About the Speakers
Bryan Alaspa
Bryan W. Alaspa is a Chicago writer and has been writing professionally full-time since 2006. He writes about Chicago minor league baseball teams for Examiner.com. He is also a regular columnist/reviewer for the website Associated Content.
Bryan joined K Squared communications, a marketing and PR firm on the northwest side of Chicago, in 2007 and he works closely with clients on both online and offline campaigns. He is also the author of six works of fiction: The Ballad of the Blue Denim Gang, The Vanished Child, Dust, Rig, Sin-Eater: Book One and Gone. He has also published several works of non-fiction including: Ghost of St. Louis: the Lemp Mansion and Other Eerie Tales, Chicago Crime Stories: Rich Gone Wrong, Forgotten Tales of Illinois and Chicago Disasters.
Alexandra Argüelles
Alexandra Argüelles serves as Director of Product Management and Consulting Services for Amadeus North America. Argüelles is responsible for directing the North America product strategy and solutions portfolio for travel distribution. She also manages sales engineering for travel agency distribution for Amadeus Americas.
In this role, Argüelles oversees the execution of product strategy and implementation throughout the product and solutions lifecycle. In addition, she ensures consulting services and sales engineering implements strategies to support the product and technical needs of a diverse customer base throughout the Americas.
As an integral part of the Amadeus North America management team, Argüelles works with executive management, development, sales and marketing to ensure product, customer satisfaction and consulting services goals are met and stay in line with the company’s overall objectives.
With more than 16 years experience, Argüelles is a seasoned travel industry director with expertise in strategic commercial relations, travel distribution and the solutions and services required by travel sellers, providers and buyers.
She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University.
Chris Austin
In June 1986 Chris Austin graduated from Bournemouth University, England and Hilton International’s Management Training Program, and joined ITT Sheraton Corporation as a Sales Executive at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel, London Heathrow Airport. Soon afterward, Chris was promoted to Assistant Banqueting & Convention Services Manager, and then to Banqueting Manager, overseeing Sheraton’s largest meeting facilities in the U.K. In April 1990 Chris moved back into sales from hotel operations, assuming the position of Account Director in the London National Sales Office for Sheraton. During this time Chris was responsible for developing the largest accounts, including American Express and a number of key U.K. tour operators.
Chris transferred to the US in 1994, assuming the position of Account Director Leisure Sales and was soon promoted to Director Leisure Sales North America. During the next four years revenues increased substantially as ITT Sheraton acquired Ciga hotels in Europe, gaining a strong Luxury Hotel footprint allowing Chris to develop with his team additional revenue enhancing opportunities with new hotels opening worldwide.
Colleen Birch
Colleen Birch is the Director of Revenue Management & Distribution for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In her role she leads the properties strategic plan of action for both short-term and long-term revenue management and distribution functions. Additionally, Colleen oversees the property’s Resort Services Contact Center. As a member of the opening team for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Colleen is responsible for introducing the new to market brand to the Leisure audience including, on and offline agencies, traditional wholesale partners as well as International accounts and receptive agencies. Prior to working in revenue management, Colleen served as a manger in both the front office, housekeeping and reservations areas of Caesars Entertainment (prior to its acquisition by Harrah's). She has a degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Roger E. Block
Roger E. Block, CTC, CFE, is president of the Travel Leaders Franchise Group, part of Travel Leaders Group – a new North American travel company that includes over 1,300 company-owned and franchised travel agencies in the United States and Canada. Mr. Block reports directly to Barry Liben, CEO of Travel Leaders Group, which is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In his current role, Mr. Block oversees the strategic development and growth of the Travel Leaders Associate Program, which includes hundreds of full-service, retail travel agencies across the U.S. These franchise locations include a mix of both business and leisure travel. Highlighting its success, the Travel Leaders Franchise Group continues to maintain its edge as the leading travel franchisor in North America. In 2010, for the 14th consecutive year, a brand within the Travel Leaders Franchise Group was named as the top travel business franchise by Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®.
Travel Leaders Franchise Group was originally known as Carlson Travel Franchise Group until early 2008, when its parent company (Carlson Leisure Group, now known as Travel Leaders Group) was spun off from travel and hospitality company, Carlson, in January 2008. As CTFG’s executive vice president, Mr. Block led what became Travel Leaders Franchise Group through this enormous change.
In addition to his leadership within Travel Leaders Franchise Group (and before that Carlson Travel Franchise Group), Mr. Block has served the overall travel industry in a variety of capacities. He was a founding member and founding officer of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Corporate Advisory Committee. He recently completed serving on the ASTA board, serving as an ASTA Executive Committee member from 2007- 2009. Previously, Mr. Block served on the board of trustees of ICTA, now The Travel Institute.
Mr. Block joined Carlson in 1997 following the acquisition of Travel Agents International (TAI) by Carlson Leisure Group, into which most TAI franchisees converted. Mr. Block was the chairman, president and founder of TAI.
