Viad Hires Kelly Smith-Dotson as Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer

PHOENIX, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Viad Corp VVI announced today that Kelly Smith-Dotson has joined the company as its new Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer reporting to Paul Dykstra, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Viad.  Smith-Dotson will be responsible for driving the marketing and commercial strategy of Viad's Marketing & Events Group and Travel & Recreation Group, leading the development and commercialization of new and innovative products and services that enhance the customer experience, and creating marketing programs that drive profitable sales growth.

"We are very happy to welcome Kelly to the Viad team as our new Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer," stated Dykstra.   "As we continue to expand our Marketing & Events Group to become the preferred global full service provider to the live events market, Kelly will play a key role in supporting our strategic growth initiatives and will help to ensure that our brand, innovative solutions and compelling value propositions are top-of-mind with event and exhibition organizers, exhibitors and attendees.  Kelly's rich experiences and diverse expertise will also support our continued efforts to strategically grow the Travel & Recreation business through our Refresh Build Buy initiatives."

Smith-Dotson brings nearly 30 years of marketing experience to Viad.  Most recently, she served as the chief marketing officer at the Pampered Chef where she led a repositioning of its brand and realignment of its digital marketing to drive brand affinity and sales growth.  Prior to that, she was the senior marketing executive at NAVTEQ Corporation and she worked at multi-national advertising agencies, Leo Burnett and DMB&B, with a focus on blue chip clients.

"I am excited to join Viad at this opportune time of continued growth and innovation," stated Smith-Dotson.  "I believe there is a real opportunity to position GES as the clear market leader through the addition of new value-added services, and to expand the offerings of the Travel & Recreation Group.  Viad's strategic growth initiatives are precisely aligned with those opportunities.  I look forward to working closely with the rest of the team to elevate the brands and to introduce innovative products and services that enrich the experience of everyone who engages with our companies, keeping us at the forefront of our industries and differentiating us from the competition."

About Viad
Viad is an S&P SmallCap 600 company. Viad operates through its Marketing & Events Group, composed of Global Experience Specialists, Inc. and affiliates, and its Travel & Recreation Group, composed of Brewster Travel Canada, Glacier Park, Inc., and Alaska Denali Travel. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.viad.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
As provided by the safe harbor provision under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Viad cautions readers that, in addition to historical information contained herein, this press release includes certain information, assumptions and discussions that may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect current estimates, projections, expectations, or trends concerning future growth, operating cash flows, availability of short-term borrowings, consumer demand, new or renewal business, investment policies, productivity improvements, ongoing cost reduction efforts, efficiency, competitiveness, legal expenses, tax rates and other tax matters, foreign exchange rates, and the realization of restructuring cost savings. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Viad's businesses can be affected by a host of risks and uncertainties. Among other things, natural disasters, gains and losses of customers, consumer demand patterns, labor relations, purchasing decisions related to customer demand for exhibition and event services, existing and new competition, industry alliances, consolidation and growth patterns within the industries in which Viad competes, acquisitions, capital allocations, adverse developments in liabilities associated with discontinued operations and any deterioration in the economy, may individually or in combination impact future results. In addition to factors mentioned elsewhere, economic, competitive, governmental, technological, capital marketplace and other factors, including terrorist activities or war, a pandemic health crisis and international conditions, could affect the forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional information concerning business and other risk factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements can be found in Viad's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Information about Viad Corp obtained from sources other than the company may be out-of-date or incorrect. Please rely only on company press releases, SEC filings and other information provided by the company, keeping in mind that forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Viad undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, including prior forward-looking statements, to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.

SOURCE Viad Corp