Convention Industry Council Names 2015 Hall of Leaders Inductees, Pacesetter Award Winners
May 6, 2015
The Convention Industry Council unveiled the names of the 2015 inductees into the CIC Hall of Leaders and the 4th class of Pacesetter Award recipients.
The awardees will be formally recognized a Hall of Leaders and Pacesetters Celebration during IMEX America Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.
“This year’s class of CIC Hall of Leaders and Pacesetter Award inductees represent a global footprint of the meetings, conventions, events and exhibitions industry and we are excited to celebrate their expertise, leadership and breadth of achievements,” said Convention Industry Council CEO Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP.
She added, “The iconic Hall of Leaders encapsulates a lifetime achievement award, while the Pacesetter Awards, recognizes emerging leaders who have made an impact.”
Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, said, “We are delighted that CIC has chosen to hold the prestigious Hall of Leaders event at IMEX America again this year. Through our partnership, we will be showcasing the inductees throughout the show – ensuring that the wider meetings industry can meet and learn from them through educational sessions – as well as recognising them through our TV channel and publications. We look forward to welcoming the inductees to the show.”
The Hall of Leaders recognition program draws attention to the contributions that the meetings industry has made to the larger society as a whole by highlighting the specific achievements of industry pioneers and emerging leaders who not only changed the landscape of the profession, but changed the culture of business as well.
Nominations are submitted either by CIC member organizations or the general industry community and honorees are recognized during the culminating awards ceremony and their stories housed virtually at www.conventionindustry.org/vhol.
This year’s honorees are:
- Amy Spatrisano, CMP, Former Principal of MeetGreen®, nominated by Green Meeting Industry Council
- Larry Luteran, former senior vice president of Group Sales and Industry Relations, Hilton Worldwide, nominated by Meetings Mean Business
- Jane E. Schuldt, CIS, CITE, founder and president World Marketing Group, Ltd., nominated by Society of Incentive Travel Excellence
- Patricia Farías Barlow, CEM, CEO of the Puerto Vallarta Convention Center and FIDEES, nominated by International Association of Exhibitions and Events
- Craig Smith – retired, former president of Freeman Audio Visual, Inc., nominated by Exhibition Services and Contractors Association
Additionally, the following people were selected to receive Pacesetter awards:
- Rafael Hernández, CEM, publisher and CEO Latin American Meetings
- Kinga Soćko, Poland Convention Bureau
- Kate Patay, CPCE executive director of Sales & Marketing, Creative Coverings
To date, 114 pioneers have been inducted into the Hall of Leaders. A complete listing of previous HOL award winners, along with pictures and details from the 2014 fete, can be found on the CIC website at
http://www.conventionindustry.org/HallofLeaders/HallofLeadersInductees.aspx.
The Pacesetter Award, established in 2012 to honor achievement ‘in real time,’ rather than over a lifetime, has recognized nine emerging leaders whose recent accomplishments are defining how we will work in tomorrow’s industry.
Information on attending the Hall of Leaders and Pacesetters Celebration can also be found on the CIC website. http://www.conventionindustry.org/
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
Add new comment