Before TAI, Block was senior vice president, director and corporate treasurer of Community Banks of Florida, Inc., with responsibility for fund management of the Holding Company banks.
Bernie Blomquist, MCC, LCS, CTC
Mr. Blomquist is Manager of Training Development for CLIA. Bernie’s varied responsibilities include the scheduling of training seminars for organizations that want to acquire advanced sales and marketing skills for their members/employees, as well as assisting in the development of new classes and videos for CLIA’s ever-expanding roster of training courses. In addition, Bernie oversees CLIA’s Cruise Counsellor Certification Program. Bernie brings extensive travel experience to his position. Prior to joining CLIA in October 2000, Bernie held various key sales and marketing positions in the airline, cruise and tour industries with National Airlines, Pan American World Airlines, Regency Cruises, Premier Cruise Line, Club Med and North Atlantic Tours. Bernie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business administration and Economics from Wagner College and studies towards a Masters Degree in Marketing Management from St. John’s University; both located in New York.
Robert Buckman
Robert Buckman serves as the America's Director of Airline Distribution Strategy for travel technology leader, Amadeus IT Group, bringing a valuable combination of airline industry knowledge, travel distribution expertise, and thorough understanding of customer needs to the industry.
Based in the company’s regional headquarters, Miami, Buckman is responsible for overseeing Amadeus' commercial and product strategy for airline distribution across the America's. This includes commercial planning, product and market analysis, product planning and execution throughout the product lifecycle. By working together with management, development, sales, marketing and support and our valued customers, Buckman ensures revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met and America's airline distribution strategy supports the company's overall strategy and goals.
Buckman is a seasoned industry executive with more than 14 years experience and expertise across a variety of disciplines including supplier and corporate sales, product management, product strategy and strategic supplier commercial relations giving him a unique insight into an industry continually on the cusp of change.
Sophie Bujold
Sophie Bujold is the Internet Marketing Manager for Ensemble Travel Group Canada where she works on developing effective online marketing tools and strategies for travel agencies. She has more than eight years experience in online marketing and web development for the travel industry and has worked with agencies from both Canada and the United States. Her particular affinity for social media has lead her to work on several successful Canadian and North American marketing campaigns, many of which are still ongoing.
Sophie holds a B.A. in Communications with specialization in public relations from Université Laval and an Award of Achievement in Web Analytics from the University of British Columbia. Her unique combination of skills and knowledge help her develop and teach innovative ways for agencies to promote their brand in a rapidly changing online environment
Lorine Charles – St Jules
Based in the New York metro area, Lorine Charles-St. Jules leads the North Eastern USA Marketing, Public Relations and Sales efforts for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board. Lorine launched new non-stop airlift programs into Saint Lucia including American Airlines, US Airways and more recently, JetBlue from New York’s JFK in 2009. She led Saint Lucia in receiving the coveted “Caribbean Destination of the Year” award in 2006 and “Sexiest Honeymoon Destination” (2005, 2006 & 2007).
She was educated at the prestigious University of Strathclyde in Scotland with a Masters degree in Development Economics after obtaining the Michael Manley Academic Excellence scholarship from Caribbean Tourism Organization. She maintains an active involvement in tourism education as she regularly serves as an industry guest professional at University of New Haven in Connecticut and the New York University (NYU) in New York.
Lorine’s intimate relationship with the trade and media across the USA is widespread as she has served on several industry boards including AWTA, CTO regional Chapters (2010), LITTA TABS and maintains regular contact with the membership. She has led many media, consumer and trade programs for Saint Lucia in the last five years resulting in increased visibility and brand awareness.
She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Women in Travel and Tourism of the Americas. Her travels has taken her to most Caribbean destinations, North America, Europe and Africa. Lorine was born in Castries, Saint Lucia where she attended high school, and the University of the West Indies in the Bahamas. A regular contributor to New Jersey’s Soup Kitchen Charity outlet in the Newark, NJ area; Lorine is a former national table tennis champion for Saint Lucia and enjoys discovering red wines. She is married to Wall Street Banker Cecil St. Jules with one step daughter Ashley.
Tom Cogan, MCC, LCS, CTC
Tom Cogan is CLIA’s Director of Training. Tom joined CLIA in 1994 as Manager,Training Development. With over 25 years in the travel industry, Tom, Director of Training since 2000, spearheads the development and management of all CLIA training products and curriculum. Prior to joining CLIA, Tom held sales, marketing and operations positions with Continental Airlines, where he was a 2-time “Golden Circle” winner for top sales. Aside from travel, Tom has also worked in hotel/restaurant management and concert promotions.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from West Virginia University, and currently serves on the board for the New York Metro chapter of the WVU Alumni.
