Could I be any more thrilled and excited and over-the-top goofy about being named the winner of Ovation Global DMC's 2013 Huggability award? No, I don't think I could! It was so cool just being nominated last year, and then to be nominated again this year was awesome. I couldn't be at their booth at IMEX yesterday to accept in person, but it looks like they found a few ways around that—love the face paddle thingies! What a cool way to bring in someone who couldn't be there in person.
It's a little unclear exactly what is being recognized (the site says I was nominated for "being ‘bright, intelligent and cultured’ and for ‘delivering great content to the meetings industry for many years.’" I'll take it! And I get to join the ranks of previous Huggabiles including new CIC Hall of Famer Eduardo Chaillo, former executive director of meetings with the Mexico Tourism Board (who I finally met in person at MPI this summer, and he is a very huggable guy); Samme Allen, MPI UK & Ireland president; Barbara Albrecht, managing director of the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau; and Rob Davidson, senior lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster in London.
And here's my dorky acceptance speech, delivered via video:
I may just have to celebrate by starting a "free hugs campaign" of my own at the next industry event I go to, which is probably going to be PCMA in Boston in a couple of months...