From a press release:
This week our industry lost a great friend and professional colleague, Dianne Nelson Binger, President & CEO of the Salt Lake CVB. Dianne, a longtime leader in her local business community and the U.S. travel and tourism industry, passed away late Wednesday, 23 March, after a long struggle with cancer. She was 54 years old.
“Dianne was a pioneer in the convention and visitor bureau profession and a valiant leader for Salt Lake City and our industry,” IACVB Board Chair Melvin Tennant remarked. “Dianne will be remembered for her charm, her dedication and her generosity. She was a genuine friend and will be deeply missed,” he added.
Dianne started with the SLCVB in 1987, and had been the president since 2001. She served on the IACVB Board of Directors from 2000-2003 and was active on several committees including the MINT & Destinations Showcase committees. Before joining the Salt Lake bureau, she worked for the Sheraton Corporation and Alta’s Rustler Lodge.
Formal services are still being planned, but Salt Lake’s hospitality industry will hold a community memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on 30 March at the Salt Palace Convention Center. A fund is being established in Dianne’s memory.