Start Date:12/15/2020

Start Time:1:00 PM EST

Duration:160 minutes


DAY AGENDA

1:00-1:05pm EDT | Opening Remarks

Introduction from Ruthanne Terrero, Vice President, Questex Travel & Meetings

1:05-1:20pm EDT | Rediscovering Seabourn's Extraordinary Worlds
 
Your luxury clients long to return to traveling, but they need your assurance that their experiences will be both safe and satisfying. Learn how Seabourn and their esteemed panel of medical experts crafted enhanced health and safety protocols - while maintaining the undiminished ultra-luxury experience your clients expect. Seabourn's array of extraordinary, tailor made voyages for your clients starts with a selection of splendid summer 2021 itineraries, culminating in the debut of Seabourn Venture-a new ultra-luxury expedition ship exploring Norway under the Northern Lights in winter, the Arctic, Antarctica and more-plus, an epic 145-day World Voyage setting sail in January 2022.

Presented by Steve Smotrys, Vice President, Global Sales, Seabourn

 Sponsored by:



1:25-1:40pm EDT | Making Dreams a Reality: An Update from the Cayman Islands
 
The Cayman Islands presents a destination overview including updates on our Global Citizen Concierge Programme, Caymankind Specialist certification, new hotel product and the current border reopening status as we work to initiate a return to commercial traffic.

Speaker: Daniel Taugher, National Sales Manager (US), Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
Sponsored by:



1:45-2:00pm EDT | Traveling to the Dominican Republic in 2021 and What to Expect

What can your clients expect when visiting the Dominican Republic in 2021? Join the Dominican Republic Tourism Board for an update on new COVID-19 procedures and protocols, a virtual tour of DR's amazing destinations & rich culture and how you can become a DR specialist!

Speaker: Wendy Justo, Director, Dominican Republic Tourism Board

 Sponsored by:

 

2:05-2:20pm EDT | Rediscover Maldives... the Sunny Side of Life

The Maldives is a picture-perfect archipelago, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and home to 1,190+ tiny coral islands. The country famous for its natural beauty, takes you on a journey to discover exciting facts about this safe haven for visitors looking for a getaway. Explore the various exciting offers in the island destination as you embark on a journey to rediscover the sunny side of life, in the new normal.

Speaker: Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation

 Sponsored by:
 

2:20-2:40pm EDT | Live Q&A Panel Discussion

Moderator:
Ruthanne Terrero, Vice President, Questex Travel & Meetings

Panelists:
Steve Smotrys, Vice President, Global Sales, Seabourn
Daniel Taugher, National Sales Manager (US), Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
Wendy Justo, Director, Dominican Republic Tourism Board
Aik Wye Ng,Managing Director, Bullfrog + Baum & Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation
Cheryl Bennett, Co-President, Bennett + Mercado Hospitality


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Speakers

Ruthanne Terrero

Vice President

Questex Travel & Meetings

Ruthanne Terrero is the Vice President/Editorial Director of the Questex Hospitality + Travel Group, which includes Luxury Travel Advisor, Travel Agent magazine, Travel Agent University, Travel Agent Central and MeetingsReview.com. Terrero is the founder of Travel Agent magazine’s annual 30Under30 program, developed 2008 to welcome a new and more diverse generation of professionals to join the travel industry. Terrero is also the founding Editorial Director of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2020.

Steve Smotrys

Head of Global Sales and Trade Relations

Seabourn

Steve is responsible for Seabourn’s overall global sales efforts, leading the teams who support the travel advisor community in North America, Australia, Asia, Latin America as well as global expedition. Steve also oversees the global expedition sales efforts. Steve and the global sales team are excited to begin this new chapter and telling the brand story about the power of Seabourn moments. Prior to joining Seabourn, Smotrys served as vice president of Sales and Trade Marketing, Cunard North America, where he led the Cunard Line North America Sales team to significantly grow the US & Canadian markets and expand the share of voice within the trade. Steve is 20+ year veteran in the cruise industry leading teams in marketing, revenue planning, shore excursions and sales.

