GLOBAL: Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) and full-service event production agency Freeman have announced a new partnership that will provide ELX members with direct access to Freeman’s data, strategists, and innovations that are shaping the way people experience and interact with brands. ELX comprises more than 60 global heads of events from companies including Allianz, Cisco, Google, Siemens, T-Mobile, and Walmart. Freeman will join ELX at its first-ever Annual Congress and will host a discussion group dubbed "Aligning Business Events with Your Company’s Sustainability Goals.”
Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas has appointed Gabriela Lam as vice president of leisure sales and Ginny Long as director of national accounts. Most recently, Lam served as complex leisure senior sales manager of Conrad Punta de Mita and Hilton Los Cabos. Long also served most recently at those properties as senior complex sales manager.

NATIONAL: The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) announced last week that an executive at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter (HCFQ) was recognized with a prestigious national award, along with other industry professionals at its annual conference. Travis Tague, general manager at HCFQ, was honored with the Executive Excellence Award at ESPA’s annual conference in Pittsburgh, which was held Jan. 19-22. Yvonne Williams, senior manager of destination services at The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla., won the Event Service Professional of the Year award.

NEW ORLEANS: Last week, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority took action authorizing nearly $37 million in funding for the repair and replacement of its 41-acre roof. This allows work to move forward on the first major improvement of the physical building itself under the approved $557 million capital improvement plan. The roof replacement is the first major element of work under the Construction Manager at Risk process.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Destination DC (DDC) has welcomed 36 new DEI business fellowship members. This continues the DMO's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by supporting small, minority-owned local businesses as part of a complimentary membership program. Fellows receive a free, one-year membership to DDC, which provides access to marketing support and networking opportunities. The class of 2023 DEI fellows includes catering company The District Pit and event consulting firm Events by Chalk.