Tag Archives: industry awards

The National wins Hotel of the Year and Chef of the Year

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Each year, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) celebrates people and companies who go above and beyond in the hospitality and tourism industry with the Ordinary Awards. This year, with a record number of nominations, The National Conference Center took home two wins — “Hotel of the Year” and “Chef of the Year.”

This marks The National’s second VRLTA “Hotel of the Year” win since 2017 when Geoff Lawson received the “Hotelier/General Manager of the Year” as well.

Executive Chef Frank Estremera was awarded the “Chef of the Year” award for his
creative ideas and community initiatives. Estremera spearheaded The National’s
farm-to-table food initiative, working directly with local farmers to deliver the freshest ingredients to conference center guests. Estremera also introduced cooking classes as a collaborative team building activity at The National.

The National and other VRLTA award recipients were honored at a special dinner
at Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa|Short Pump in front of an audience of hundreds of
hospitality and travel industry peers from across the state.

PCMA Announces ‘20 in Their Twenties’ Class of 2020

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PCMA has identified 20 of the brightest and most talented global professionals from the next generation of business events leaders for its annual “20 in Their Twenties” class.

The class of 2020 represents strategists, suppliers and destinations from the Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe. “This group represents our industry’s future and the PCMA Foundation is dedicated to recognizing the efforts and achievements of those who want to help demonstrate the influence business events have on global economic and social transformation,” said Meredith Rollins, PCMA’s chief community officer and executive director of the PCMA Foundation. “We continue to be impressed every year by the caliber of business events professionals we see in this generation.”

The “20 in Their Twenties” class of 2020, supported by PCMA Foundation and Experience Columbus, will be honored at the PCMA Convening Leaders conference Jan. 5-8 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Class members are selected by a committee of veteran industry professionals and “20 in Their Twenties” alumni. Applicants were required to be full-time employees in the business events industry and no older than 29 on Jan. 8, 2020. They were also required to provide examples of industry leadership, a video statement and professional references.

In addition to receiving a scholarship to attend Convening Leaders, PCMA’s annual signature event, “20 in Their Twenties” members also receive complimentary registration to PCMA’s EduCon event, PCMA membership and access to PCMA educational products. The 2020 “20 in their Twenties” class will also be featured in PCMA’s Convene magazine, other PCMA communications and invited to participate in a PCMA focus group to provide emerging-leader insights.

Here is the PCMA’s “20 in their Twenties” class for 2020:

Marie-Claire Caldwell

Sales and Marketing Manager

ICC Belfast

United Kingdom

Jillian Cardinal

Sales Manager

JPdL

Canada

Derica Clarke

Headquarters Meetings & Online Education Specialist

American Colleges of Nurse-Midwives

United States

Rebecca Doser

Media Relations Manager, Trade

Destination DC

United States

Diana Frederiksen

Sales Manager, Congresses & Guest Events

Stockholmsmassan Congress & Exhibition Centre

Sweden

Julia Hachenthal

Marketing & Events Manager

GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.

Germany

Kimberly Hoffman, CMP, DCMP

Director, Event Services

Accent Indy, a DMC Network Company

United States

Lisa Jeller

Marketing & Event Manager

EventMobi

Germany

Alexandra Larach

Events Manager

Associations Forum

Australia

Rebecca Lino

Senior Technology Manager

Cadence Travel, Meetings + Incentives

United States

Robert Lutz

Account Executive

CSI DMC

United States

Shane McFadden, CMP

Manager, Meetings

Consumer Healthcare Products Association

United States

Joy McIntyre, CMP

Event Manager

SPIRE Events DC

United States

Lindsay Miller

Communications Manager

Visit Anaheim

United States

Hannah Poyo, MBA

Tradeshow & Event Planner

Q2

United States

Meagan E. Prescott, CMP

Assistant Vice President, Conferences & Events

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)

United States

Jaclyn Rosenberg

Manager, Conferences & Events

The Humane Society of The United States

United States

Kelly Thomas

Senior Sales Manager

Visit Austin

United States

Lauren Washburn

Conference Services Manager

Sodexo

United States

Krista Whaley

Meetings and Events Associate

Americans for the Arts

United States

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre wins “Outstanding Venue Award” at AFECA Asian Awards 2019

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Reinforcing its reputation as Malaysia’s premier purpose-built venue, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) recently won the “Outstanding Venue Award” at the AFECA (Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations) Asian Awards 2019 in Manila, the Philippines. The accolade recognises venues with world-class facilities, quality service, outstanding customer support and sustainability practices.

