Photo credit: NSP Studio 

Alicia Gazda, Convention Sales Manager for Visit Rochester, was recognized as a member of Connect Association magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The honor highlights the top young professionals in the association events industry. Connect Association is a national, B2B magazine that provides resources and ideas to professionals and planners in the meetings and events industry. 

Peers in the events world nominated Gazda. Nominations were received from across the country, then reviewed and evaluated by the Connect staff based on references, industry involvement and other resources. 

“We are incredibly proud of Alicia for receiving this honor,” said Don Jeffries, president & CEO, Visit Rochester.  “Alicia’s commitment and dedication to our team, our city and her clients is admirable.  She is a wonderful representative not just of our organization, but our community as a whole.”

Gazda began working in the hospitality industry in middle school, and continued to foster her passion for the industry working at an intimate hotel in the Finger Lakes region. During her junior year of college, she began working at the front desk of a hotel in Rochester, where she would continue to work in multiple departments at the hotel and, after graduation, worked her way up to general manager and director of sales. Gazda joined Visit Rochester in 2017, where she currently works to attract meetings, conventions and other events to Rochester and Monroe County as convention sales manager.

For the full description of Gazda’s accomplishments, and to learn more about the other honorees, click here.

These leaders will be recognized in front of their peers during Connect Marketplace Oct. 19-21 2020.

ABOUT VISIT ROCHESTER

Visit Rochester is the official tourism promotion agency for Greater Rochester and Monroe County. Visit Rochester is a membership organization with over 400 members representing, lodging, retail, restaurants, services, and community organizations. Working together with our members and partners, our mission is to sell and market Greater Rochester as a preferred destination in order to grow and maximize visitor spending and to enhance the economy. To learn more go to visitrochester.com

ABOUT CONNECT

Connect is a leader in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meetings business and travel magazines, trade shows and consumer events, and destination information which is distributed through broadcast and custom programs. Connect, formerly known as Collinson Media & Events, introduced the popular Marketplace format to the meetings industry and now produces national shows for meeting planners in the Corporate, Expo, Sports, Diversity, Association and Faith sectors as well as other state- and region- specific meetings- and hospitality-focused events. More information about the company's brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com.