The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) , dba Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, welcomes Lauren Hyps as its new National Sales Manager, Midwest.

Hyps will be responsible for promoting the Fort Myers' Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods as a premier group travel and meetings destination to the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) markets in the Midwest U.S. territory.

"We are excited to welcome Lauren to our team," said Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director. "Our visitor and meeting planner client base is strong in the Midwest and she will do a great job serving our hospitality businesses and helping us grow this segment even more." 

As she built her career in the hospitality industry, Hyps was with VISIT Milwaukee for 15 years, most recently as associate director of sales. Before that, she worked in hotel sales for 9 years at several Milwaukee properties (The Pfister Hotel & Hyatt Regency Milwaukee). Hyps also boasts professional affiliations within the hospitality industry including MPI, PCMA and Destinations International. 

She and her husband, Gerard, live in the Milwaukee area where they are raising their three sons (Ethan, Cole & Tanner) and three boxer dogs (Rugby, Boone & Ash).