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HOSPITALITY AND EVENTS INDUSTRY MOURNS LOSS OF DAVE HINTON
By admin | March 25, 2010
HOSPITALITY AND EVENTS INDUSTRY MOURNS LOSS OF DAVE HINTON
Visionary Founded hinton+grusich, Initiated Association Forum of Chicagoland’s Holiday Showcase
Dave Hinton
Chicago, IL – March 24, 2010 hinton+grusich (h+g), a national sales organization that represents upscale hotels, destinations and hospitality suppliers that serve the meetings industry announced that its founder Dave Hinton passed away on Monday. A longtime figure of the hospitality and association community, Hinton served as President of hinton+grusich until his retirement in 2003.
Hinton began his hotel sales career in Washington, DC at The Shoreham Hotel in 1966. An entrepreneur by nature, he and colleague Bill Grusich, who serves as the firm’s current president, launched hinton+grusich, one of the industry’s first hotel sales representation firms, in 1986.
Having a passion for the Chicago association community, Hinton served on the Association Forum of Chicagoland Board (then named Chicago Society of Association Executives-CSAE), and won the organization’s Supplier Partner Award in 1987 and Thiel Award in 1989.
A long-time member of the American Association of Association Executives (ASAE), Hinton had a vision for an educational and networking event in Chicago that complemented ASAE’s Springtime in the Park trade show held annually in Washington, DC. Among his many professional accomplishments, he helped spearhead the inaugural Association Forum of Chicagoland’s Holiday Showcase held in December, 1988 with Lou Holtz as the luncheon speaker. Since then, the Holiday Showcase has become one of the association community’s premier events, offering a day-long educational forum and trade show to over 1000 association executives each year. Hinton was appointed “Father Showcase” for his vision to create Holiday Showcase, an unofficial title coined by former CEO Chris Mahaffey.
Those who knew the executive say he possessed “The Midas Touch,” and he was widely known as one of the most innovative and creative thought leaders of the era in the hospitality business. “Dave had the rare qualities of a natural-born leader. His charisma, street smarts and political savvy led to the success of almost every initiative he took on. His networking skills and ability to influence even the most stubborn leaders are legend. He was an industry “insider” with a larger than life presence, an air of class, a gentle spirit, and a huge heart,” stated Christie Tarantino, executive director of the Association Forum of Chicagoland.
Hinton’s son Kevin, who serves as h+g’s CEO stated: “I have been so very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from and with my father. He was a self-made man with great vision and conviction, sales and business acumen, a great sense of humor and a talented storyteller. He was fiercely proud of the company he worked so hard to build. I am so proud of all that he accomplished for and within the hotel industry, and of the encouragement and mentoring he provided to so many people during their careers.” He added, “So many within this industry touched his life, and together we will continue to realize his vision. Dave’s legacy is our will to continue the great work he began, not just with our company but in the hotel industry to which he contributed and loved so much.”
“Dave was a visionary, a true leader and a close friend to me and many, many others.” Bill Grusich said. “He had the foresight, passion and pure drive to improve the industry and share his successes within our business. He will be missed dearly.”
From 1966 to 1971, Hinton worked in the sales department at The Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. In 1972, Hinton moved his young family to the Chicago area to open the Midwest Regional Sales Office for Fairmont Hotels, which was at that time a boutique group of upscale group hotels owned by the Swig Family. From the mid-1970’s to mid-80’s Hinton ran the Chicago office for the Krisam Group, a hotel representation company based on the East Coast. During his tenure, he created “CARDS,” an organization and annual event designed to unify the hospitality sector named for its constituents, the Chicago Area Regional Directors of Sales.
On May 2, 1986, Dave Hinton’s vision for his own company culminated in the launch of hinton+grusich with Bill Grusich. The company was an instant success, and a true reflection of the personalities and talents of its founders. Though Hinton retired in 2003, he remained involved and “close to the action” through frequent calls to the business, while also providing advice and mentoring for employees.
Hinton served a multi-year term on the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau’s board of directors in 1990′s, and earned a place in the Meeting Professionals International Chicago Area Chapter’s Hall of Fame, when he received the Individual Hall of Fame Award in 1993.
Many colleagues, clients and partners shared their tributes. Bill St. John, CEO of Dietary Managers Association, a long time client of h+g stated, “Dave was truly a great guy and such an important part of our industry.”
“Dave was a close friend whose passion for friends, family and his business knew no limits,” said Bob Hobart, who was among his best friends and worked with Hinton in his role at the American Medical Association. “He was tough, yet fair, and used his natural skill set to make a positive difference in every initiative he touched. Dave will be missed sorely by many.”
Sean Dempsey, VP/Sales at Florida’s Saddlebrook Resort, which was the first hotel to hire h+g back in 1986, stated, “We always considered Dave more than a business partner; he was part of the family here and we are so proud of the many years we worked together.”
Colleagues, friends and family may visit a memorial website to share tribute to Mr. Hinton: http://www.respectance.com/Dave_Hinton/.
Dave Hinton resided in the Chicago suburb of La Grange, IL, where he lived for 38 years, and where he and his wife Barbara raised their family. He is survived by his 5 children (David, Kevin, Sean, Keri and Mark) 9 brothers and sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hinton’s wake services will be held at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th Street in La Grange, IL, Thursday, 5:00pm to 8:00pm and Friday, 3:00pm to 9:00pm.
The funeral ceremony will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, 124 N. Spring in La Grange, Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 10:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the David and Barbara Hinton Scholarship Fund at St. Ignatius College Prep High School, 1076 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608. This endowment was established in 2000 after his wife, Mrs. Barbara Hinton passed away to provide a perpetual scholarship for minority students in need.
For more information, visit hintonandgrusich.com or call 800.783.7350.
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About hinton+grusich
Founded in 1986, hinton+grusich (hintonandgrusich.com) is a national sales organization that represents upscale hotels, destinations and hospitality suppliers that serve the meetings industry. Offering a cost-free approach to finding the right hotel, the firm creates efficiency and buying power for professionals who plan meetings through one point-of-contact. Its team of experts provides timely pricing and availability information, first-hand destination feedback, and relevant insight for meeting professionals nationwide.
hinton+grusich represents over 150 upscale, primarily independent hotels, six convention bureaus, and seven industry partners within their “partners+” collection. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm offers four regional offices and nine national sales managers furnishing regional and market-specific support to meeting professionals.
As longtime supporters of hospitality, philanthropic and civic organizations, members of the hinton+grusich management team currently serve in volunteer leadership positions with MPI, ASAE and SITE. For more information, visit hintonandgrusich.com or call 800.783.7350.
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Media contact for hinton+grusich:
Gretchen Kihm-Stegall | Trifecta Marketing Resources, LLC
847.681.0506 | gretchen@trifectaresources.com
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