Tim Courtney
Tim Courtney serves as the Director of Franchise Development. Courtney has worked in the industry for more than 10 years beginning his career with Cruises Only as an Executive Cruise Consultant. Courtney has held various positions of increasing responsibility including training and management. Courtney held the position of General Manager at CruisesOnly from 1999 to 2001. Courtney later joined MyTravel (which became NLG/WTH) Corporate Training Team as a Manager of Corporate Training delivering training to all of its sales centers nationwide. In 2006, Courtney joined CruiseOne in a Training and Education role and helped launch the company’s online learning academy. Courtney is a certified training specialist and sales trainer.
Brett Couvillion
Brett Couvillion is Vice President of Sales for Performance Media Group, LLC, parent company of Agent@Home and VacationAgent Magazines and Travelpulse.com. Couvillion brings over 15 years experience and has been instrumental in developing strategic alliances with the travel industry’s most important hotels, resorts, cruise lines and tour-operators.
Richard Earls
Richard Earls has spent the last 21 years in the travel industry as an agency owner, a technologist, a publisher and a writer. He is currently the publisher of Travel Research Online. A serial entrepreneur, Richard believes a new breed of travel agent is ready to emerge from the masses. The days of the casual travel agent are gone and only those who take the art and science of marketing and sales to heart will truly be in demand and succeed.
Nancy Emiley
Nancy Emiley brings more than 16 years of travel industry experience with the leading travel agent leisure vacation platform, VAX VacationAccess. She has led and expanded the VAX VacationAccess Virtual University training program for the past 7 years, developing live training events, online seminars, and on-demand courses for destination tourism boards, vacation suppliers, hotel and tour companies, and the VAX VacationAccess booking platform.
Yolanda Figueroa
Mrs. Yolanda Figueroa, West Coast & Midwest Regional Sales Manager for The Puerto Rico Tourism Company based in Los Angeles, CA. She has been effectively in charge of marketing & promoting Puerto Rico for the travel trade to the US - Midwest & Western territory during the past 11 years.
Prior to this position, Mrs. Figueroa initiated her relationship with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company as a Sales Manager, four years in the territory of Washington, DC/ Virginia & Maryland successfully developing that market.
She started her career in the hospitality industry working for a series of hotels in Puerto Rico, strategically increasing the FIT, Corporate & Group market share for the Island in properties such as: Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inns & Radisson Normandie Hotel among others.
More than 18 years experience in the Puerto Rico Tourism & Hotel industry.
A background in Public Relations working in Comstat- Rowland locally in San Juan positions Yolanda as a great support to the industry partners when it comes to Puerto Rico!
BA in Marketing – Sacred Heart University in San Juan, PR
Any assistance that you need from the Puerto Rico Tourism Co – West Coast & Midwest Regions., you may reach Yolanda at (310) 867-1786 or visit the website seepuertorico.Com
Vicki Freed
Vicki Freed is Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president of Sales and Trade Support & Services.
Freed oversees the company's 345-person sales force, the largest sales team in the cruise industry. She also manages the company's Trade Support and Services division, which includes Reservations, Group Sales, Customer Service, and Loyalty Programs. Freed reports to Adam Goldstein, president and CEO.
Freed joined the company after 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she spent the last 15 years as senior vice president of Sales and Marketing. Prior to that, Freed served in a variety of sales management positions within the cruise line. From 1998 to 2000, Freed also served as the first and only female chairman of the Cruise Line International Association, the marketing and travel agent training arm of the North American cruise industry.
During her 29 years at Carnival, Freed earned numerous awards and accolades for outstanding achievement in sales and marketing, including being named Travel Trade magazine’s “Executive of the Year,” becoming the first female executive to receive that honor. Freed also received Daily Cruise News’ 2006 and 2008 Helmsman’s Award for Best Cruise Line Executive.
Freed has been appointed to serve on the Florida Commission on Tourism, a private/public partnership that is responsible for promoting Florida tourism. She also serves on the board of directors for ATME. She is a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County. Previously, she served on the board of directors for the South Florida Chapter of Make-a-Wish Foundation for nine years.
Freed earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Colorado. She also holds a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation.
Teresa Giacalone
Teresa Giacalone is Trams’ Metro NY, NJ, CT, FL and PA sales representative. Teresa graduated from State University of New York at Albany in 1986 with a degree in English and Business, and began working in the travel industry in 2000 as a sales manager for a travel insurance company.
In 2004 she began her career with Trams. In her prior life she managed law firms and also worked for an advertising agency. When not working for Trams, she can be found doing a variety of things from training for another marathon to gardening to spending time with her friends and family or her three cats.
Tara Gupta, CTC, CTIE
Tara Gupta, an author, a speaker and a trainer, is a leading force in the professional development for the Travel Industry. With over 23 years of hands-on Travel Industry experience and a background in Training and Development, Tara’s vision is "To continuously raise the bar of knowledge, skills and abilities of Travel Professionals in a dynamically changing environment where prospective clients recognize the true value of their services."
