François Dumontier, President and CEO of Octane Motorsports Events, promoter of the Edmonton Indy, is proud to announce that Edmontonian Ike Janacek, until recently General Manager of downtown’s Sutton Place Hotel and Co-Chair of DMF Downtown Cluster, has been named General Manager of the Edmonton Indy. The 11th round of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series is scheduled for July 20-22 at Edmonton’s City Centre airport racecourse. Janacek’ appointment comes into effect today.
“I am extremely proud to welcome Ike Janacek as our new Edmonton Indy General Manager. He brings to our team a significant knowledge of Edmonton and its travel business community, having served for the last decade as an executive at one of the City major hotel. His experience in management, sales, marketing and especially in customer services is unique. As I previously said, satisfying customers is part of Octane’s DNA. I am confident that with Ike at the helm of the Edmonton Indy, we are more than ever in a position to deliver an outstanding event to our fans”, stated today Octane’s CEO François Dumontier, noting that Janacek has earned a Gold Key Award (recognizing service excellence and commitment) from the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association.
Janacek, 56, studied hotel management at the renowned LaSalle College in Montreal. He served as an executive at Montreal’s Chateau Champlain, Vancouver and Chicago Le Meridien, Seneca, Belden Stratford and Sutton Place hotels also in the Windy City, before making his home in Alberta, first in Calgary for five years and then in Edmonton in 2003 when he joined the Sutton Place Hotel.
“I am extremely honored to join Octane Motorsports Events and the Edmonton Indy team. This is the most interesting challenge of my career. For years, I have always been a strong believer that Edmonton was the very best place in Western Canada to host such an event. I now have the opportunity to contribute directly to the success of it, said the newly hired General Manager. Last year under new management, the Edmonton Indy was a strong testimonial of Octane’s way of doing things, and demonstrated their true desire to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction. These are the kind of objectives I am familiar with. It has driven me so far in my career and I have the intention to pursue in this direction as Edmonton Indy General Manager._
The new event GM is also a true motorsports fan, having followed, starting in 1978, the Canadian Grand Prix frenzy growing up in Montréal, when he was working in the Québec metropolis. He has attended all Edmonton Champ Car or IndyCar races since 2005 and he has for promotional or charity intent taken part in go-kart events. Over the years he has served on Edmonton fund raising events committees, namely for the Pilgrim Hospice, McEwan University and the YRAP/IHuman. Ike is the father of two children – a daughter living in Edmonton, and a son residing in Vancouver.
Janacek has officially taken responsibilities at Octane Motorsports Event, as of today, March 12, joining Sales & Business Development agent Daryl Zelinski and Marketing & Customer Services co-coordinator Ryan Friele on the current Edmonton-based team. Octane Motorsports Events will also re-open shortly its Edmonton office at a new location.
Tickets for the 2012 Edmonton Indy are currently on sale. Fans must contact the Edmonton Indy box office seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1 855 350-INDY (4639) or order online anytime at www.edmontonindy.com. First-class corporate packages and trackside suites are also available for both small and large companies or other groups wishing to attend the event. To make a reservation or obtain information on corporate packages, customers must contact Julie Rioux-Paquette at (1 855 350-4731, ext 238).
Promoter of the Edmonton Indy, Octane Motorsports Events Inc., is a Canadian corporation and a component of the Octane group of companies, based at Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit in Montréal. By virtue of an agreement made with Formula One Administration Limited and Formula 1 World Championship Limited (together the holder of commercialization rights to F1), Octane Racing Group Inc. is the promoter of the FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, held June 8, 9, 10, 2012 in Montréal. Octane Management Inc. is the promoter of the NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge, the 22nd round of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, held August 16, 17, 18, 2012 in Montréal.
From the Edmonton Indy
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