SALT LAKE CITY (March 2013) – During Visit Salt Lake’s annual meeting March 21 at The Depot, Chris Peterson, Director of Convention Sales, was presented the seventh annual Dianne Nelson Binger Sales Leadership Award.

“Chris had one of his best years yet, booking an impressive number of conventions,” said Mark H. White, Visit Salt Lake’s Vice President of Sales. “His success was due to diligence and a great deal of hard work, leading to confirming six groups that will attract nearly 19,000 attendees to Salt Lake and who will collectively spend $17 million while in our community.”  Some of the larger conventions booked by Peterson include the American Society of Agronomy, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the IEEE Super Computing Conference.    

Peterson joined the VSL sales team in 2007 and has been responsible for booking scientific, engineering and agricultural conventions during his six-year tenure. Peterson pursues conventions for the Salt Palace Convention Center and South Towne Exposition Center that utilize multiple Salt Lake County hotels. “Chris is a conscientious, hardworking sales person,” added White. “He develops strong client relationships, and they love they love his personal touch.”  

The Dianne Nelson Binger Sales Leadership Award is presented to Visit Salt Lake’s top sales person in honor of Dianne Binger, a tireless advocate for Salt Lake and the state. Binger exemplified the traits of a successful sales person and served Visit Salt Lake—then the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau—and the community for 18 years, becoming President and CEO in 2001. A great leader and mentor, Binger sadly lost her long battle with cancer in March 2005.

Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. VSL’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.