Raleigh, N.C.’s thriving and increasingly popular cuisine scene is as impressive as it is delicious. Groups meeting in this capital city can easily include an auxiliary event incorporating its variety of flavors.

Reflective of the end-game excitement of this year’s Super Bowl LII was the preparation and execution of the big game’s hosts: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington and surrounds. The 10-day fete highlighted some of the region’s most intriguing off-site venues, scenery, breweries, restaurants and more.

Elise Gertenbach has been appointed director of group sales for Hotel Contessa.

Olshan Properties announced the appointment of Steven Falciani as general manager of the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa.

Kristin K. Mirabal, CMP joined the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) as the director of global events.

Tamara Duffy joined the Bishop-McCann team as sales director.

A new day is dawning for the embattled tourism promotion industry in Puerto Rico, as CVB veteran Brad Dean, who helmed the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as CEO for 15 years, is set to take the reins of the newly created Puerto Rico Destination Marketing Organization (PRDMO).

Freeman named Bob Priest-Heck as its new CEO. Priest-Heck will be the company’s fourth CEO and the first in the company’s 90-year history to come from outside of the Freeman family.

Forty-six-year meetings and hospitality industry veteran David Bruce, managing partner of Ft. Worth, Texas-area’s meeting planning company CMP Services, knows and cares enough about his profession that he realizes it’s time for a big change.

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) named Tina Gaccetta as head of events.