Election Results for the SITE International Board of Directors

	Elected Director Asia/Pacific Ping Liu President Star Professional Programs Head-Office in Beijing Rm 242-247, Bldg Grandvision No. 2, Rd Jiuxianqiao 100015 BEIJING PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA +86.10.8456.5335 liuping@professional.com.cn
	Elected Director Europe Brigitte Boone, CMP, CMM Managing Director/Owner @dmire Meetings Incentives Conferences Events Gemeenveldstraat 93 B-1652 BEERSEL (ALSEMBERG) BELGIUM +32.2.361.65.59 brigitte.boone@admire.be
	Elected Director Europe David Hornby Commercial Director Visit London 6th Floor 2 More London Riverside LONDON SE1 2RR ENGLAND +44.20.7234.5804 dhornby@visitlondon.com
	Elected Director Latin America/Caribbean Alejandro Verzoub President AV Business & Communication Carbajal 3275 C1426EMA BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA +54.11.4312.8005 averzoub@av-buscom.com.ar

Ping Liu
President
Star Professional Programs Head-Office in Beijing
Rm 242-247, Bldg Grandvision
No. 2, Rd Jiuxianqiao
100015 BEIJING
PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
+86.10.8456.5335
liuping@professional.com.cn

Member Since: 2005

Number of members sponsored in SITE: 13

Discipline: English and Tourism Management

Attendance at SITE international events:

• 2005 International Conference in Toronto
• 2006 International Conference in Barcelona
• 2007 International Conference in Monterey
• 2006 ESNEP in Dubai
• 2005 Executive Summit in Beijing
• 2007 SITE Mexico Chapter Seminar as a key speaker
• 2007 the 9th Annual SITE-SoCal

SITE Board/Committee Activity:

I am the board member of SITE China Chapter and have been involved in all the activities of the chapter.

Speaker/Presenter/Facilitator/Moderator at SITE sponsored Educational Events or Programs:

Two times worked as facilitator and moderator at SITE booth at CIBTM, two times sponsored SITE promotion party/dinner in Beijing.

How will you support the SITE Strategic Plan?

In China, even in the tourist industry, SITE is not really well-known by the so-called professionals. The reason is very clear. Incentive travel is still something new in China. Cities like Beijing, Shanghai and a couple of other cities in China are ready for incentive business, but not enough professionals really understand how to work for this market and how to serve for incentive groups. Education is very important. I want to take SITE as a stage to offer education opportunities to my staff and to all the SITE members and potential members here in China. At the same time, I have a plan to introduce SITE to CNTA (China Tourism Administration ) and try to get the support from the highest authority of tourism in China.

Meanwhile, I will try to contact more frequently with the SITE members in China and make them more active in SITE activities.

I will work harder to build up professional and friendly relation with other SITE chapters and try to learn as more as possible from them to improve ourselves.

I, together with other members in China, will promote China as an ideal destination for incentive business and provide information about China to the SITE members in any of the other countries who are interested in doing business in China.

Brigitte Boone
Managing Director/Owner
@dmire Meetings Incentives Conferences Events
Gemeenveldstraat 93
B-1652 BEERSEL (ALSEMBERG)
BELGIUM
+32.2.361.65.59
brigitte.boone@admire.be

Member Since: 1992

Number of members sponsored in SITE: 11

Discipline: Full Service Incentive House and Destination Management Company

Attendance at SITE international events: 

Since 1986 San Juan – attended numerous conferences

SITE Board/Committee Activity:

Joined the board at Site during several years in several positions. Mainly Education and Membership. Climax was international conference in Bruges in 2000. After this I got more involved in MPI and was nominated MPI President Belgium Chapter in 2004. As from last year, I decided the get involved with SITE on an International level. Right now I serve on the Chapter Leadership Council for the Belux, Germany, Netherlands and Finland Chapter.

Speaker/Presenter/Facilitator/Moderator at SITE sponsored Educational Events or Programs:

Have been in several panel discussions and tackled topics especially on the cooperation with the Hotel Industry.

Authored articles in published trade publications: Had articles in Rendevenement, BBT online and MPI magazine (The Meeting Professional)

How will you support the SITE Strategic Plan?

I feel very global minded and like to exchange ideas on cultural diversities based on mutual interest and respect with a focus on the Meeting industry.

SITE has everything in place to inspire people and bring awareness to our professionalism in the Meeting Industry. With my 30 years in business I like to support and bring people to the next level in this very challenging competitive but exciting world. We only can succeed in being real professionals and I would like to support SITE to bring over this message. I also would like to strengthen the forces between the European chapters and work on cross border meetings.

I would like to encourage the members to educate themselves as much as possible so that they can differentiate themselves with SITE and get more global recognition. A better understanding and exchange of ideas will get us to strong networking possibilities and business opportunities.

