DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hotel Association of North Texas (HANTX) announced today Cecile Fernandez has been named its new executive director. Ms. Fernandez assumes her duties immediately.
Ms. Fernandez is a long-time resident of the North Texas area with a strong background in advocacy as well as experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently she worked as district director for Texas State Representative Jason Villalba and served as director of community outreach and communications for former Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey. Her work in the hospitality industry includes management positions at Pizza Hut and Dickey’s Barbecue. She has also held consulting positions in the non-profit and hospitality sectors.
“We believe Ms. Fernandez’s strong involvement in the public and hospitality sectors, combined with her experience in the non-profit community, makes her a strong choice to lead our association and represent the interests of the hotel and hospitality communities in North Texas,” said Harold Rapoza, general manager of the Hilton Anatole Hotel and president of the Hotel Association of North Texas. “We are excited to have Ms. Fernandez as our new executive director.”
“I am extremely pleased to be joining the HANTX team. Dallas and North Texas have been for a long time major destinations for tourists, conventions, and meetings,” said Ms. Fernandez. “I look forward to working with hoteliers, area tourism bureaus, the hospitality industry and local elected officials to help make our area an even more attractive place to visit or host a meeting.”
The Hotel Association of North Texas was established in 1926 to promote the hotel industry and travel into the area. It has since grown into one of the largest local hotel associations in the country representing almost 30,000 hotel rooms across Dallas and the North Texas market. Recent initiatives for the Association include bringing a Super Bowl and Final Four to North Texas, establishing a first of its kind Tourism Public Improvement District in Dallas, and working to promote the construction of a convention center and entertainment district in Irving.
