Durango Area Tourism Office Welcomes New Group Sales and International Representative

Service, Sales and Collaboration are Top DATO Initiatives

Durango, CO – Patti O’Brien, Executive Director of the Durango Area Tourism Office (DATO) announces the addition of Grace Shepard and Maria Pradissitto to the tourism team. “We have added talent to our DATO team that will help us increase sales efforts, expand our customer service and add to our collaborative initiatives,” says O’Brien. “These individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, talent and vision to our tourism team.”

Grace Shepard, Concierge & Group Sales, oversees concierge and small group requests as well as event planning and Welcome Center activities. Grace is an experienced business professional with 20+ years in Hospitality, Tour Services and Retail Sales. Grace is a Western Slope Native, originally from Grand Junction, growing up in Telluride and Montrose. Recently returning to the DATO staff earlier this spring, she was a seasonal employee in 2008-2009. Grace brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for group events. Her experience includes: Tour Services Concierge at Frenchman’s Reef Marriott Resort in the Port of Charlotte Amalie, Master Florist with extensive experience in wedding planning, Banquet Manager and Front Desk Manager at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Hays, KS and retail sales. Grace is involved in community projects with B.P.O.E. # 507 where she has served as an Officer and presently on the Board Of Trustees. Grace can be reached at: [email protected]

Maria Pradissitto, International Representative focuses on our growing international markets concentrating on international leads, sales efforts, tradeshows and designing our new international program. Maria has a background in International Relations, Tourism Hospitality and Marketing. Maria arrived in Durango one year and a half ago from Italy after completing her Master’s degree in International Relations. She worked in her family business as a restaurant manager where she engaged with various vendors, managed staff and worked closely with clientele. Maria completed a three-month long internship at the Italian Embassy of Cyprus working in the political and commercial sectors. She is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish and French. Maria can be reached at: [email protected]

Please join us in welcoming our new Durango Area Tourism Office team members!

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The Durango Area Tourism Office is a not for profit organization operating with the mission to promote Durango and La Plata County’s multitude of tourism attractions, events and services. 1-800-GO DURANGO, www.durango.org