executive vice president

Covering the Inbound Tourism Industry Since 1996

IPW 2019: An Album—Images from IPW’s Five Days

June 11, 2019 by Tom Berrigan

Day One: Arrivals, Registrations, and Private Events

IPW volunteer Shao Chun directs arriving visitor to buses outside baggage claim area at LAX.

Jo Thomas, UK public relations representative for U.S. Travel Association, registers a journalist in the IPW press room.

Press room volunteers from the tourism industry in Anaheim (left-to-right): Barbara McClellan, Chris Nuccio; and Louise Shumbris.

More volunteers from the Anaheim tourism community: Kim Painter (left) and Junko Ikeda, who were ready to answer questions near the general registration area.

Kelly Hoang, global sales and services coordinator, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism.

From Group Sales Box Office (left to right): Anthony Barone, group sales manager; Renato Rufino, director of international group sales; and Brenden Rogers, head of strategy and partnerships.

Gonzalo del Rio, director of groups and incentive travel, American Executive International.

Greeting an IPW registrant is Valerie Hutchinson, membership assistant for US Travel, as well as its longest-serving employee.

At the IPW information desk is another long-time US Travel employee—Shelley Conway, director of meeting & event services.

For Karla Sweeney, area director of sales for Courtyard by Marriott, It’s a nice day in San Diego—even if it’s a background photo at the California Plaza pop-up exhibit outside the Anaheim Convention Center.

He sure looks a lot like Tom Cruise, even if his name is Jerome LeBlanc and he is an impersonator.

Sherrie Anderson is an event coordinator for Visit California.

Rod LaBranche (left), director of travel industry sales, Historic Tours of America; and Jay Judal, director of outside sales, sales & marketing, San Diego Zoo Global.

Left to right: Kevin Costello, president and CEO of Corning & The Finger Lakes; Melissa Rose, group sales manager, Corning Museum of Glass; and Larry Kushner, photographer and correspondent for Tourism World magazine.

At a press event sponsored by New York City & Company and The Empire State Observatory are (left to right): Stephen Braun, marketing manager for tourism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Lisa Tejeda, director, tourism market development, Latin America and & USA Hispanic Market, New York City & Company; and Nora Vetter, manager, tourism development, New York City & Company.

From New City & Company (left to right): Janette Roush, managing director, marketing; John A. Marshall, director of tourism development, established markets—USA & Canada; and Arun K. Govada, director, tourism marketing development—Asia-Pacific.

Fred Dixon (right), president and CEO, New York City & Company; and Jean-Yves Ghazi, senior vice president of the Empire State Building Observatory.

Day Two: More Arrivals and Registrations, Brand USA’s Marketing Outlook Session, Connect Travel’s Crowded Reception, and Opening Night Party at Disney

A Band of Seven from Brand USA—but one is a Guess Who from NYC & Company (left to right): Bhakiva Jariwala, director, travel trade, Sartha Global Marketing; Sunil Puri, joint managing director, Sartha Global Marketing; Sheema Vohra, managing director, Sartha Global Marketing; Yi Louis Lu, senior manager, global trade development, Brand USA; Jackie Ennis, senior director, global trade development, Brand USA; Makiko Matsuda Healy, managing director, tourism market development, New York City & Company; and James Huang, regional director and Brand USA consultant.

Old friends and colleagues Keri Hanson, director of tourism, international marketing director, Macy’s; and Stephen Braun, marketing manager for tourism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and formerly of Macy’s.

Tom Norwalk (left), president & CEO of Visit Seattle; and Bill Talbert, president & CEO of the Greater Miami CVB.

Gathered together just before their marketing update sessions are (left to right): Sheema Vohra, managing director, Sartha Global Marketing; Ava Mehta, sales and marketing account director, Hills Balfour, London; and Sam Hancock, strategic UK & European Director, Brand USA (Hills Balfour).

Just prior to the cutting of the ribbon formally opening the California Plaza right near the Anaheim Convention Center are Jay Burress (left) president and CEO of Visit Anaheim; and Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

Scene just after the opening of the extraordinarily popular California Plaza just outside the Anaheim Convention Center.

Mike Gallagher, co-founder and co-chairman of CityPASS.

Cynthia Schmitt, director of international sales and marketing, Citadel Outlets; and Laura Winterhalter, regional marketing manager-West, Tommy Hilfiger.

From California’s Six Flags Magic Mountain are Ginger Hoolahan (left), senior sales executive, tourism development; and Teresa Stamoulis, consultant.

Juliana Baraldi, trade manager, Visit California; and Phil Hannes, senior director of tourism development, San Diego Tourism Authority.

Representing the Sawgrass Recreation Park: Nicole Tharp (left), director of client services; and Melissa Auld Soverns, chief operating officer.

From East West Marketing Corp. are Daniel Shen (left), chairman and founder; and Kiko Chen. They are joined by Nicholas An, who works with the travel trade for ChinaPro.