Tara turns salespeople into prized consultants who clients ask for by name! As President of Comprehensive Training Solutions, Tara offers keynote speaking, training workshops and consulting services to Travel Professionals. By freely sharing methodologies and tools that she has developed and used successfully throughout her career, she helps Travel Professionals unleash their potential to produce extraordinary results. Tara recognizes that cold-calling does not work for everybody and in every industry. She says “Strategic networking and tactically mining ones book of business produce greater results in the Travel Industry.” Tara’s book “51 Secrets of Success for the Travel Consultant” has been highly reviewed by Industry veterans.
As President of India by Design, a boutique Tour Operator for the Indian Sub-continent Tara offers highly customized, personalized and specialized journeys for the discerning traveler. Having worked in the Travel Industry both in India and the US, she understands the needs of the American traveler as well as what India has to offer! For The Travel Institute, she co-authored “Destination Specialist – India” courseware for Travel Agent Certification.
Born, raised and educated (Masters Degree) in India and Switzerland, Tara immigrated to the United States in 1991. As an active board member for PATA San Jose Chapter and National Speakers Association, Northern California Chapter, Tara enjoys planning trainings and programs for their members.
Hans Hagen
Hans Hagen joined Moneydirect as CEO in April 2010, providing the company with the broad experience he acquired from the payments industry over the past 16 years. Before joining Moneydirect as CEO, he created SmallChange, a management consulting company for the financial services industry. Prior to that, Hans was Head of International Business Development at PayEx, and he established Ukash in the UK and Spain as a leading e-commerce payment tool for online purchases using cash.
Previously, Hans spent seven years in the banking arena working for Norway’s largest bank, DnBNOR, as SVP and head of commercial card solutions. He started his career with MasterCard International in the Middle East/Africa region after having obtained his Master of Management degree from HEC, the leading French business school. His core competencies are in strategy, marketing, business development and general management. He speaks fluent Norwegian (mother tongue), French and English.
Andrea Holbrook
Andrea Holbrook is President of Holbrook Travel, a tour operator specializing in educational and natural history travel since 1974. Holbrook Travel uses its unique expertise in customizing programs, to create magical learning experiences; connecting knowledge-seeking travelers to diverse environments and cultures around the world. Company founder and ecotourism pioneer, Giovanna Holbrook, is also responsible for establishing the Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve, which protects 500 acres of primary forest in northeastern Costa Rica. Holbrook is a licensed TSP and has been working in Cuba since 2000. For Holbrook, Cuba has presented unique challenges but is ultimately a destination that presents wonderful business opportunities and exceptional options for specialty travelers.
Chelle Honiker-Yarbrough, CTC
Chelle is best described as a caffeinated, verbose, unfiltered, hard-wired, sassy geek-in-heels, comfortable both behind a speaker's podium, as well as coding websites at 3am fueled by her ever-present and much overworked automatic cappuccino machine.
Beginning her career in 1987 with Ask Mr. Foster, she quickly rose through the ranks to become a sought after travel industry technology expert, ending her corporate career in 1999 as the Director of IT and Training for a mega travel agency to form her own company, Crossover Consulting, Inc.
She now oversees the day-to-day operations of her virtual team and several distinct projects: TravelWebTraining.com, which offers it's popular "GeekSchool" course to busy travel pros; WP-TravelDesign.com, the only website design firm specializing in WordPress design and integration for travel websites; and TravelWebMarketing.com, her popular blog and best practices guide to social media and online marketing.
She is a popular speaker and dynamic presenter, breaking down the "geek-speak" into manageable steps for all levels of technology user, from technophobe to technophile. Her motto is, "If you don't know it, it's because I haven't explained it well enough." - and she really means it.
Scott Hyden
Scott Hyden is vice president, U.S. Sales, Travelport where he is responsible for leading and growing online and offline travel agency sales throughout the U.S. Prior to joining Travelport, Hyden served as president of STA Travel Inc., the largest global student and youth travel agency where he was responsible for operations in North America and Japan including oversight of retail branches, full-service call centers and two websites.
Previously, Hyden served in general manager roles for Travelocity Business, a global corporate agency and Travelweb.com. Prior to that, Hyden was with American Airlines for 10 years serving in roles of increasing responsibility including managing director, AA.com; vice president, Cargo Finance and Information Technology; vice president, Cargo Pricing and Revenue Management and manager, revenue management. He started his career working as an auditor for KPMG.
Hyden holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Scott Koepf CTC, MCC
With more than 25 years in retail travel Scott Koepf became Vice President of Sales of Avoya Travel/America’s Vacation Center, one of the largest and most awarded travel companies in North America and beyond. He previously served as President of the National Association of Career Travel Agents. Prior to his role with NACTA Scott was with Sabre Holdings as General Manager of the Jurni Consortium, TMA and the country’s largest host travel agency, Nexion. Scott was also a full-time motivational speaker and sales trainer and a consultant for various retail organizations and travel industry suppliers.
