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2022 Convention Sales & Services Summit

National Harbor map
event March 23, 2022
location_city National Harbor, MD, USA
location_on Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

The Convention Sales & Services Summit is a cross-functional gathering of sales and services professionals dedicated to helping clients plan and execute successful meetings and events. This year's summit will challenge you to think about your role and your destination differently, providing insights and information that will allow you to ensure success in the coming year.

Innovation icon
Innovation & Disruption
Stakeholders icon
Stakeholder Engagement
Business models icon
New Business Models
Recovery icon
Meetings & Events Recovery

Topics include the impacts of a shifting workforce, technological disruption, the new role of the sales and services team, overcoming destination concerns of safety, political climates and human rights, best practices for the inclusion of EDI strategies, creativity and collaboration with adjusted budgets and leveraging community stakeholders for positive economic impact.

You will not want to miss the valuable insights from industry leaders who will share best practices and case studies.

Full Agenda

Schedule subject to change.
Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET
Welcome and Overview
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM ET
Leveraging your Capital to Enhance the Planner and Visitor Experience
9:20 AM - 9:50 AM ET
Details +
The pandemic was accompanied by many obstacles and opportunities for the meetings industry. With meeting professionals focused on reevaluating the needs in their RFPs and destination organizations being eager to shift back from re-booking displacements to a proactive focus on new business, this session will provide detailed information on the five key anticipated trends for 2022 and provide insight into how to effectively market and sell to best meet the evolving needs of the meeting professional.
My Surrency headshot Mya Surrency
Co-Founder
Digital Edge
Beyond the Clutter: Presenting Your Data Insights to Stakeholders
9:55 AM - 10:35 AM ET
Details +
Have you ever felt like you've lost your audience in the middle of your sales presentation? All those slides reflecting your team's accomplishments might not resonate as intended, or perhaps your presentation lacks the clarity and focus needed to hold your audience’s attention. This informative session will help you understand how to get beyond the clutter of endless data insights and learn to focus on more curated content to gain your audience's confidence.
Presented by: Simpleview
Shimo headshot Christine "Shimo" Shimasaki, CDME, CMP
Managing Director
2Synergize a Simpleview Consulting Company
Networking Break
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM ET
Fireside Chat with Maritz Global Events
10:50 AM - 11:00 AM ET
Details +
Halle Weinberg headshot Halle Weinberg
General Manager, Destination Engagement
Maritz Global Events
Shirtsleeve Discussions and Report Out
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM ET
Details +
Break out into conversation groups at your tables to discuss the following topics: what new visitor experience services have you started offering in the last 12-24 months? What new services are you considering offering?

The discussion groups will be followed by a live report-out of key takeaways from individual tables.
The CVB and the Future of the Meetings Industry Study
11:50 PM - 12:30 PM ET
Details +
From their latest "The CVB & the Future of the Meetings Industry" study, Destination Analysts will share timely and actionable findings into the anticipated trends for the meetings and events industry, as well as the most effective marketing and advertising tactics to reach, inspire and move meeting planners to book. This session will provide:
  • An understanding of the trends driving how meetings will be considered and planned in the future.
  • Insight into meeting planners’ perceptions and use of destination organizations and how they want to work with them.
  • An overview of the resources meeting planners use in their destination research, evaluation and selection phase.
  • A deeper understanding of the messaging and creative elements that will inspire meeting planners, get their attention and differentiate a destination—across event types, business segments and meeting sizes.
Myha Gallagher headshot Myha Gallagher
Senior Director of Research
Destination Analysts
Networking Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET
Next Generation of Sales and Services: A 30 Under 30 Perspective
1:35 PM - 2:15 PM ET
Details +
Join past and present 30 Under 30 honorees as they discuss the impact of the last two years, what the RFP of the future looks like and how their teams are working to reskill to best meet the shifting needs of the business events strategist. With representatives from destinations large and small, this interactive panel will give you the opportunity to ask questions and learn from young leaders in the industry.
Fidel Mitchell headshot Fidel Mitchell, CMP (Moderator)
Customer Success Executive
Simpleview
Liana Acevedo headshot Liana Acevedo, CMP
Senior Convention Services Manager
Visit Richmond
Brandon Hall headshot Brandon Hall, CMP
Director of Sales
Discover the Palm Beaches
Bree Nidds headshot Bree Nidds
Vice President of Sales
Discover Lehigh Valley
Fireside Chat with Miles Partnership
2:15 PM - 2:25 PM ET
Details +
Melissa Cherry headshot Melissa Cherry
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and SVP
Miles Partnership
Beyond Tourism: The Far-Reaching Impact of Business Events
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM ET
Details +
Join Richard Allchild and Ksenija Polla as they discuss the impact of meetings and conventions and explore how destinations are engaging the broader ecosystem in the bidding process.
Richard Allchild headshot Richard Allchild (Moderator)
Senior Sales Manager
IMEX Group
Ksenija Polla headshot Ksenija Polla, CMP
Regional Director ICCA North America
International Congress and Convention Association
Shirtsleeve Discussions and Report Out
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM ET
Details +
Break out into conversation groups at your tables to discuss the following topics: how are you being intentional about using intellectual capital in your sales and services process?

The discussion groups will be followed by a live report-out of key takeaways from individual tables.
Take Carra Wellness Break
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM ET
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: A Staple of the RFP of the Future
3:50 PM - 4:45 PM ET
Details +
The collective events of the past two years have brought the travel and tourism industry to a place of more challenge and more opportunity than it has seen in the past. With a higher focus on community and its extended reach, the meeting professional is now faced with reevaluating the long-standing standard RFP and are including deeper social issues in their destination selection criteria. Join this panel of business events experts as they share how their organizations are evaluating and weighting a destination's commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion when making their selections for future host cities.
Rose Horcher headshot Rose Horcher, CEM, CMP (Moderator)
Vice President of Client Services
Choose Chicago
Matt Wales headshot Matt Wales, CAE, CMP
Vice President of Member Services & Events
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
LaToya Williams headshot LaToya Williams
Global Account Manager
Helms Briscoe
Alex Zapple headshot Alex Zapple, CMP, CEM, DES
Director for Meetings and Member Experience
American Society for Nephrology
Wrap Up and Good-Bye
4:45 PM - 4:50 PM ET
Happy Hour
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET

The summit is eligible for up to 7 CDME CE credits

The 2022 Convention Sales and Services Summit is eligible for up to seven (7) CDME CE credits. Learn about CDME recertification.

Hotel Information

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD, USA
+1 301-965-4000

The hotel block is now closed. Please contact the hotel directly to book your room.

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SUMMIT MODERATORS

As members of the Convention Sales & Services Committee, Rose and Richard will lead you on a journey through the latest challenges and opportunities facing sales and services professionals in today's climate of recovery and reinvention.

Rose Horcher headshot

Rose Horcher
Vice President of Client Services
Choose Chicage

Richard Allchild headshot

Richard Allchild
Senior Sales Manager
IMEX Group

Attendees by Budget

Attendees come from destinations of all shapes and sizes. The summit offers unparalleled opportunity to network with peers facing the same challenges that you are.

Attendees by Job Level

The summit is geared towards sales and services professionals who are looking for actionable strategies to increase their effectiveness in the marketplace. Take a look at the breakdown of attendees by job level.

Join the Online Community

The Online Community connects professionals from across the industry. Find users from your region or join a discussion group to discuss critical sales and services issues.
Join the Community
Convention Group
Access to the Online Community is an exclusive benefit to all staff from member organizations of Destinations International. Use your member login to access the discussions, or contact us if you need assistance.
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