New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority president and CEO Kim Hufham recently announced the promotions of two longtime Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) employees. Additionally, the CVB has added to its sales staff in an effort to boost tourism business. 

“The CVB has realigned its sales and services department to allow the CVB’s sales team to recruit more convention and group business, county-wide,” Hufham said in a statement. “The realignment allowed us to hire two experienced and talented senior sales managers … without creating additional positions.”

Molly Johnson joined the CVB as a senior sales manager, covering the state association and corporate markets, according to the bureau.

Johnson holds multiple years of sales experience at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside and the Blockade Runner Resort in Wrightsville Beach and is treasurer of the Wilmington Area Hospitality Association.

The CVB also hired a second senior sales manager, Amy Higgins, covering the national association and government markets. Higgins’ experience includes work with the Durham and Greater Raleigh CVBs, and most recently, the Oklahoma City CVB.

Meanwhile, John W. Sneed II was promoted to vice president of sales and services at the tourism bureau. Prior, Sneed served as director of convention sales, since joining the bureau in 2009.

In his new position, Sneed will direct CVB sales and services functions, including managing three sales managers and one visitor services manager.

And Karen Warren was promoted to the CVB’s position of visitor services manager. Warren, who will manage group and leisure visitor services including conventions, previously oversaw the CVB’s visitor information centers.