Scott opened a cruise travel agency in 1985 and in 1989 became President of Cruise Holidays International. Scott was responsible for taking the franchise company from 12 franchises to over 120. In 1991 he returned to owning an agency which quickly became one of the top cruise selling agencies in the country.
Scott began his career in commercial real estate but Scott’s passion for travel lead him over the next few years to jobs as Entertainment Director for Club Med at various locations throughout the world, a Physical Education Teacher in South Africa and as an entertainer on cruise ships with his wife.
Scott has two college degrees from the University of Nevada in Reno including a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He is still active in theatre when time permits, having won best actor awards in both Northern and Southern California. He now lives in the Fort Worth area of Texas with his wife Pam and their three daughters (who surprisingly all love travel and theatre!)
Kate Koziol
Kate Koziol brings 20 years of experience to her work with social networking, marketing and public relations clients. Named Women Business Owner Star by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council in recognition of entrepreneurial leadership and professional excellence, Kate brings her senior executive experience to a wide range of organizations, from entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Kate developed an inside and in-depth understanding of business communications working for industry leaders such as United Airlines and Westvaco. Kate also worked for business-to-business e-marketing pioneers such as Apollo Travel Services and Galileo International. Kate has held a variety of management positions including market management, corporate communications, sales and training development.
Kate is a featured presenter at business conferences nationwide on a wide range of marketing, public relations and business communications topics such as: “The Latest in Social Networking for Business,” “The Brand of You,” “Using Public Relations to Build Your Profits,” “Million Dollar Marketing Ideas That Won’t Cost a Million,” “Beyond Branding,” “Super-sizing your Sales,” “Facebook Your Way to More Sales,” and “Maximizing Your Tradeshow Investment.” She has conducted keynote presentations and workshops at conferences and educational institutions nationwide. Kate is a summa cum laude graduate of the CUNY Baccalaureate program with a B.S. in Acting and Directing.
Adam Lapsevich
Adam Lapsevich, co-founder of Digital Design, is an online technology and marketing expert. His background includes not only technology and marketing, but over 15 years in the cruise line sales and marketing. He understands the plight of today's travel agent and has incredible ideas when it comes to marketing travel online.
Adam has been a featured speaker at various travel and non-travel events across the United States. In October 2009, he was a speaker for COSE, the Council on Smaller Enterprises in Cleveland for the annual Small Business Convention held at Cleveland's International Exposition Center (IX Center). He was a featured speaker for both the 2009 MAST (Midwest Agents Selling Travel) annual conference in Las Vegas and the Cruise Planners 2009 annual conference in Fort Lauderdale in November 2009. He spoke at the STIA (Suncoast Travel Industry Association) in Tampa in February 2010 as well as for the Public Relations Society of America, Akron, Ohio chapter at Kent State University in April 2010.
Peter Maltby
Peter currently is responsible for the Hilton Field Sales team efforts in the US and oversees a team of sales professionals which calls on Travel Agencies in defined areas. He is also responsible for Hilton’s participation in the Unlimited Budget, travel agent loyalty program as well as Hilton’s ASTA partnership. He has been with Hilton Worldwide for over 13 years and started his career with Thistle Hotels and then Virgin Hotels based in the UK before moving
Debbie Maier
Debbie Maier began her career in the travel industry in 1990, while earning a degree from West Virginia University she was creating a footprint for her future by gaining experience within the industry. Upon graduation her career was placed on the fast track, having the opportunity to join SMART Travel Technologies, which in turn gave her the ability to know and learn a business from the ground up. She later earned her Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) from the Travel Institute and is currently a member of the advisory board for Platinum Luxury Society.
Debbie is the active President of Mailpound, located in Marlton, New Jersey. MailPound offers travel agents custom marketing tools at their fingertips while offering access to hundreds of supplier resources. Debbie’s vision is to connect travel suppliers with travel agents through education and technology to achieve success within the industry.
MailPound has grown and created a unique platform for agents by offering the latest in customized marketing tools including personalized eFlyers, custom eBrochures, online seminars, websites, and weekly sweepstakes for members.
to Canada in 2000.
Joe Maniscalco
Joe is the Regional Sales Director for the Northeast at Auto Eruope. He has more than thirty years experience covering all facets of the travel industry and have been with Auto Europe for the past fifteen years.
