Black Meetings & Tourism - DAWN HOLDEN A STANDOUT PERFORMER AT LAS VEGAS CVA

Industry Briefs
DAWN HOLDEN A STANDOUT PERFORMER AT LAS VEGAS CVA
Dawn Holden has worked in the Destination Organization industry for 17 years. She is currently the Vice President of Business Sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. In this capacity she focuses on identifying new business opportunities and adding new customers to the existing Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) portfolio. Prior to joining the LVCVA she was the Vice President of Membership Engagement at Destinations International. Destinations International is the National Trade Association for Destination Organizations' all over the world. As the Vice President, Membership Engagement she led the overall strategic direction of Destination international's membership operation, was a member of the senior management team, managed the membership department and served as a face of the organization. Dawn Holden was the Vice President of Partnership Development for VisitPITTSBURGH, the official tourism promotion agency for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. In this role, she was responsible for supporting VisitPITTSBURGH's sales and marketing efforts by increasing overall partnership levels through new partnerships and programming, including display and web advertising and partnership events. She has extensive management, destination marketing and partnership development experience. Ms. Holden was born in Rochester, NY and grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Her mother wanted her and her sister to be raised around their grandparents and large family. This has had a tremendous impact on her life. Dawn began her career in hospitality at Visit Mercer County PA. Peggy Mazyck, the Executive Director and the board of directors hired Dawn as the first Sales and Marketing Coordinator in 2001. Peggy taught Ms. Holden about the Destination Marketing industry and continues to serve as a mentor. In 2004, she moved to Maryland. From 2005 to 2013, she was employed by Destination DC and worked in Partnership and Convention Sales. Dawn attended Point Park University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Communications. She also has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Ms. Holden is an alumni of Leadership Pittsburgh class XXXIII and Pittsburgh's 50 Finest 2017 class. She served as secretary and board member for ACH Clear Pathways, a nonprofit organization that provides creative outlets to underserved youth throughout Pittsburgh. She was a board member for Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh. She was on the planning committee for the National Aviary's Night in the Tropics annual fundraiser and was a part of the Multicultural Leadership Committee of the American Heart Association. She provided strategic and marketing counsel to the owner of the I Made it Market as a member of an advisory board through PowerLink. Ms. Holden is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Dawn completed the requirements to earn the designation Certified Destination Management Executive in February 2020. Since joining the LVCVA, she has recently earned her Certification in Exhibition Management designation through the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. She will be acknowledged for this designation at Expo! Expo! 2022 in Louisville KY. She is also in the current 2023 Leadership Las Vegas Class. A quote or thought that guides her life is "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening and live like it's heaven on earth." William W. Purkey

Industry Briefs

DAWN HOLDEN A STANDOUT PERFORMER AT LAS VEGAS CVA

Dawn Holden has worked in the Destination Organization industry for 17 years. She is currently the Vice President of Business Sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. In this capacity she focuses on identifying new business opportunities and adding new customers to the existing Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) portfolio.

Prior to joining the LVCVA she was the Vice President of Membership Engagement at Destinations International. Destinations International is the National Trade Association for Destination Organizations' all over the world. As the Vice President, Membership Engagement she led the overall strategic direction of Destination international's membership operation, was a member of the senior management team, managed the membership department and served as a face of the organization.

Dawn Holden was the Vice President of Partnership Development for VisitPITTSBURGH, the official tourism promotion agency for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. In this role, she was responsible for supporting VisitPITTSBURGH's sales and marketing efforts by increasing overall partnership levels through new partnerships and programming, including display and web advertising and partnership events. She has extensive management, destination marketing and partnership development experience.

Ms. Holden was born in Rochester, NY and grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Her mother wanted her and her sister to be raised around their grandparents and large family. This has had a tremendous impact on her life.

Dawn began her career in hospitality at Visit Mercer County PA. Peggy Mazyck, the Executive Director and the board of directors hired Dawn as the first Sales and Marketing Coordinator in 2001. Peggy taught Ms. Holden about the Destination Marketing industry and continues to serve as a mentor.

In 2004, she moved to Maryland. From 2005 to 2013, she was employed by Destination DC and worked in Partnership and Convention Sales.

Dawn attended Point Park University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Communications. She also has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Ms. Holden is an alumni of Leadership Pittsburgh class XXXIII and Pittsburgh's 50 Finest 2017 class. She served as secretary and board member for ACH Clear Pathways, a nonprofit organization that provides creative outlets to underserved youth throughout Pittsburgh. She was a board member for Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh. She was on the planning committee for the National Aviary's Night in the Tropics annual fundraiser and was a part of the Multicultural Leadership Committee of the American Heart Association. She provided strategic and marketing counsel to the owner of the I Made it Market as a member of an advisory board through PowerLink.

Ms. Holden is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Dawn completed the requirements to earn the designation Certified Destination Management Executive in February 2020. Since joining the LVCVA, she has recently earned her Certification in Exhibition Management designation through the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. She will be acknowledged for this designation at Expo! Expo! 2022 in Louisville KY. She is also in the current 2023 Leadership Las Vegas Class.

A quote or thought that guides her life is "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening and live like it's heaven on earth." William W. Purkey