The Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board recently welcomed a new member to the board.

Richard Cardenas, General Manager of the SpringHill Suites, began serving his term on the board in January 2007.

A graduate of New Mexico State University’s Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program, Cardenas has served as the GM of SpringHill Suites since 2005 and before that was the Director of Sales for three years.

Cardenas is a member of the Las Cruces Lodger’s Association, New Mexico Lodger’s Association, Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

All CVB board members are appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Las Cruces City Council. In accordance with New Mexico statute, the board must be comprised of two representatives of the hotel industry, two tourism industry representatives and one at-large representative. Members serve a three year term with the option to serve a second term. The board meets on the last Wednesday of each month from September through May.

A CVB employee was recently honored by the City of Las Cruces for her hard work and dedication to her job.

Las Cruces CVB Visitor Information Specialist, Sonia Bañuelos, recently received the “Excellence in Government” award from the city of Las Cruces for being a star employee. She also demonstrated the City’s value statements which include quality service, excellence and pride in the workplace, and for embodying honesty and integrity.

“Winning this award is an honor because it shows you’re valued by your co-workers,” said Bañuelos. “You feel like an asset to this business.”

Bañuelos said it is her positive attitude and treating the customers nicely and with respect is what is important in her job.

“It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice,” she said.

Bañuelos received a certificate for a day off that was presented to her by City Council and her portrait was placed on the walls of City Hall.

The City of Las Cruces continues its participation for the 2007 WAC Men and Women’s Basketball Tournament set for Tuesday, March 6 through Saturday, March 10 at the Pan American Center.

The CVB and the City of Las Cruces have played vital roles in the tournament including seats on the tournament steering committee and the contribution of funds to assist with housing for players and officials. Additionally, the CVB has put together a community awareness public relations campaign to include banners and signs around town and a welcome billboard on I-10 just outside of Las Cruces. Estimates suggest the tournament could generate more than $4 million for Las Cruces, including nearly $200,000 in tax revenue. Tickets are available at the New Mexico State University Ticket Office at 646-1420 or on line at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Hampton Inn and Suites located at the corner of Griggs and Triviz is on pace for an early March 2007 opening. The property will feature 73 rooms and suites. "We will have a soft opening and announce a Grand Opening Date towards the end of March," said General Manager Belia Alvarez.

The King Tut “Wonderful Things from the Pharaoh’s Tomb” exhibit wrapped up last week and to the delight of many was a huge success. Garland Courts, Director of the Branigan Cultural Center, estimates that around 30,000 people viewed the show including 10,000 local students.

“The attention the exhibit received exceeded our expectations and generated some nice buzz about the Branigan Cultural Center,” said Courts. “We had visitors from Alaska to Florida, Germany to New Zealand and all places in between. Our guest book is filled with wonderful responses and thanks. Overall, this exhibit has been a huge success for the Museum System of Las Cruces.”

The Tut exhibit was just the first of many exciting new things for the Museums System; in August, a history of Las Cruces exhibit is set to open at the Branigan Cultural Center and following that will be costumes of the Ballet Folklorico. And the Museum of Art will feature original exhibits from Ansel Adams in June and Salvador Dali in September.

For more information, logon to www.las- cruces.org/museums.

The Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is now under the leadership of new General Manager Marcos Archuleta who took over earlier this year.

“I love to grow within the golf industry and I like to build the customer relationship,” Archuleta said. “I also like learning the marketing and advertising side of the business.”

Archuleta has been at Sonoma Ranch Golf Course for the past four years. Prior to taking on his new duties, he was assistant general manager under former GM Matt Williams.

He said one of his goals is to increase customer retention. “I want to increase customer retention and one way of doing that is by making Sonoma Ranch a premier event destination,” he said. “We were voted Best Golf Course in 2006 by the Sun-News’ Reader’s Choice. We want to continue being the best.”

More than 730 athletes competed for medals in basketball and bowling at the 2006 year's Special Olympics New Mexico Holiday Classic held at New Mexico State University and Sun Lanes. The event brought more than 1,200 participants, coaches and family members to Las Cruces. This was Las Cruces’ fourth year hosting the New Mexico Special Olympics.

Sixteen prep basketball teams took to the hardwood vying for the Memorial Medical Center Holiday Hoopla Basketball Championship. Games were played at the Pan Am Center and the Las Cruces High School gym December 28-30, 2006. Albuquerque’s Eldorado High School took the boys title while Las Cruces’ Mayfield High School won the girls championship.