Mark McMullen, CTC, PLS1
Mark has over 30 years of advertising, sales and marketing experience working with major Fortune 500 companies, including many leading organizations in the travel industry. Mark has been a travel industry consultant and has conducted travel industry training and education programs for over 19 years. His areas of expertise include sales development, marketing, management, leadership, motivation and presentation skills development. Mark is former owner of a cruise-oriented travel agency. Mark recently reprinted an updated version of his book “Strategies for Selling More Successfully”. This book is written exclusively for travel agents and managers/owners and offers practical tips on how to increase all aspects of leisure travel sales. Some key subject areas include increasing luxury sales, finding more group prospects, how to effectively close more sales, and how to be a pro at upselling to put more money in your pocket. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management and in addition to being an EVP at an International integrated marketing firm – The Integer Group - is an adjunct professor of business, marketing and management at several universities.
Jeni Miller
Jeni Miller, Client Services Manager, has been with the K Squared Team since 2005 bringing energy and insight to the already magnetic and charismatic crew. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Concordia University in Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Theology, with emphasis on Public Relations. She also recently wrestled a Master of Arts in Theology degree out of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. Jeni previously worked as Director of Marketing for American Senior Communities, focusing on community marketing and sales, and also gained experience and in-depth knowledge of marketing communications at Franklin Connections, LP in El Paso, Texas. At K Squared Communications, she handles media relations for several key accounts, directs editorial copy development, coordinates online marketing programs and manages presentation consultation and development.
Randy Mohr, CTC
Randy has been with AvisBudget Group for nearly a decade managing a team committed to expanding travel agent partnership relationships.
Prior to ABG, Randy worked with Global Vacation Group as a General manager and director of marketing for Mayflower Tours, American Orient Express and Citicorp Diners Club.
Narciso A. Moreno Beiso
He started as a Sales Manager in Philadelphia for 4 years, promoted to NE Regional Director until present & in between had the opportunity to be Director of Operations for the PRTC in the US & Canada for 4 years.
Previously, he worked at the Caribe Hilton International Hotel in several Departments for 7 years & prior to that at a Restaurant.
He is and had been involved with various Associations & organizations in the Industry like ASTA, CTO, OSSN & PTANA.
Actually, he’s a member of ASTA Mid America Chapter Advisory Board & done it for the past 5 years.
His passion for the Industry is reflected in his hobbies; traveling, Cooking & adventure activities.
He invites you to visit and seepuertorico.com
Shawn Murphey
A business foundation of 8 years at Goldman Sachs led Shawn to Travel Tribe. Since 2008 Shawn has directed online sales for Travel Tribe. In this role Shawn interacts with agents, consumers, suppliers and destinations throughout the world.
Tom Nibbio
Tom Nibbio is the Manager of Partnership Development for IGLTA. Over the past 5+ years, Tom has worked closely with IGLTA’s President & CEO, John Tanzella, located at the IGLTA World Headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL in order to continually grow IGLTA globally.
Mr. Nibbio is based in Chicago and focuses on the development of partnerships (corporate sponsorships), which helps to generate revenue to support this global non-profit organization. Tom also oversees IGLTA’s entire Global Sales & Marketing Team, which includes 20 worldwide Ambassadors.
Tom graduated with a B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University and received his MA in Education at the University of South Florida. Prior to working for IGLTA, Tom spent 6 years as a Tourism Representative for Visit Florida. During his 20+ years in the travel industry he has also served as a manager and director of marketing for AAA and other major travel agencies and businesses.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association has over 2,220 memberships spanning 80+ countries comprised of accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, destinations, media and other key players in the tourism industry. Since 1983, IGLTA has worked to help the tourism industry reach LGBT travelers and learn more about this market. IGLTA has staff and representatives in 19 countries and is the leading global organization dedicated to connecting businesses in the LGBT tourism industry while also being the official gay tourism resource for consumers worldwide.
For more information regarding the IGLTA visit www.IGLTA.org
Joanie Ogg
Joanie Ogg is a 35+ year travel industry executive that has been recognized by all facets of the travel industry. She was voted “Travel Agent of the Year” by her peers, and received two “Lifetime Achievement Awards” from Travel Trade Magazine.
She has been named three years running as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Travel“ by Travel Agent Magazine. Most recently Joanie was inducted into the CLIA “Hall of Fame” an honor only given to the most influential executives in the industry.
Joanie is a Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) and a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). Joanie has co-authored three popular travel industry books for cruise specialists and home-based travel agents and has authored hundreds of travel trade articles. She has inspired tens of thousands of travel agents attending her presentations and keynotes at trade events, cruise seminars, international trade gatherings and numerous local educational venues throughout the United States.
She is the principal of Joanie Ogg Marketing Group, which specializes in consulting and speaking on the topic of Home-Based Travel. She also provides marketing and sales for wide variety of products under the umbrella www.HomeBasedTravelAgent.com. Joanie’s ongoing support of the home-based travel agency community and professionalism continue on behalf of home based travel professionals everywhere.
Tom Ogg
Tom is a 40-year travel industry veteran and has owned numerous brick and mortar retail travel agencies, a wholesale Hawaii tour company, started one of the first reputable host agency models, together with his wife Joanie, acquired and built NACTA and subsequently sold it to ASTA. Tom has authored several travel industry books including “How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency” among others.
