Branson Landing names first employee

Linda Antus, a nine-year Branson resident, stepped into the newly created role of director of marketing June 1. Her duties include marketing Branson Landing as a destination within a destination, she said.

“Branson Landing is a fresh new key appeal that Branson has, as a brand, to add to its presentation to the customer as something brand new and different to come to Branson for,” said Antus, who is employed by Urban Retail Properties Co. on behalf of developer HCW and the Branson Landing project.

Urban Retail Properties is a Chicago-based firm in charge of leasing and managing Branson Landing. Connie Dyer, Urban Retail’s senior vice president and director of marketing and corporate communications, said that a couple of employees have been sent to Branson to help with tenant coordination, “but (Antus) is the first official employee of Branson Landing. This is the start of the building of the management team.”

The amount of additional staffing is still being determined, Dyer said.

Antus previously ran her own company, Marketing Etc., which earlier this year worked on a Branson branding initiative for the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Other experience includes senior marketing positions with Madison Square Garden, Home Box Office and eight years as senior marketing officer for Branson’s Herschend Family Entertainment.

“She knows the marketplace very well,” Dyer said.

“Her experience with the chamber of commerce was very advantageous to us.”

Now 75 percent leased, the first 55 shops and restaurants have been announced for Branson Landing, a public-private partnership between the City of Branson and HCW Development Co. The $420 million project also includes two Hilton hotels, a convention center and residential condominiums.