Daniel Taugher

National Sales Manager

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

Daniel has served with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism since 2011 working from the DMO’s New York City office. Formally, the Digital Marketing Specialist, Dan is responsible for leading the marketing efforts of the US Sales team.Dan brings more than 20 years of marketing experience that has spanned diverse interests including travel, hospitality, healthcare, tech, lifestyle, software, sports, and publishing. Contact: 646-283-4497

Wendy Justo

Director

Dominican Republic Tourism Board

Former Director of the Dominican Republic Tourism Board in Chicago, actual Director for the Miami office and supervisor for USA.

Thoyyib Mohamed,

Managing Director

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation

A Bournemouth University graduate, with Master of Arts in Broadcast and Film Management, Mr. Thoyyib started his career in the media industry at Television Maldives. He worked his way up to Assistant Director General, Head of HR, and Planning and Development Television Maldives. In 2006, he served as the CEO of the newly launched Villa Television, a private local TV channel. With his expertise in management and public relations, he was appointed as the Chairman of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation in 2009. He served as the Finance Executive at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and also as the State Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture during the term of former president Mohamed Nasheed. With over fourteen years of experience in the area of management, Mr Thoyyib brings with him extensive experience in strategic planning, decision making and international networking, with emphasis on fostering creativity in the executive management level. He was appointed as Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation on 27th November 2018, with the new government administration.

Aimee Price

Director North America Sales

Seabourn

Aimee Price is currently the Director North America Sales at Seabourn Cruise Lines. Prior to joining Seabourn in January of 2020 she spent 28 years of her professional career in the cruise industry with Royal Caribbean where she started shipboard as a youth activities director completing her seven year career onboard as a shore excursions manager and moving shoreside for the corporation holding positions in shipboard HR; product development, marketing and sales for the subsidiary Royal Celebrity Tours and managing the Sales Training team as well as a portfolio of National Accounts for Royal Sales. She resides in Tacoma, Washington with her husband, three sons, two cats and one dog. There is no where she would rather be than relaxing on the high seas watching the sunrise from the bow of the ship awaiting all the opportunities a new day brings.

Aik Wye Ng

Managing Director of Bullfrog + Baum

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation

In his 20+ years of experience in the hospitality and tourism sector, Aik Wye has managed global luxury hospitality and tourism brands and organizations including the Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport Group and now the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. He has also managed award-winning luxury hotel brands such as Capella Hotels and Resorts, Hoshino Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, among others. Aik Wye specializes in providing creative strategy, editorial direction and strong media contacts for his hospitality and tourism clients, particularly with business, epicurean, lifestyle, travel, meetings and broadcast medias. He works closely with high-profile broadcast and production companies, including working with platforms such as Bravo, The Travel Channel, Netflix, and more.

Cheryl Bennett

Co-President of Bennett + Mercado Hospitality

Rediscover Maldives… the sunny side of life

After more than a decade as a leader and veteran within the travel industry community for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Viceroy Hotel Group, Cheryl turned her passion into serving the travel agent community into a successful career. Her responsibilities include the overall management of Bennett + Mercado as well as representing the portfolio in the United States covering markets from the New York metropolitan area to Florida and the Mid-West. Cheryl’s knowledge working with wholesalers, retail travel agencies, travel management companies and marketing consortias including American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, Virtuoso and Signature, has made her an expert within the travel industry field. In addition, she developed and implemented The Ritz-Carlton’s preferred partner program, STARS, which is still benchmarked today. Cheryl assisted in the strategic planning of future company developments such as new brands, brand extensions and hotel openings. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Cheryl has completed several training programs in sales, marketing and leadership. She is an active member of 41-74 Club of New York and has sat on the Luxury Travel Exchange Advisory Board. A resident of Manhattan, when Cheryl is not traveling the globe or working, you will find her being a mother to two wonderful children. She loves spending time in the local Pilates Reformer studio, skiing or spending time in her favorite place, Margate NJ, which is a New Jersey beach town.