PORTLAND, ORE.—The recent success of the IMEX Frankfurt show demonstrated an elevated awareness of sustainability as a business driver for international meeting buyers. The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), which serves as a strategic partner with IMEX on the Green Awards program, presented five awards that recognized excellence in sustainable meetings, suppliers and commitment to community programs.
The organization also celebrates ten years as the industry’s voice of sustainability by welcoming new leadership. The GMIC Global board welcomes its new board of directors: Brian Hunt, Maritz Travel; Lindsay Arell, Arell Logic and Colorado Convention Centre; Allen Weidman, InfoComm International; Roger Simons, MCI; and Denise Taschereau, Fairware.
New leadership plans continue as GMIC executive director Tamara Kennedy-Hill recently announced her plans to transition from her role at GMIC. Kennedy-Hill commented, “It has been an honor to serve as the executive director of GMIC these past five years. I have seen firsthand the advancement of sustainability as a valued added solution in the global meetings marketplace. GMIC serves as a key partner to advance standards, education and thought leadership.” Kennedy-Hill will be focusing on local tourism and community multicultural advancement endeavors with Travel Portland.
Kennedy-Hill will be replaced by interim GMIC executive director, Mariela McIlwraith, currently serving as the executive director of the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation (GSMF). McIlwraith has a strong background in sustainability and the meetings industry and is a recognized industry leader, currently serving as the executive editor of the Convention Industry Council Manual, 9th Edition. Kennedy-Hill added, “I am thrilled to work closely with Mariela through the transition process to continue to advance the GMIC Global educational framework and credentialing plan for the global marketplace.”
Kennedy-Hill says GMIC’s future is strong as it roles out its refined educational plan. The plan provides the industry’s needed sustainable event certificate pathway for event professionals from basic concepts to practitioner. The pilot certificate course launches July 15, 2013 as a hybrid program culminating in a practicum at the 2014 Sustainable Meetings Conference, April 15-17, 2014 at the Hilton San Francisco.
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