Left to right: Ben Maxion, sales manager, Visit Oakland; Betsy Cooper, director of TourOperatorLand.com and partner engagement, Connect Travel; and Mark Everton, president and CEO of Visit Oakland

Jeanette Guire (left), travel trade representative, Roaring Camp Railroads; and Dennis L. Swayne, business development manager, Blue & Gold Fleet.

Fernando Harb (left), senior director of sales, Connect Travel; and Jake Steinman, founder of the eTourism Summit and the NAJ Group.

Will Seccombe (right), president of Connect Travel joins (eft to right): David Lydia, tourism director, Aventura Mall; Denise Arencibia, partner and marketing diva, Spotlight Marketing and Public Relations; and Alejandro Herrera, president of Zimple Rentals

Left to right: Richard W. Peterson, president and CEO, US Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council; Betsy Cooper, director of TourOperatorLand.com and partner engagement, Connect Travel; and Charles Schuler, director of marketing and communications, external affairs, San Francisco International Airport.

Terri Dennison (left), executive director, PA Route 6 Alliance; and Ann M. Pilcher, tourism sales manager, Pocono Mountains CVB.

Left to right: From Orlando-based Go Pegasus are (left to right): Claudia Menezes, vice president/chief marketing officer; Fernando Pereira, president and CEO; and Fernanda Vanetta, business development/CFO.

Roxanna Torrens, senior director of travel industry sales, earlenterprises; and her colleague from the company, Jim Deliman, national sales director.

Mariana Manigold, sales and marketing director, Brazil and Canada, for Juniper.

Tara Hippensteel, director of tour & travel, Hard Rock Café; and Tomás Rey, president Rey Royal (tours).

Disneyland greets visitors from IPW 2019.

From the International Inbound Travel Association are Rebecca M. Barnes (left), public relations and marketing projects manager; and Beth C. Pope (center), and they are joined by tourism consultant Cathleen M. Johnson

From the Great Rivers County Regional Tourism Development office in Illinois are Roger Carmack (left) and John Haas.

Representing the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY., are (left to right): Regina Wagner, guest services and sales; Melissa Rose, group sales manager; and Beth Duane chief marketing and communications officer.

With Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle in the background are: Patty Thornton, director group and leisure sales, Marriott Vacation Club; and Rigoberto “Ricky” Villeda, national resort sales manager for Vistana.

Day Three: A Busy Day with a Brand USA News Conference and the Media Marketplace and More

Preparing for his annual report and news conference at IPW is Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA.

Waiting in the front row for the Brand USA news conference to begin are (left to right): Jay Burress,, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim; Jennifer Andrew, senior director, Americas, Expedia Media Solutions; Mike Gallagher, co-founder and co-chairman of CityPASS; and Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB. Gallagher and Edmiston are members of Brand USA’s board of directors

From the Richard Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California are: Ally Fitzgerald, digital marketing manager; and Joe Lopez, communications director.

Representing the Orlando Magic NBA team are: Marie Heikkinen Webb, assistant director of marketing; and Haley Meier, director of tourism and group sales.

Deborah Wakefield, vice president of communications and public relations, CityPASS.

Greg Staley, senior vice president, communications, US Travel, with Ernest Wooden Jr., president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board as Staley explains to a VIP delegation from Los Angeles the function of the Media Marketplace at IPW. Los Angeles, which has hosted IPW on six different occasions—the last being 2012—is slated to host IPW again in 2024.

Sienna Spencer-Markles, public relations manager for McCue.

Matthew Maxey, public relations manager, Franklin, Tennessee.

Representing the Las Vegas Monorail are: Laura Esfeller (left), director of marketing; and Ingrid Reisman, senior vice president & chief marketing officer.

Scott Gediman is public affairs officer for Yosemite National Park.

Gina Marr-Hiemstra, vice president Marin (California) CVB.

Robin McClain, senior vice president of communications, Destination DC.

From Visit Philadelphia, we have Arturo Varela, public relations manager; and Deirdre Childress Hopkins, director of public relations.

Left to right: Megan Allen, City PASS President and CEO; Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA; Jonathan Thompson, journalist for The Times (UK) and winner of a Discover America Travel Writing Award for his destination piece on Charleston; Mike Morey and Mike Gallagher, City PASS co-founders and co-chairmen; and Roger Dow, president and CEO, U.S. Travel Association.

Left to right: Marla Cichowski, vice president of media relations, TimeZoneOne, on assignment for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Laura Powell, who is pundit-in-chief for the Daily Suitcase; and Julie Sur, who is part of the public relations team for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Overhead view of the California Plaza, a very popular gathering place for IPW 2019 delegates.

Berry Yu, product manager for the vacation business department of Ctrip, becomes friendly with one of the therapy dogs who visited California Plaza.

Day Four: IPW’s Longest Day, Filled with Booth Appointments and, for Journalists, News Conferences

Cathy Reynolds, US Travel’s media relations manager and lead manager, IPW press operations, shows what’s ahead for the journalists who cover IPW.

Yes, Jacob Anderson-Minshall, deputy editor of The Advocate, a Hemet, California-based publication, is well aware of the looks he gets with his black-and-white, Imperial Storm Trooper-themed suit.

