Christine Shimasaki, CMP, CDME, has been hired by Destination Marketing Association International as managing director of EmpowerMINT.com, a new version of the association’s online resource portal that includes a database of post-event reports, among other features. Shimasaki joins from the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, which she left in May after a downsizing.

“EmpowerMINT.com has the capacity to create a virtual, national sales office for the DMO [destination marketing organization] industry. Our industry, through this platform, is poised to deliver outstanding value to meeting planners and stakeholders," said Shimasaki, who served as executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the San Diego bureau. She will oversee EmpowerMINT.com and work with Donovan Shia, DMAI's vice president of market intelligence, facilitating the development of the service, which is available only to DMAI members.

The MINT in EmpowerMINT stands for Meetings Information Network. The system contains information on more than 40,000 meetings, and includes features such as an RFP submission function; dates, rates, and space information; and lead-generation capabilities. Previously, it was known as CVB Hot Rates, but that service has been upgraded and expanded into EmpowerMINT. On May 21, DMAI leaders held a focus group to get feedback on the new EmpowerMINT from meeting planners, its key user audience. "The opportunity to manage a single profile and transact business with DMAI members is a big time-saver," said Cameron Curtis, manager of meetings at the American Association of Medical Colleges, Washington, in a press release.

Read more about EmpowerMINT.