Louisville Tourism Adds Director of Southeast Sales Role, Appoints New National Sales Manager

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 29, 2022) – Luz Orbaiz has been hired as the Director of Southeast Sales. She will be based in Atlanta as her responsibilities include promoting and selling Louisville as a convention, meeting and trade show destination to area-based national associations, government organizations and corporations covering 10 southeast states including Texas in the corporate market, Health, Medical, Scientific, and Engineering with 801 peak rooms and above.

She will also serve as the official representative for the Bureau in the Atlanta market and act as a liaison between Louisville Tourism, hotels, convention facilities and potential clients.

Orbaiz finished her studies in Argentina before moving to the United States and received an Associate Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Hocking College in Ohio.

Luz started her hospitality career 20 years ago in corporate events with the Argentina Air Force Circle and long tenure in the Food & Beverage division with Marriott International before transitioning to group sales. She has extensive network and experiences in the southeast region and successfully generated new businesses and over exceeding her sales goals. Her most recent sales positions included Senior Sales Manager for SLS Baha Mar; Director of National Account for the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the largest hotel in Miami; Senior Sales Manager for Hyatt Hotel and Convention Center.

Additionally, Fatima Thompson was hired as a Convention Development National Sales Manager, responsible for booking large conventions requiring 301 peak hotel rooms and above in the corporate, agricultural, fraternal, veterans, and public affairs markets.

Fatima received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Panama and Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She brings a wealth of experience from various sectors of the hospitality industry.

Her most recent roles were Senior Manager of Member & Corporate Relations at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation and was Director of Workforce Partnership with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Her past experiences included Associate Director of Business Development, Hotels at the Smith Travel Research (STR), the Hermitage Hotel, and Visit Panama.