AFECA is the leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) association in Asia. With 155 members, covering 17 nations, AFECA’s main goal is to help develop and grow MICE industries in the region and is the gateway for Asia to reach out to the rest of the world. This year’s AFECA Asia Awards received a record 58 nominations/entries from 11 countries and nine esteemed judges representing all sectors of the region’s industry picked the Centre as the winner in its category.

Commenting on the venue’s success, the Centre’s General Manager, Alan Pryor, shared, “We are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award for the second time and are honoured to be amongst such esteemed finalists and industry leaders. We very much appreciate the accolade from AFECA and are excited to have been recognised for our world-class facilities, quality service, outstanding customer support and sustainability practices.”

“This award reflects our commitment to product innovation and excellence, and is testament to the professionalism and dedication of our talented team members and our philosophy to be the perfect business events partner for our clients. This acknowledgement provides additional motivation for us to continue to enhance our partnership approach to deliver personalised innovative and value-add solutions that create bespoke experiences and memorable customer journeys, for clients across the board,” he concluded.

Organised by AFECA, the Department of Tourism Philippines (DOT), the Philippine Tourism Promotion Board and the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (PACEOS), the annual AFECA Asian Awards recognises and acknowledges individuals and organisations for their pursuit of excellence, industry best practices and significant contributions to the MICE or business events industry.

For all the latest news and information on the Centre, visit www.klccconventioncentre.com.

SPIN Announces 2019 40 Over 40 Winners: Industry’s First Recognition Solely for Veteran Planners

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SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network announces the 2019 recipients of the industry’s original recognition for veteran meeting planners – SPIN:40 Over 40. This initiative was created in 2017 to recognize and honor planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators, and pioneers.

“This year we have a group of 28 honorees,” said Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, SPIN’s Executive Director. “This is an evolving process and we changed some of our criteria, focusing more on giving back, innovation and accomplishments. While we had many candidates, the ones chosen best represented the qualifications we were looking for.”

SPIN’s Founder, Shawna Suckow, CMP, CSP, added, “This group of recipients represents planners with diverse backgrounds who excel in innovation and truly giving back. They’re helping the next generation learn from their examples.”

“It is an honor to be nominated and to have been selected as part of this group,” noted Stephanie Krzywanski, CMM of JR Global Events. “I’ve been drawn to this industry since college and have had the good fortune to have had many opportunities to create my own pathwithin it and to give back.”

Sally Mainprize, SMMC, CRP of Iron Peacock Events, who received multiple peer nominations, echoed that sentiment and added, “I love what I do and am humbled that my industry colleagues value my contributions. The truth is, without my mighty team, I could accomplish very little.” 

2019 SPIN:40 Over 40 Winners

Mary Margaret Armstrong, CMP, CAE – Meeting Advantage
Allison Beers – Events North
Erika Biddix, CMM, CMP – Biddix Meetings + Events
Kathy Bradley Sheldrake, CMP – KEMET Corporation
Sue Couling – University of Minnesota
Sherry DeLaGarza, CMP, CMM – Key Standards Event Management
Cori Dossett, CEM, CMP – Conferences Designed
Mozelle Goodwin, CMP, HMCC – Goodwin Consulting
Sue Gordon, CMP – EPIC Meetings & Events
Lin Guba, CMM, CMP – International Economic Development Council
Laura Hearvin, CMP, CTA – Treasures Travel & Events, LLC
Deborah Jayne – Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
Stephanie Krzywanski, CMM – JR Global Events, Inc.
Peggy Lamberton, CMP – InterAct.EVENTS
Cathi Lundgren, CAE, CMP – The Lundgren Group
Jeremy Luski – JML Worldwide
Sally Mainprize, SMMC, CRP – Iron Peacock Events
Emily Milliot, CMP, HMCC – AG Communications, LLC
Lorena Moore, CMP, CGMP – ICF International
Susan Piel, CMP – Spiel Planning
Gregory Pynes, MPA – Oncology Meeting Innovations
Jeff Rasco – Attendee Management, Inc.
Larissa Schultz, CMP, MHA, ACC – Journey-Wide Travel & Events, LLC
Brent Taylor, CMP, DES, CMM – Timewise Event Management Inc.
Cindy Thorp – MeetingsNevents, Inc.
Rose Timmerman Gitzi, CMM – RTG Special Events
Denise Waldron, CMP – Viva! Events, LLC
Julie Walker, CMP, HMCC – Choice Meetings

The honorees will each receive two complimentary registrations for SPINCon 2019 (one for the honoree, and one for their nominator or a fellow qualified planner), and they will be recognized at the conference in a ceremony amongst their peers. SPINCon 2019 will be held November 3-5, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey.

About SPIN

SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network is the world’s largest association for senior-level planners. SPIN has recently invited all hospitality professionals who have at least 10 years of experience to join their ranks. SPINCon is the annual conference for the association.