GWCC Bolsters Sales Force with Two Experienced National Managers

Staff Report From Metro Atlanta CEO

Wednesday, May 17th, 2017

The Georgia World Congress Center Authoritywelcomes the addition of two national sales managers, Brad Minton and Cara Marbach, both focusing on capturing large association and corporate conventions for the 3.9-million-square-foot Georgia World Congress Center and the city of Atlanta.

Joining the Authority today, Minton and Marbach bring a wealth of overall sales experience to the organization, including convention and hotel sales acumen. The Authority is moving ahead with developing a luxury convention hotel on its downtown Atlanta campus as well as an expansion between
the GWCC’s Buildings B and C that will create 1 million square feet of contiguous exhibition space.
These managers will be instrumental in communicating this message with the right groups for these
new offerings.

“We are excited to have two national sales managers start with us this month. Both Cara and Brad
bring a wealth of experience to us and a strong understanding of the convention industry,” said Damon
Bell, the GWCCA’s Sr. Director of Convention Sales. “The focus for both is to lead with customer service,
responsiveness, and an overall feeling that we are easy to do business with at the Georgia World
Congress Center. With the expansion of our exhibit space happening soon and the new offering of more
than 1 million square feet of exhibit space, I look forward to working with these talented individuals to
attract new customers to Atlanta.”

Minton joins the Authority after most recently serving as director of global accounts for Omni Hotels
and Resorts in Washington, D.C. But it is a homecoming of sorts for him, as he worked from 2013-2014
as National Sales Manager at Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, which is physically connected to the
GWCCA campus by a climate controlled pedestrian corridor. His resume also includes several positions
with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, including Hyatt Regency Lexington (Ky.) at the Lexington Convention Center.

Marbach joins the Authority from the West Coast, where she most recently served as senior sales manager at Napa Valley Marriott. She also served in a variety of positions for Marriott International, including the Marriott Marquis Houston and the JW Marriott Austin, where she established strong relationships within each city’s convention industry.

“Cara will manage accounts within both the association and corporate segment that are based in the
Midwest and West,” said Bell. “And Brad will manage accounts within both the association and corporate segment that are based on the East Coast.”