Tom has been involved with the Internet since Usenet’s earliest days. He founded and subsequently sold the Internet’s #1 Cruise and Port Review portal (www.CruiseReviews.com and www.PortReviews.com.) You can see Tom build his current cruise and port projects using the techniques and methodology that he teaches in his seminars at www.eCruiseReviews.com and www.ePortReviews.com.
Today, Tom and his wife Joanie operate www.HomeBasedTravelAgent.com and offer solutions for all home based travel professionals. The wildly successful social community for home based travel agents www.HBTACommunity.com is considered to be the most professional social network available to travel professionals. An entrepreneur at heart, Tom believes that this is the finest moment for travel professionals willing to embrace today’s technologies and opportunities.
Camille Olivere
Camille Olivere joined Norwegian Cruise Line in March 2009. As Vice President, Sales, Olivere is responsible for leading the company’s North American travel agency sales channel which represents the vast majority of the company’s bookings.
Prior to joining Norwegian, Olivere held a number of senior sales positions at Travelport, a leading provider of business services to travel and travel-related businesses worldwide. Most recently, she served as Travelport’s Vice President, Sales, Global e-Commerce division. Prior to that, as a result of the merger of Worldspan and Galileo, she headed up the team that designed and implemented the new global commercial organization. Olivere also led high performance sales teams at Oracle, Rosenbluth International Travel (now American Express), Signature Group (now GE Financial) and United Airlines.
Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Olivere now resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her husband and son. She also has two children attending college at University of California Berkeley and DePaul University in Chicago. Olivere holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Michigan.
Megan Patrick
Megan Patrick is the Marketing Manager for the Tourism Authority of Thailand where she promotes Thailand as the preferred destination of Americans traveling to Asia. In addition to visiting her superiors in Bangkok five times per year, she works in New York City to identify distinctive Thai products, key target segments and develop effective methods for communicating the Thailand brand. Ms. Patrick holds both bachelor and graduate degrees in international affairs from Northwestern University and Columbia University, respectively.
John Pittman
John Pittman is Vice President of Industry Affairs, Consumer Affairs, and Research at ASTA. He works closely with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), airlines, federal and state agencies, consumer groups, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) and technology vendors.
Pittman has been a member of the Airlines Reporting Corporation’s (ARC) Interactive Agent Reporting Agent Working Group (IAR-AWG) since 1995. He also participates in ARC’s Joint Advisory Board – Agent Reporting Agreement (JAB-ARA) meetings and is a Board Member of the Travel Agent Arbiter Program (TAAP). Additionally, as a Subject Matter Expert, he has worked with ARC to develop its Certified ARC Specialist (CAS) exam. He is also a member of the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA).
John Pittman joined ASTA in February of 1995 with more than 12 years of travel professional experience. Prior to his arrival at ASTA, he worked at Omega World Travel in Fairfax, Virginia as Regional Manager/Director On-Site Services, where he was responsible for the management and profitability of Omega’s corporate and government on-site travel offices.
Pittman has a B.A. in Political Science and German from James Madison University in Virginia. In May 2005 he completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with honors at Wilmington College in Delaware.
Humberto Rivero
In 1981 Humberto Rivero began his career in the aviation industry working for Korean Airlines in New York City. Four years later he joined the Eastern Airlines Latin American Sales team and soon afterwards became the sales manager of its reservation system, System One.
In 1989 Mr. Rivero became a Regional Sales Manager for Continental Airlines and was responsible for sales in the Northeast, Tri State area. Several years later, he joined BWIA International Airways as Director of Sales and Operations in New York. In this position he participated as one of the directors assisting the government of Trinidad in the privatization of BWIA.
Three years later he joined United Airlines as District Sales Manager in Miami. Eventually Mr. Rivero caught the eye of American Airlines where he was offered a position as Sales Manager for Latin America for SABRE. Shortly after, Mr. Rivero accepted a position in the Passenger Sales Department as District Manager and continued his career at American as Regional Manager for Reservations and Customer Service Centers in the Americas. In May 2000 he was appointed Managing Director for the Caribbean Region, responsible for the complete operation of 17 Caribbean countries; later his duties also included operations in Mexico and Central America for the MCLA Division.
After 29 years of consistently exceeding expectations and goals in the areas of sales, marketing, reservations and operations, Mr. Rivero joined IATA in October 2004 as the Regional Director for the Americas. He also heads the IATAN organization in the U.S. and promotes the IATAN Accreditation and I.D. program.
In January 2005 he became the leader of the innovative Regional Coordination Team (RCT), one of the pilot teams in IATA.
Gail Sayadian
Gail Sayadian is the director of global leisure sales within the Global Sales department at Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH). A veteran with more than 25 years of experience at Choice hotels, Ms. Sayadian is responsible for overseeing the leisure travel segment, including wholesale, group tour/motorcoach, AAA and leisure travel agencies.