David Hornby
Commercial Director
Visit London
6th Floor
2 More London Riverside
LONDON
SE1 2RR
ENGLAND
+44.20.7234.5804
dhornby@visitlondon.com

Member Since: 2005

Number of members sponsored in SITE: 3

Discipline: Destination Management Organization

Attendance at SITE international events: 

• International Conference 2005 in Toronto
• International Conference 2006 in Barcelona
• International conference 2007 in Monterey
• ESNEP 2006 in Dubai
• ESNEP 2007 in Warsaw
• ESNEP 2008 in Malaga (also a speaker)
• SITE Academy for Young Leaders speaker 2007.
• SITE Executive Summit 2006 in Cancun
• SITE Executive Summit 2007 in South Africa
• SITE Executive Summit 2008 in Kuala Lumpur

SITE Board/Committee Activity: 

• SITE International Board of Directors Member 2006-Present
• Currently Vice President on Executive Committee.
• Finance Committee 2007
• SITE Brand Review Task Force 2007 & 2008.

Speaker/Presenter/Facilitator/Moderator at SITE sponsored Educational Events or Programs:

Speaker at ESNEP 2008 and SITE Academy for Young Leaders 2007. Also, presented London's sales & marketing activities to UK Chapter with specific reference to incentive market and in 2006 served as lead for London bid to host SITE conference as well as supported the SITE Academy for Young Leaders in 2007 in London.

Authored articles in published trade publications:

The benefits of Olympics for London for the Meetings, Incentives and Events market. - Caterer & Hotelkeeper, PKF Annual Report, Marketing, various European and UK meetings press. London for Incentives and meetings - it Future - Various European and US meetings press.

How will you support the SITE Strategic Plan?

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead SITE's brand positioning project through the SITE Brand Task Force over the past 18 months. It is vital to SITE as a viable and sustainable organization that this global measurement of industry needs has taken place. The new strategic plan and brand pillars will be officially unveiled at SITE's International Conference in Montreux. Since this is a three year strategic plan that will permeate into all of SITE's programs and communications, I desire to continue to serve SITE members through 2011 and support the delivery of SITE's brand promise of connecting the world and driving business results that keeps the incentive industry strong for the future.

In my current role at Visit London I have supported the value of the SITE Young Leaders Program in 2007 in London and again in 2008 in New York. I applaud this initiative and believe that we must invest in the development of our teams and top professionals of the industry. I am also convinced that the voice of this group must be elevated within our organization and within the SITE board room.

For those of you who may not know me before I was with Visit London I was Director of Meetings and Events for Thistle Hotel Group. After working for many international hotel brands and now a World Brand that is London I know the importance of a clear vision and strategic thinking.

Marketing and promoting London for business is a great job and the incentive business really provides a brand like London an opportunity to showcase its jewels. Also, London itself has just launched a new global brand identity and marketing plan and I have been able to combine that experience with my marketing knowledge to better facilitate SITE's brand review project.
The other key part of my role at Visit London is responsibility for our members. We have over 1500 members that range from visitor attractions, hotels, venues, airlines, airports, exhibitions, event management companies and DMC's. Private sector revenues for our business have grown from £2.2 million to just under £6 million in the last 2 years and our member growth has been dramatic. Retention runs currently at 95%. I know the issues around providing real member value and most importantly providing networking and business opportunities for them.

I look forward to working with the board to deliver more value for members of SITE and also member growth internationally to sustain and grow the organization.

As I have said before, performance improvement in business is driven by people and rewarding them for success is a WINNING formula. SITE is perfectly positioned to lead this debate. I look forward to supporting this as a board member in my activities both here in London and around the world.

Alejandro Verzoub
President
AV Business & Communication
Carbajal 3275
C1426EMA BUENOS AIRES
ARGENTINA
+54.11.4312.8005
averzoub@av-buscom.com.ar

Member Since: 2000

Discipline: Full Service Incentive Marketing Company

Attendance at SITE international events: 

• International Conference in Las Vegas 1999
• Crystal Awards in Chicago 2000
• SITE UNIVERSITY in Cancun 2002
• International Conference 2003 in Reykjavik
• International Conference 2005 in Toronto
• International Conference 2006 in Barcelona
• International conference 2007 in Monterey

SITE Board/Committee Activity: 

• SITE’s International Education Task Force for the 2003-2007 period.
• Vice chair in education 2006
• Chair of Education 2007
• SITE Chapter Learning Modules Committee 2006
• SITE Chapter Learning Modules Committee 2007
• Event Selection Committee 2008

Speaker/Presenter/Facilitator/Moderator at SITE sponsored Educational Events or Programs:

• 2008 Fiexpo, Montevideo, Uruguay. Education session titled “Al que Incentiva Dios lo Ayuda” (God Helps Those who Incentivate)
• 2008 BTM Chile, Santiago de Chile. Education session titled “Al que Incentiva Dios lo Ayuda” (God Helps Those who Incentivate)
• 2007 MICE Argentina (Non-monetary incentives, trends and stats in the incentive industry, event marketing).
• 2007 Ibero-American Marketing Training Sessions (FIP), Buenos Aires.
• 2005 SITE International Conference, in Toronto, Canada. Speaker on “Clients Loyalty” (Only non North American or European speaker).
• 2005 SITE International conference in Toronto, Canada, Moderator of the Case Study activity
• 2003 SITE International Conference, in Reykjavik, Island. Speaker on “Incentive Campaign Launching” (Only non North American or European speaker).

