Cindy D'Aoust, COO, Meeting Professionals International, and Linda McNairy, vice president, strategic partnership management at Active Network and outgoing head of GBTA's Global Meetings Committee, collaborated on a panel on strategic meetings management.
Singer and songwriter Jewel performed some of her most popular hits, interspersed with humorous and often poignant stories from her life. The star-studded lineup of keynoters also included former First Lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator from New York, and First Lady Hillary Clinton
Michelle Guelbart, private sector project coordinator for ECPAT USA, the leading organization dedicated to stopping human trafficking.
Cecile Mutch, CCTE, GLP, senior director of corporate services, Kellogg Company, and Angie Hemming, global account manager, Americas, BCD Travel
Melissa Parker, senior global catgegory leader, and Chris Hunnes, global category manager, travel and events, Accenture
Kari Wendel, SMMC, senior director - SMM Strategy + Solutions, and Tracey Wilt, global program director, both from CWT Meetings & Events
The view from the bustling show floor. The convention brought 6,469 attendees to San Diego, including 1,531 travel buyers.
Henry Winkler, aka "The Fonz" from Happy Days, greeted guests at the World Travel booth on Tuesday, while Anson William ("Potsie") was Monday's special guest.
Wendy Dell, CMP, SMMC, director, business development, strategic meetings management, BCD M&I; Kristen Dierickx, CMP, vice president, client solutions, BCD M&I; and Ellen Connolly, director, Cablevision Systems with Barbara Scofidio, editor, MeetingsNet/corporate&incentives
Startlingly real holograms at the Hertz booth, supplied by Jack Morton, certainly grabbed attendees' attention.
The Active Network team at their booth, from left: Linda McNairy, vice president, strategic partnership management; Kevin Iwamoto, vice president, industry strategy; Betty McNulty, general manager, enterprise; Kevin O’Rourke, vice president, sales; Irene Martynova, strategic accounts manager; JR Sherman, senior vice president and general manager
Anthony Miller, vice president, industry strategy and business development: Rick Binford, vice president, strategic marketplace development
Steve Singh, president and CEO of Concur, spoke about what the conference theme, "No Boundaries," meant to him, having been raised in a small village in India.
The team leading up BCD M&I-Advito's Integrated Travel Management (ITM) initiative: Ted Stone, vice president of technology; George Odom, vice president, principal of ITM; April Bridgeman, senior vice president, BCD Travel; Scott Graf, president, BCD M&I; Bruce Morgan, senior vice president, marketing and business development, BCD M&I
