Meet the Members
PRESENTED BY
Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and CVB
FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN
NTA contact: Lauren Masud Visuri,
sales manager
Office Phone: +1.989.652.4562
Website: frankenmuth.org
NTA member since: 1985
Talk about your background.
I have lived in Frankenmuth all of my
life and have worked in customer relations for five years. I’ve been at the
Frankenmuth CVB for almost a year, so
the travel industry is newer to me, but
I love it!
What are some of the things you enjoy
most about your area of Michigan?
Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s
Little Bavaria. There is nowhere else in
Michigan, or the United States, that has
the quaint village feel, history and traditions of old-world Franconia quite like
Frankenmuth.
What are some of the must-do things
in your area?
One is the famous chicken dinners served
at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and
Zehnder’s Restaurant right in the heart of
downtown. Both restaurants offer meals
served family-style, the way a traditional
German dinner would have been eaten.
Near downtown we also have Bronner’s
Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, which is a shopper’s
dream with over 50,000 gifts.
The Bavarian Belle Riverboat also
makes the list of must-dos for first-timers in town and for tour operators. The
Belle runs early May thru mid-October,
and guests get a fabulous hour-long
narrated tour of Frankenmuth aboard a
150-passenger authentic paddlewheeler.
My job is fun because …
I get to help people plan a trip that
involves my favorite places and things
to do! I get to share what I love with
people who have yet to experience it.
What musical act would you most like
to take the stage and perform with?
I would have to go with Celine Dion. I
am all about the costumes and theatrics!
For more information, contact Visuri at
[email protected].
Empire Hotel Group
NEW YORK CITY
NTA contact: Michael Link,
general manager, Belvedere Hotel
and price points that are certain to
exceed expectations.
Office Phone: +1.212.245.7000, ext. 7134
How did you get started in the hospitality industry?
I started working at a local Marriott
hotel when I graduated from high
school and was attracted to the industry by the constant interaction with
guests and the goal of wowing them
with exceptional service. My career
began in banquets—setting up meetings and social functions—and I always
enjoyed the satisfaction of contributing to a successful event and receiving
positive feedback from guests.
Website: newyorkhotel.com
NTA member since: 1995
What properties are included in the
Empire Hotel Group?
The Americana Hotel, Belnord Hotel,
Belvedere Hotel, Carnegie Hotel (opened
December 2016), Newton Hotel, Opera
House Hotel, Pearl Hotel and the Travel
Inn. I’ve been the general manager at the
Belvedere Hotel for 12 years.
There are a lot of hotels in New York
City. How do your properties stand out?
We offer a diverse collection of hotels
located in vibrant neighborhoods near
exciting attractions and destinations.
Each Empire Hotel is distinct, offering a
wide range of services in various styles
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January 2017
What’s your favorite time of year in
the city?
Spring and fall are the most beautiful in
the city and the most comfortable for
getting out and exploring the uniqueness of each neighborhood.
Belvedere Hotel is close to Broadway.
Do you have any performance
experience?
The closest I’ve ever come to performing was in high school when I played
trumpet in the orchestra, jazz and
marching bands.
For more information, contact Link at
[email protected].