Authored articles in published trade publications:

• Diario Mercurio, Chile – 02/05/2008 – Viajes de Incentivo: Herramienta Empresarial que empieza a surgir en Chile (Incentive Travel: A Growing Motivation Tool in Chile)
• Revista Eventos, Brasil – 21/03/2008 - Congresso em Montevidéu foi um sucesso (Successful Congress in Montevideo)
• Eventoplus, Arg. – 05/03/2008 – El viajar es un placer que nos puede suceder (Traveling is a pleasure that we all can enjoy)
• Incentive Magazine, USA – 11/03/2008 – Latin America’s Incentive Market
• El Cronista Comercial, Arg – 23/11/2007 – Cuando Viajar Estimula (When Traveling Motivates)
• Infobae Profesional, Arg. – 06/11/2007 – Las Empresas Vuelven a Otorgar Viajes de Incentivos (Companies are Giving Incentive Travels Again)
• Incentive Magazine, USA – 08/10/2007 – New Global Incentive Partnership
• Gerencia de Viajes, Colombia – 10/02/2007 – El Arte de Inspeccionar Hoteles Corporativos (The Art of Site Inspections)
• Clarín, Arg. – 04/02/2007 – La pregunta del millón (The One Million Dollar Question)
• La Nación, Arg. – 24/12/2006 – El Tiempo de las Recompensas (Time for Recognition)
• Revista Imagen, Argentina – 2005 – Momentos Imborrables ( Unforgettable Times)
• Revista IDEA, Argentina – 10/04/2004 – Los Incentivos se Valoran en Tiempos de Crisis (Incentives in Times of Crisis)
• La Nación, Arg. – 30/11/2003 – Servicios de Exportación (Service for Export)
• Clarín, Arg. – 19/03/2000 - ¿El dinero no es un incentivo? (Does Cash not Motivate?)
• Clarín, Arg. – 16/01/2000 – Gana uno, pero Viajan Todos (One wins, everyone travels)
• La Nación, Arg. – 11/01/2000 – Incentivos para Aumentar el Rendimiento (Incentive for performance improvement )
• Clarín , Arg. – 17/10/1999 – Incentivos Laborales, con Aplausos no Alcanza (Motivation at work: a pat on the back is not enough)

How will you support the SITE Strategic Plan?

South America is a continent with approximately 330 million habitants. Taking a look to the actual penetration of SITE membership we have only 33 members in the total region.

Understanding that in the incentive industry there are growing and emerging destinations around the world , my focus for my integration to the Board of Directors will be based in the following aspects:

• To support and promote the development of a regional chapter that will be able to provide to the actual and new members of our region a closer possibility of integration to SITE, without depending on the few international events that take place far away usually (International Conference, Summit or SITE Academy)
• To support an aggressive strategy promoting SITE’s presence in many local trade shows and educational activities that take place in South America. I have been working since 2006 alone and with a very small support from HQ but with interesting results generating press coverage of SITE seminars that I delivered in different countries of Latin America, and in many cases with the additional feature of getting booths in those exhibitions that allowed us to contact potential members in this market.
• One of the explanations for the low penetration of SITE in the region is that Southamerican market is too small yet and that this is still a younger market compared to Europe or USA. I don't agree with that point of view, I believe that due to technology and social changes, fashions, trends, new techniques can be adopted faster and easier, avoiding frontiers and nationalities. One of the industries with greatest development in the last 2 years in our country is Tourism, with a lot of investments oriented to infrastructure, hotels, services. I know this is happening also in Brazil and other important neighbor countries of our region. I believe that a key factor focused to speed up our growth in this market is based in educating the corporate clients about the benefits of using non monetary incentives in their commercial, and performance improvement strategies. This educational strategy in our local markets will be supported by SITE enhancing brand awareness for our association as the leading provider of educational opportunities including suppliers and clients of the industry.
• The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has improved their presence in regions where this sport wasn't so popular, organizing the world Cup in USA, or Korea.

Do we have to depend on an International Conference just to expand our memberships?

My focus will be in trying to setup a growing circle where we can expand our markets, having more business and companies that invest in incentive programs. This will benefit the development of internal business in our region but will benefit the worldwide membership of SITE due to new outgoing incentive trips that will be planned in South America but with foreign destinations like Europe, Africa, Asia or North America.