During her tenure at Choice, Ms. Sayadian has developed innovative programs and value-added services for the group and wholesale travel segments. In particular, she created and implemented the company’s award-winning contracting department, established a tiered group rate program, instituted the concept of immediate group rate and room confirmation through online inventory, developed an automated direct bill program for the wholesale FIT rate program, and launched a meeting site on Choice’s web site. She most recently served as director of marketing and sales for groups, tours and meetings, overseeing those segments of the travel industry across the company’s hotel brands, successfully launching an electronic RFP tool for contracting FIT business.
Ms. Sayadian was also instrumental in the launch of the company’s extended stay hotel brand, MainStay Suites, including overseeing telemarketing research and the brand’s pre-opening sales team.
Ms. Sayadian holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maryland.
Choice Hotels International is one of the largest hotel companies in the world, with more than 6,000 hotels open worldwide, representing more than 485,000 rooms, in more than 30 countries and territories. Choice hotel properties range from limited service to full service, economy, mid-priced, and upscale hotels, which cater to both leisure and business travelers.
The company’s 10 brands include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels. The company’s headquarters are in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Steve Tracas
Steven Tracas is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vacation.com – North America’s largest vacation selling network – with member locations throughout the United States and Canada. Tracas joined Vacation.com in 2006.
Tracas has an extensive background within the travel industry with experience in distribution, electronic commerce, online sales and aviation. Prior to joining Vacation.com, Tracas served as President of Orbitz for Business, based in Chicago. Tracas was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business including strategy, business development, technology, marketing and sales. In 2004, Orbitz for Business received the Chicago Sun-Times Innovation Award.
Before joining Orbitz, Tracas served as Vice President for US Airways from 1997-2004 based in Alexandria, Virginia. While at US Airways, Tracas led the team that developed usairways.com which was recognized by eMarketer and NPD New Media Services as the #1 airline Web site. Tracas was also responsible for corporate and travel agency sales, airline distribution, electronic commerce, marketing and global Cargo operations.
Previously, Tracas held a number of leadership positions during his 19-year career with AMR Corporation including positions at American Airlines and the Sabre Group. He joined AMR in 1978 and held positions in San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles and Dallas, progressing to Managing Director Passenger Sales for American Airlines covering the Western United States.
Tracas also served as Managing Director for the Sabre Group from 1990 until 1995, responsible for agency GDS sales and training within the Western United States and later oversaw Sabre’s National Account agency program.
Tracas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Technology from Arizona State University in Tempe. His wife Stevi and their two daughters reside in Reston, Virginia.
Arnie Weissmann
Arnie Weissmann has been involved in virtually every aspect of travel journalism, publishing and media for the past 25 years. His writing has won more than 40 national awards, he created the industry's first destination information service (Weissmann Travel Reports), authored a best-selling textbook and has served as publisher of critical hotel and destination guides for the travel industry.
Weissmann was also a web pioneer, creating the first core destination content for America Online and licensing web content to Apple, Time, Inc, CNN, Marriott International among others. Weissmann Travel Reports was sold to Reed Elsevier in 1996, whereupon Weissmann took responsibility for Star Service (critical hotel and cruise reviews), Official Hotel Guide Worldwide and a dozen OAG-branded publications in the UK. In 1999, he took on the role of senior advisor for business development with RTG's successor company, Northstar Travel Media.
In October 2001, he was appointed editor in chief of Travel Weekly, the primary source of news, research, analysis and opinion in for the US travel community. In March 2010, he was also given responsibility for Business Travel News, with the title Editorial Director. Weissmann’s comments have appeared on NBC, CNN, BBC and NPR, and he is often quoted in newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He sits on many advisory boards, including, the UN Foundation's Steering Committee for the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, ForbesTraveler.com, Futurebrand and Marquis' Who's Who, and has been a guest lecturer at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Kevin J. Wright
Kevin J. Wright, President of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), is one of the world’s most recognized religious travel and hospitality authorities. As the leading global network for the 300 million religious traveler industry, WRTA represents organizations and professionals from 30-plus countries on six continents. A fifteen-year veteran of the travel industry, Wright has traveled to 30-plus countries, visited more than 300 places of pilgrimage, authored four travel guidebooks, writes for numerous publications, serves as a monthly radio guest contributor, and has spoken at major travel and tourism events throughout North America and around the worldIn 2004, Wright launched the very successful and high profile Religious Travel Division at Globus, one of the world’s largest escorted travel companies. As one of the most sought-out religious travel authorities globally, Wright has been interviewed by CBS The Early Show, TIME Magazine, USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, National Geographic, National Public Radio (NPR), Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Forbes Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, London Times, Arabian Business, El Pais (Spain’s leading daily newspaper), Financial Express (India), and dozens of other travel and religious media.
