Adam Sacks is the President of Tourism Economics; an Oxford Economics company dedicated to analytically-based consulting to the tourism sector.

For more than two decades, Adam has worked with destinations, industry associations, and companies around the world in the areas of opportunity and risk assessments, policy analysis, and economic impact.

Adam’s work has provided the foundation for billions of dollars in capital investment decisions by hotel companies, developers, and investors. Destination marketing organizations around the world rely on Tourism Economics data and scenario models to inform global marketing investment allocations.

Adam also supports trade associations in the aviation, hotel, and broader travel arena with forecasts widely considered to be an industry standard. And by examining the economic merits of travel facilitation, taxation, and tourism promotion initiatives, Adam’s work has influenced critical government policies.
 
He is an authority on measuring the economic impact of visitor activity and has analyzed the impacts of cruising, gaming, timeshare, hotels, new attractions and destination marketing.

Adam regularly presents to corporate strategic planning teams on the threats and opportunities facing their businesses and is a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Travel & Tourism Advisory Board.

Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.

Weissenborn spent just short of 11 years with Visit Baltimore helping with its Research, Technology, and Information Systems across the organization. In 2017, he joined the Association on behalf of a Destinations International Foundation initiative to be a dedicated research source for Destinations International. 

Chris Pike has 20 years of experience as a professional economist with the last 15 focused on the tourism sector. As the Director of Impact Studies at Tourism Economics, Chris is responsible for measuring the economic impact of tourism activity – both broadly and for specific initiatives and projects. He works with dozens of state and local tourism offices and manages a series of ongoing consultancy projects related to the tourist sector. For our EIC webinar series, Chris serves as the expert on Destination's International's Event Impact Calculator and helps us understand this tool and its relevance for our industry.

Marlene describes her job as “assisting the sales team in the obtainment of our yearly room night goal.” What she fails to mention is the endless litany of tasks she undertakes to help make that happen.

She’s a researcher and a proofreader and a scheduler and a designer and a negotiator and a diplomat and a travel agent. (And that’s just before noon on Monday.) If sales is involved, so is Marlene – you just may not know it, because she does it behind the scenes, unobtrusively. Which is why, in a nod to the Wizard of Oz, we’ve dubbed her “the woman behind the curtain.”

Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.

Weissenborn spent just short of 11 years with Visit Baltimore helping with its Research, Technology, and Information Systems across the organization. In 2017, he joined the Association on behalf of a Destinations International Foundation initiative to be a dedicated research source for Destinations International. 

Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.

Weissenborn spent just short of 11 years with Visit Baltimore helping with its Research, Technology, and Information Systems across the organization. In 2017, he joined the Association on behalf of a Destinations International Foundation initiative to be a dedicated research source for Destinations International. 

Jonathan brings 20+ years of industry experience and expertise to his role and has earned the highest credential available in the CVB industry, the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME).

Loren Gold is the Executive Vice President for the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. As the Executive Vice President, Gold is responsible for leading the development of strategic sales and marketing programs, including brand management, market research, marketing communications, IT, advertising and public affairs.

Assisting planners from N.C. and S.C., Ala., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Miss. and Tenn., who represent corporate organizations (excluding faith-based, fraternal, multicultural) and who will be using the Raleigh Convention Center only.

Kirk is in her 4th year with the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). Kirk assists the GRSA staff in various capacities, including the areas of administration, sales, services, marketing, PR and research, and she manages the GRSA social media accounts. Ashlee was previously the Industry Relations Manager for Visit North Carolina. In that capacity, she oversaw the Sports Marketing efforts and her duties also included the domestic group market as well as administrative responsibilities. A graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Sport Management, Kirk resides in Raleigh. 

Vimal Vyas is an industry leader in the technology of marketing (martech), directing the Greater Raleigh CVB's marketing technology efforts since 2004. He is responsible for the Bureau's digital innovation efforts, including digital product (web/mobile) development, data integration, cloud-based software solutions, infrastructure, content and Internet marketing technologies, and business intelligence.

An advocate for authentic travel experiences that serve both residents and visitors, Alyssa Poulin is Destinations International's Senior Product Engagement Manager. Dedicated to serving destination professionals in their quest to craft sustainable destinations, she believes in the power of sustainable travel. While earning her Masters in Tourism Administration at The George Washington University, she provided destination development research and consultation for tourism organizations across the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. 

As the Sales Manager for a portfolio of four Marriott hotels, she directed sales for the corporate, government, and tour and travel market segments. Prior to that role, she ran the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program at the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and National Scenic Byway where she trained and managed membership of over 600 frontline hospitality employees while promoting the region as a visitor destination.

Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME

Executive Vice President & Principal, Destination & Travel Practice, Fired Up! Culture

Tammy Blount-Canavan has a passion for elevating leadership and team performance.  She has an enormous passion for the destinations industry and a track-record of success in developing high-functioning teams.  

Tammy’s career has spanned 30+ years and two countries, including executive leadership at Tourism Vancouver, CEO of the Tacoma Regional CVB, architect and inaugural Chair of the Washington Tourism Alliance, and President and CEO of the Monterey County CVB.  

Tammy is a Past Chair of Destinations International. Tammy has been recognized as CEO of the Year, one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry, twice as one of the top 25 Most Influential Women in the industry, Leadership Supplier of the Year in the Meetings Industry, Top 100 Most Inspirational Women in the Meetings Industry, Community Leader of the Year, Leading for Positive Impact Award and Destination International’s Global Leadership Award. 

Chris Pike has 20 years of experience as a professional economist with the last 15 focused on the tourism sector. As the Director of Impact Studies at Tourism Economics, Chris is responsible for measuring the economic impact of tourism activity – both broadly and for specific initiatives and projects. He works with dozens of state and local tourism offices and manages a series of ongoing consultancy projects related to the tourist sector. For our EIC webinar series, Chris serves as the expert on Destination's International's Event Impact Calculator and helps us understand this tool and its relevance for our industry.

An advocate for authentic travel experiences that serve both residents and visitors, Alyssa Poulin is Destinations International's Senior Product Engagement Manager. Dedicated to serving destination professionals in their quest to craft sustainable destinations, she believes in the power of sustainable travel. While earning her Masters in Tourism Administration at The George Washington University, she provided destination development research and consultation for tourism organizations across the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. 

As the Sales Manager for a portfolio of four Marriott hotels, she directed sales for the corporate, government, and tour and travel market segments. Prior to that role, she ran the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program at the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and National Scenic Byway where she trained and managed membership of over 600 frontline hospitality employees while promoting the region as a visitor destination.

Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.

Weissenborn spent just short of 11 years with Visit Baltimore helping with its Research, Technology, and Information Systems across the organization. In 2017, he joined the Association on behalf of a Destinations International Foundation initiative to be a dedicated research source for Destinations International.