Jun. 10--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Forget those lists that put New Mexico somewhere at the bottom. Just wake up, look at the mountains and tell everybody about it. 

So says Michael Chesley, the new chairman of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

"People living in Albuquerque don't really appreciate what we have. There's a mind set that says `It's just Albuquerque,' and it's not helping us much," Chesley said. 

Chesley's vision, as chairman for the next year, is to foster a grass-roots enthusiasm to spread the good news about the city. 

"Every resident is responsible to make sure everyone knows what Albuquerque has to offer, even if you have aunt Sally come and spend the night," Chesley said. 

Albuquerque's greatest assets are the friendliness of its people and the ease of getting around the city, said Chesley, who has lived here since 1992. 

"It's easy to live here -- easy to get across town, to get to the grocery store, and you can escape in 15 minutes," said Chesley, who enjoys taking his 14-month-old son on a bike path along the Rio Grande on weekends. 

Chesley is general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott at the airport and a co-owner of the Jennifer James restaurant on San Mateo. 

He took over as chairman of the bureau's board of directors at the bureau's annual member's luncheon May 7. 

"This is an exciting time to be involved in this organization. All the pieces are in place to make Albuquerque a great destination," Chesley told members and guests at the luncheon. 

He said he has concerns about the lack of repeat business at the Albuquerque Convention Center. 

"It affects our members, and we're working to help fix it," Chesley said. 

The bureau does not have direct responsibility for the center, but its members offer advice to convention staff on customer service and ways to eliminate problems, he said. 

Since 1995, the bureau has recognized residents who help bring convention business to Albuquerque through its Ambassadors for the City program, and that is the kind of effort the bureau should expand, he said. 

"We take the Sandia and Manzano (mountains) for granted. It almost takes an outsider to come and let us know what we have," said Chesley. 

He said he brings an outsider's perspective to the chairmanship of the bureau board. A native of Lafayette, La., Chesley's whole career has been in the hospitality industry. After earning a bachelor of science in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he worked for the Hyatt Regency New Orleans and Holiday Inn in Delray Beach, Fla. 

Chesley relocated to Albuquerque to become convention services director at the Albuquerque Hilton. 

He moved on to become general manager at the Courtyard by Marriott, Journal Center, before moving to the Courtyard's airport location in 1998. 

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