BUSINESS
InBrief
NEWS AND NOTES ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION AND THE INDUSTRY
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Inman receives
Woman in Travel
Leadership award
NTA President Pam Inman was named an “Outstanding
Woman in Travel Leadership” by Women in Travel and
Tourism International at a June 2 luncheon in Washington,
D.C. The WITTI awards program is the first of its kind, and
Inman is among the first group of honorees.
“It’s important to highlight the very significant contributions
of women working in travel and tourism today,” said Laura
Mandala, WITTI founder and CEO of Mandala Research. “These
champions of travel and tourism are not only advancing their
[organizations] and the industry, but are also mentoring and
recruiting the next generation of travel professionals.”
Honored along with Inman were Caroline Beteta, president
and CEO of Visit California; Angela Brav, chief executive, Europe,
InterContinental Hotels Group; Kelly Craighead, principal,
Vertimas Consulting, and formerly the first deputy assistant
secretary for travel and tourism, U.S. Department of Commerce;
Julie Heizer, team lead, U.S. Department of Commerce’s National
Travel and Tourism Office; Anne Madison, chief strategy and
communications officer, Brand USA; and Cathy Tull, senior vice
president of marketing, Las Vegas CVA.
WITTI award winners (from left): Cathy Tull, Las Vegas CVA; Anne
Madison, Brand USA; Rosemary McCormick, Shop America Alliance;
Laura Mandala, WITTI/Mandala Research; Pam Inman, NTA; Caroline
Beteta, Visit California; Kelly Craighead, Vertimas Consulting; and
Julie Heizer, U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and
Tourism Office.
“This recognition is a testament to the people and organiza-
tions involved with NTA,” Inman said. “It also pays tribute to the
women who stood with me at this ceremony and to generations
of female thought-leaders and risk-takers in our industry.”
Saffari joins NTA staff, focuses
on faith, Hispanic travel Upcoming Meet-ups set for San Antonio,
Charleston, New York City and Toronto
Kay Saffari recently joined
the NTA staff as Faith Travel
Association and Hispanic mar-
ket coordinator. Her hiring
underscores NTA’s efforts to
provide programs and services
for members to maximize their
business potential in these two
key market segments.
Saffari’s background includes more than 15 years
teaching Spanish at the college level and serving
as an interpreter for Kentucky Refugee Ministries, a
nonprofit organization that resettles refugees into the
Lexington area from all over the world. She has lived
abroad and traveled extensively, which she says has
helped her appreciate not only her own faith but also
the many religions and cultures of the world.
Her goal is to support existing FTA members, enrich
the benefits they receive, grow the FTA membership,
and build both the faith and Hispanic travel mar-
kets in the NTA community. She can be reached at
+1.859.264.6603 or [email protected]. Your association will continue its 2017 Meet-up schedule with upcom-
ing gatherings in August and September. Two of the host cities are
San Antonio and Charleston, South Carolina, which are the sites of
NTA’s upcoming Travel Exchange and Contact events, respectively.
8
August/September 2017
San Antonio, Aug. 3 (3:30–5 p.m.) The event takes place at the
Visit San Antonio offices. NTA’s Katey Pease will look ahead to
Travel Exchange ’17 (Dec. 14–18) in her presentation, then board
member Paul Larsen of Ed-Ventures will lead a Q&A about your
association. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will provide a des-
sert bar and raffle off a rocking chair.
Charleston, Sept. 12 (2:30–4 p.m.) Explore Charleston will
host an afternoon cocktail reception at the Doubletree North
Charleston Convention Center. NTA’s Catherine Prather will give a
presentation, then board member Chris Babb of The Group Tour
Company will lead a Q&A.
New York City, Sept. 13 Venue and time are to be determined.
Please watch NTA’s Tuesday e-newsletter for updates.
Toronto, Sept. 15 (10 a.m.–noon) The event will take place at
the CN Tower’s Maple Leaf Cinema.
If you are interested in attending any of these events, please
email [email protected].