Destinations International Announces Director of Education, Sales and Services
Position a first for the association.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Caitlyn Blizzard
[email protected]
1.202.835.4202
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Washington, D.C., USA (January 18, 2022) – Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), today announced Emily Scheiderer has joined the association as the director of education, sales and services, effective January 18, 2022. This is a newly created role to focus on and support the convention sales and services sector of our industry.
Emily’s role will include assisting with the development of a comprehensive sales education and training strategy for the association, managing the development and administration of convention sales and services education and training programs, overseeing the business events strategy and serving as staff liaison to the Convention Sales and Services Committee and Large Market Roundtable to help drive the work of those committees forward.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily to the team to lead our convention sales and services education and business events strategy,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “Emily’s experience within our industry will be a valuable resource for our association and our members, especially as we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic and its impact on meetings and events.”
“Having someone focused on the business events strategy on behalf of destination organization members has never been more important as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” said Dustin Arnheim, vice president of sales and convention services at Visit Baltimore and co-chair of the Destinations International Convention Sales and Services Committee. “On behalf of the Destinations International Convention Sales and Services Committee, we are thrilled to have her leading the charge on strategies to move our industry forward. Emily brings the energy, passion, and collaborative mindset that this position needs.”
“I am grateful for all of the opportunities the travel and tourism industry has provided me,” said Scheiderer. “I am excited to enter this new role with Destinations International and continue to be a part of such a resilient community with unlimited potential.”
Scheiderer is a hospitality enthusiast with a background that includes both destination organization and hotel experience. Emily’s passion for inclusivity has driven her to make meaningful connections both in and out of the industry, including a two-year commitment to the ISAE Government Affairs committee and serving as an ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s ResearcHERS campaign. As a self-described “data nerd,” she enjoys any opportunity to expand her mind and learn.
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About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About the Author

About the Author
With a passion for advancing destinations and the travel and tourism industry worldwide, Caitlyn Blizzard has over 10 years of experience in the destination organization sector.
As the vice president of communications at Destinations International, the global trade association for convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards, Blizzard leads the organization’s strategic communications which includes managing the external and industry-focused messaging.
Prior to joining Destinations International, Blizzard spent five years at a mid-size CVB in Georgia leading the organization’s public relations and communications efforts which included working with local, regional and national media to promote the city as a premier destination.
When she isn’t checking off another bucket list destination on her travel list, Blizzard serves the D.C. community volunteering through the Junior League of Washington, is an avid reader, and enjoys playing tennis and exploring new attractions and restaurants.
Blizzard is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and serves on the Executive Committee for the PRSA Travel and Tourism Section and volunteers on the professional development committee for the PRSA National Chapter. She enjoys learning from peers at industry events and has had the opportunity to speak at several conferences including the Governor’s Conferences for Visit Florida and Visit North Carolina.
Blizzard is a Florida native with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida.