Senior Vice President-Business Development at U.S.Travel Association
Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Current
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- Senior Vice President-Business Development at U.S. Travel Association
- Past
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- Vice President Business Development at Avendra LLC
- Vice President (Sales & Owner Relations) at Marriott International
- General Manager/VP Sales at Stouffer/Renaissance/Marriott International
- Vice President of Sales-Americas at Renaissance Hotels and Resorts
- General Manager at Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
- Director of Marketing at Stouffer Hotels and Resorts
- Sales Director at Lex Hotels (UK)
- Education
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- University of Baltimore
- Recommended
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4 people have recommended Gary - Connections
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435
connections
- Industry
- Leisure, Travel & Tourism
- Websites
Gary Oster’s Summary
Responsible for overseeing US Travel's business development activities which include membership, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, exhibition sales, and advertising, publication/subscription sales.
A travel industry professional with over 40 years of experience, more recently worked for Avendra, a company specializing in professional procurement for the hospitality industry. Served as Vice President Independent Hotels, Resorts and Casinos before assuming the role of Vice President of Native American Gaming.
Retired in early 2002 from Marriott International, my last assignment in the hotel business was Vice President of Owner Relations, responsible for managing the relationships between Marriott and its managed, North American ownership groups. Prior to this assignment, held the position of Vice President Sales-Knowledge Management for Marriott Lodging. Specific duties were to manage technology and information projects that supported the Global Lodging Sales Organization.
Joined Marriott during the acquisition of Renaissance, where I was Vice President Sales-America's. During the Renaissance tenure, held positions at Renaissance Harborplace Hotel (1990-1996)-General Manager, Director of Marketing at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel (1985-1990) and the Renaissance Westchester Hotel (1983-1985). Joined the company (then known as Stouffer Hotels and Resorts) in June of 1982 as Director of National Sales, running the Washington, DC National Sales Office. Started my hotel career in 1968 at the Sheraton International Hotel, BWI Airport.
Gary Oster’s Specialties:
Strategic planning, sales system development (people and technology), professional and personal networker that connects people-to-people.
Gary Oster’s Experience
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Senior Vice President-Business Development
U.S. Travel Association
(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
September 2005 — Present (4 years 3 months)
Responsible for the membership, sponsorship, exhibit and advertising revenues for US Travel Association. US Travel is a significant trade association that represents the entire travel industry ($770 Billion/employs 1 out of 8 Americans) advocating on Capitol Hill, with the White House and developing international relationships overseas.
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Vice President Business Development
Avendra LLC
(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Hospitality industry)
March 2002 — September 2005 (3 years 7 months)
A company specializing in professional procurement for the hospitality industry...served as Vice President Independent Hotels, Resorts
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Vice President (Sales & Owner Relations)
Marriott International
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MAR; Hospitality industry)
June 1997 — June 2002 (5 years 1 month)
Retired in early 2002 as Vice President of Owner Relations, responsible for managing the relationships between Marriott and its managed, North American ownership groups. Prior to this assignment, was Vice President Sales-Marriott Lodging. with duties to manage technology and information projects that supported the Global Lodging Sales Organization.
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General Manager/VP Sales
Stouffer/Renaissance/Marriott International
(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
1982 — 2002 (20 years )
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Vice President of Sales-Americas
Renaissance Hotels and Resorts
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MAR; Hospitality industry)
September 1996 — May 1997 (9 months)
Oversaw four national sales offices in Washington, LA, NYC and Chicago as well as the 36 property based sales teams.
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General Manager
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MAR; Hospitality industry)
March 1990 — September 1996 (6 years 7 months)
Managed Baltimore's harborfront Mobil four star-four, AAA diamond property. (previously Stouffer Harborplace Hotel)
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Director of Marketing
Stouffer Hotels and Resorts
(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
1982 — 1990 (8 years )
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Sales Director
Lex Hotels (UK)
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Hospitality industry)
August 1968 — June 1982 (13 years 11 months)
Worked through high school and college at the International Hotel at BWI Airport. Started as a groundskeeper, worked in over a dozen operations positions including rooms, engineering (at 18, gained the distinction of being the youngest licensed engineer in MD state history), F&B, etc. Moved into Sales upon graduation from college and was managing the sales team by the time I was 25.
Gary Oster’s Education
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University of Baltimore
BA , English Literature , 1974 — 1976
- Activities and Societies:
- School Newspaper Photograper and Yearbook Editor, President's Honoria for Outstanding Student
Additional Information
Gary Oster’s Websites:
Gary Oster’s Groups:
An active volunteer within the travel industry; founding board member for the Baltimore Academy of Travel and Tourism and served multiple years on the boards of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and Marriott's Employee Federal Credit Union. Also served on the Greater Baltimore Committee as hospitality chairman and was founder and co-chairman of the Public Safety Coalition. Currently serves on the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International-Board of Director’s.
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Christian Professionals Worldwide -
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Group -
Association Industry Executives -
MARRIOTT CONNECTIONS -
Hotel Industry Professionals Worldwide -
Travel Industry Professionals -
Maritime Technology & Digital Shipping -
U.S. Travel Association -
Destination Strategies
Gary Oster’s Honors:
In 1996, received recognition as Hotelier of the Year for the Maryland Hotel and Motel Association, the Mayor's Outstanding Citizen Award in 1995 for the City of Baltimore and the Hospitality Professional of the Year by the Academy of Travel and Tourism in 1994.
Gained the distinction of being a commercially rated, United States Coast Guard Captain, with operating authority in passenger vessels of up to 50 tons (typically a vessel of up to 100’ in length). As an ordained Minister he possess the unique distinction of being able to officiate and perform shipboard weddings (as both Captain and Minister).
Gary Oster’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
