, Schmidt was the historic hotel’s Regional Director of Sales and Marketing and also worked in concert with Rizzo Conference Center.
 
”The Inn is an easy property to become enamored with,” Schmidt said. “It is a very special place and deserves both caring and responsible stewardship from all of us who choose to spend a part of our career here. There have been only a few general managers during its 88-year history and I am privileged to have been selected to guide such a talented team through the next era.”
 
Schmidt secures his first general manager position following more than 30 years of hotel sales and marketing experience. Prior to joining The Carolina Inn team, he was Regional Vice President of Sales and Marketing for DH&R’s Northwest properties from 2006-2011 that included the Suncadia Resort near Seattle, Wash., and Skamania Lodge near Portland, Ore., where he oversaw their sales and marketing efforts.
 
Before DH&R, Schmidt was the Chief Marketing Officer for Benchmark Hospitality International responsible for the entire company’s direct sales and marketing efforts. He oversaw the company’s enterprise sales and marketing system, all revenue management functions, global distribution, advertising and promotions, public relations, interactive marketing, and customer relationship management programs.
 
Prior to joining Benchmark in 1999, Schmidt was a partner in a travel management and hospitality industry consulting company. He also has held a number of executive level sales and marketing positions at various hotels, resorts, conference centers and casinos including the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., and El San Juan Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 
Schmidt studied hospitality management at Widener University in Delaware and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has been an adjunct professor teaching hospitality sales and marketing and co-authored the original sales training materials for the International Association of Conference Centers. He also has served on the International Association of Conference Centers board of directors, and is a past chairman of the America’s board of directors for the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
 
Schmidt and his wife Nancy live south of Chapel Hill with their two dogs. The couple has four grown children and five grandchildren.
 
ABOUT THE CAROLINA INN
Built on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill in 1924 by John Sprunt Hill – distinguished alumnus, successful businessman and University trustee – The Carolina Inn’s original concept was “to provide for the special wants and comforts of the University alumni...and University visitors.” The historical Carolina Inn features 185 charming and well-appointed guestrooms including 7 luxury suites. www.CarolinaInn.com

ABOUT DESTINATION HOTELS & RESORTS
Destination Hotels & Resorts is a privately held hospitality management company headquartered in Colorado. With 40 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs, Destination is the fourth largest hospitality management company in the country. The company’s portfolio features more than 9,600 guest rooms, 18 golf courses and 16 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Portland, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes, Maui and Lake Tahoe. The company is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For a complete list of properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.DestinationHotels.com.