Tom Thomas, General Manager
Phone: 312-932-4500 | Fax: 312-787-0256 | Email: tom.thomas@hilton.com
Tom Thomas most recently served as hotel manager of the Hilton Chicago, directing the operation of this world-class four-diamond convention hotel. A 30-year hospitality veteran, Tom Thomas has spent the last ten years distinguishing himself as a successful executive with Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Prior to his tenure at the Hilton Chicago, Thomas served as General Manager of the Hilton Suites Dallas North located in the competitive Galleria area. While General Manager of this property he also held the position of General Manager Cluster Lead for the Hilton Family of brands for the city of Dallas inclusive of its Hilton, Doubletree, and Embassy Suites brands. Before this, Thomas was General Manager of the Doubletree hotel and Executive Meeting Center, Dallas/Plano Legacy Town Center. There he successfully positioned the property as an IACC certified meeting center as well as a luxury transient hotel, resulting in its successful sale after just three years. Thomas began his career with Hilton by serving as Assistant General Manager and Director of Marketing for the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center.
Prior to Hilton, Tom Thomas specialized in managing award-winning and innovative conference resort developments, having opened and launched such successful properties as the Lansdowne Conference Center and Resort near Washington DC (Benchmark), Chateau Élan Resort and Conference Center north of Atlanta (Marriott), and the Marietta Conference Resort in Marietta, Georgia (Sentry III). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Michigan State University.
Kevin Boland, Director of Sales & Marketing
Phone: 312-932-4306 | Fax: 312-787-6324 | Email: kevin.boland@hilton.com
Kevin Boland has 16 years of hotel experience, and oversees all Catering, Event Services, Sales, Marketing and Revenue management operations for The Drake. Kevin sits on the Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (Chicago Chapter), as well as for HELP (Help Ease Local Poverty), a consortium of business, residential, religious, social service, institutional and volunteer leaders striving to underprivileged people in the Chicago area.
Originally from County Cork in Ireland, Kevin lived in London for two years before finally coming to Chicago, where he has lived for the last ten years. Kevin enjoys baseball and traveling, and cites Bali and Lake Como in Italy as among the best destinations he has visited.
John Dowd, Chief Concierge
Phone: 312-932-4665 | Fax: 312-440-8468 | Email: john.dowd@hilton.com
John Dowd has worked at the finest hotels in the United States for almost 20 years, including New York's prestigious Carlyle, Ritz Carlton and St. Regis hotels. John is a professionally trained Butler, personally taught by Ivor Spensor, former Head Butler at Buckingham Palace. Previous guests include Royalty, Heads of State and Studios, A-List celebrities and Captains of Industry and Commerce.
A Les Clefs d'Or concierge (one of only 500 accredited members in the United States), Mr. Dowd is a true city insider whose service philosophy starts with a "Certainly! Now what's the question?" If it is available, it is more than likely that John Dowd can get it for you. John is a past Presidential Scholar for Creative Writing, a member of "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities" and an award winning screenwriter and poet.
