Evan Saunders founded the Tourism and Hospitality division of Azira in 2018. Azira delivers actionable insights on consumer behavior at a global scale, empowering Marketing and Operational Leaders to confidently reach, understand, market to, and measure highly targeted audiences, with over 400 destinations leveraging the company's solutions. Azira has partnered with Zartico since the company's inception. Prior to Azira, Evan founded Attract China, a tourism marketing company focused on Chinese travelers coming to America, and ran it as CEO over a four-year period, servicing 250 clients, speaking at over 30 conferences worldwide, and winning multiple industry-leading awards, including HSMAI’s Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds. An avid traveler and club sandwich enthusiast, Evan documents his adventures on his blog, ClubSandwichReviews.com.
Minto has over 30 years of tourism experience, including hotel marketing, destination management, and development. She spent 20+ years in DMO roles, most recently as CEO of Explore Waterloo Region, leading business events marketing and focusing on sports and outdoor tourism. Her career also includes roles with Hilton Canada and the provincial marketing organization in Nova Scotia. Minto has served on several industry boards, including Destination Canada, and currently sits on the boards of the Tourism Industry Associations of Canada and Ontario, and Meetings Mean Business Canada.
Linda John is Vice President Destination & Travel Practice of Fired-Up! Culture.
Linda is a Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) and a Certified Executive Coach (ACC) specializing in the use of the Birkman Assessments to help both individuals and teams. She holds memberships with Destinations International and the International Coaching Federation and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Destinations International Foundation. Linda served as Executive Director for Visit Eau Claire from 1993-2020. During her tenure at Visit Eau Claire, Linda served as Chair of the WI Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus along with numerous leadership roles within the association. Additionally, she served four governors over the course of twelve years as a member of the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Tourism.
Linda has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University in Mankato, and a Master of Science degree in Training and Human Resource Development from the University of Wisconsin Stout.
