Seasoned Hospitality Industry Professional to Focus on Event Market Growth at Georgia International Convention Center
submitted by Kendall Bagley, Hemsworth, on behalf of the GICC
ATLANTA – The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second-largest convention center in the state, today announced the appointment of Don E. Simon as sales manager. Simon brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry to his new role at the GICC. Simon will focus on the group market and attracting events such as pageants, cheer and dance competitions, ethnic and minority-based gatherings, fashion shows, consumer expos, graduations and more to the thriving convention center.
“We are thrilled to welcome such an enthusiastic, experienced and personable leader to our GICC family,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Gateway Center Campus, which includes the GICC, Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. “With a long history in hospitality and years of building connections, we are confident in Don’s ability to showcase our innovative offerings and attract high-quality events of all sizes to the convention center.”
A graduate of DeVry University with a bachelor’s degree in business operations, Simon gained hospitality and convention experience working as a market research analyst for the GICC in the late 1990s. He later went on to serve in IT and sales positions at a variety of hotels, expanding his convention experience in his role as IT manager for the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Additionally, Simon spent nearly a decade of his career teaching Delphi, a software programming product.
The GICC is an award-winning convention center set on the Gateway Center Campus, which is also home to the Gateway Center Arena, the Historic College Park Golf Course and six hotels, all connected to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by the complimentary ATL SkyTrain. The surrounding amenities and resources of the GICC further elevate the overall experience for attendees.
For more information on the Georgia International Convention Center, visit GICC.com or follow on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)
Georgia’s second-largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800-square-foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000-square-feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.