George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, gives a report on what’s new and what to expect this year and next at the theme park capital of the world.

Waiting to give their reports at the U.S. Travel Association’s news conference are Elliot Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC and Tori Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy at the U.S. Travel Association.

PANROTAS, the dominant travel media company in Brazil, is represented by José Guilherme Alcorta, CEO; and Heloisa Prass, market and events director.

Judith Harris, vice president, member services, US Travel, next month will mark 28 years with the association.

Searching for love outside a news conference is Adam Davy, publisher of vacations and travel.

Showing how easy it is to make contact with a neighboring booth is Bob Gilbert, country manager, head of sales, North America, for Rezdy.

Greg Marshall, market development advisor for Visit Rochester; and Christopher Guidone, program manager for Wine, Water & Wonders of Upstate New York.

Yes, they are related: Mike Gallagher (right), co-founder and co-chairman of CityPASS; and Brian Gallagher, director, program management & business development at CityPASS.

It’s all about shopping—left to right: Rose M. Hapanowich, director of travel and tourism, Destiny USA; Denise Thevenot, executive director, Shop Louisiana; Rosemary McCormick, president Shop America Alliance; and Leslie Lundin, LBG Real Estate Companies.

Ray Thomas, president, City Tours.

Armindo Ferreira, managing director EMI Global USA; and Tereza Reis, president, Personal RGE Tours.

Richard Launder (left), president and CEO, Discover America; and Meg Mehta, Destination America’s director, business development.

Showing visitors to the Connect Travel booth how to access the TourOperatorLand.com website is Betsy Cooper, director of TourOperatorLand.com and partner engagement.

Explaining Jeenie, the ubiquitous, real-time translation service at IPW, is the company’s CEO and co-founder, Kristen Brecht Baker; and Hans Fenstermacher, global talent ambassador.

Long-time executive vice president of NTA—and now president-designate—Catherine Prather, along with Juan Pablo Hernández Belío, director general, Global Com Group.

Guillermo Alcorta, president of the Brazilian travel media and events company PANROTAS, with INBOUND’s managing editor. The two first met at IPW in 1986 in Phoenix.

Day Five: US Travel President and CEO Roger Dow Visits his Favorite Booth on IPW’s Last Day

Roger Dow (second from right), president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, stops at his favorite IPW booth and joins Connect Travel’s Betsy Cooper (left), director of TourOperatorLand.com and partner engagement; Shari Bailey, vice president of Connect Travel; and Fernando Harb, senior director of sales, Connect Travel.

Holding down one half of the Visit Sacramento booth are: John G. Reyes (right), chief operating officer; and Nick Leonti, director of tourism.

Holding down the other half of the Visit Sacramento booth are: Linda Eldred, tourism manager; and Matthew Guillory, tourism marketing manager.

Larry Cohen (left), president, Northeast Media, Inc.; and Alfredo Gonzalez, founding partner, AG Hospitality Group.

From New York City’s Hotel Beacon: Alexandra Rodriguez, director of sales and marketing; and Thomas J. Travers, general manager.

Carolyn J. Feimster, travel and tourism manager, SHOP*DINE*PLAY*USA,

Jeff Karnes, executive vice president, New World Travel

Ambassadors for New Jersey: Jennifer M. Costa (left), director, Elizabeth Destination Marketing Organization; and Judith Ross, vice president, Meadowlands CVB

Suzanne Roman, sales manager for Statue Cruises.

NTA’s Morgan Maravich, manager, industry & member engagement.

The San Diego Zoo’s Dr. Zoolittle—at least, that’s the name he gave us.

Bob Hofmann, vice president, Broad Inbound at the Shubert Organization—along with New York City & Company, one of the two sponsors of IPW’s Tuesday luncheon that received rave reviews from delegates.

Derek E. Price, director, media solutions, for the expedia group; and Shari Bailey, vice president of Connect Travel.

Rafael Villanueva, senior director of global development, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, emcees an entertaining news conference designed to build interest in next year’s IPW in Las Vegas.

Barbara G.B. Ferguson is a veteran journalist who regularly covers IPW for the Arab News, an English language daily newspaper in the Arabian Gulf.

The redoubtable Noel Irwin Hentschel, chairman, CEO and co-founder of AmericanTours International (ATI), in front of the banner naming those who were in this year’s US Travel Chairman’s Circle Honorees. ATI is seen at the top of the column behind Irwin Hentschel.

Ann M. Pilcher, tourism sales manager, for the Pocono Mountains CVB.

Shaun Rogers, acquisition and key account management, Americas, for hotelbeds.

Mengru Zhao (left), a producer for Phoenix Satellite Television, prepares to interview Vicke Evans (center), manager, global tourism & partner sales for The Henry Ford; and Jennifer Ollinger, editor and publisher for the Detroit Metro CVB.

Core Communications’ Caroline Corfield-Rose (left) preparing for the next visitor to the Port of Seattle booth with Patricia Denny, international tourism development manager for the Port’s economic development division.

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