Convention Industry Icon Kay Hollander Passes Away
May 23, 2014
Kay Hollander, the former director of sales and marketing at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), passed away May 9 in Weston, Florida. Hollander retired in December 2012 after more than 30 successful years of service in the convention industry.
“Kay was a key valued member of the Miami Beach Convention Center for so long and was instrumental in establishing the city as a major convention destination,” said Max Sklar, director of tourism, culture and economic development for the City of Miami Beach. “She touched everyone who worked with the center, and she will be missed by all.”
Hollander, who grew up in South Florida, began her distinguished industry career as the assistant director for the City of Miami Convention Bureau for four years. Ms. Hollander spent the next nine years as senior associate vice president of sales at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). After a short stint as associate vice president of Midwest Region Sales with the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, she served as the senior director of sales and marketing at McCormick Place, Chicago, beginning in 1995.
Ms. Hollander returned to Miami Beach in 2003 and served as director of sales and marketing at the MBCC until her retirement in 2012.
“Kay was a true sales professional who passionately sold our destination with elegance and determination. She was a great mentor, teacher and a friend to many of us and will be missed by her bureau family,” said Ita Moriarty, senior vice president of convention sales, GMCVB.
Tom Mobley, senior vice president of convention centers for Global Spectrum, remembered Kay Hollander as “an industry icon, a dedicated mother and grandmother, a mentor to a large number of industry professionals, and a true friend to even more. She will be missed greatly and remembered fondly.”