DuPage tourism agency restructures sales team

OAK BROOK - The DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau announced it is restructuring the organization's sales team.

Earlier this year, Executive Director Beth Marchetti and the board of directors unveiled a new tourism plan that includes an enhanced promotional program to target new audiences regionally and nationally, and a strategy to secure larger and high-quality meetings and conferences.

Marchetti said Noonie Aquilar will become director of sales. Aquilar joins the DCVB team with 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry, 18 of which have been in the DuPage area. Her hotel background represents a variety of leadership roles at the property level with both Hilton and Marriott in the city and suburbs, including 12 years in General Manager positions.

With the addition of Aquilar, Justin Roach, director of business development, will focus on building the DuPage Sports Commission to capitalize on one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry.

Marchetti also said Sonja Knowles, CFMP has been promoted from market manager to senior market manager. Knowles' knowledge of and ability to source DuPage's two million square feet of meetings and event space for the religious, military and professional fraternal markets delivers a significant impact for the DuPage community. She recently completed her certified faith-based meeting professional accreditation and is currently working towards her professional in destination management certification.