the event guide here

EVENT PROGRAM
MAY 3
11:30 AM
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Registration
Travel Market Place Appreciation Luncheon
sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line
Access to the exhibition floor together with
Travel Market Place
MAY 4
8:00 AM - 8:25 AM
8:25 AM - 8:30 AM
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Registration
Welcome Remarks
State of the Industry. Past, present and
future, where do you go from here? Expert
Panel moderated by Ed Cotton, Chairman
WRTC with Danielle Andrews Sunkel,
President WPIC; Zeina Gedeon, President
Travel Brands; Jordi Solé, Senior Corporate
Director of Operations Blue Diamond Resorts
and Marsha-Ann Brown, Director of Weddings
and Romance Sandals Resorts
Romancing the World… moderated by
Laurie Keith, President Romantic Planet
Vacations, presenting representatives from
exotic locations including Alvaro Concha,
Colombia’s Trade Commissioner in Canada;
Muriel Saldalamacchia, The International
Wedding Planner and Denise Georgiou-Newell,
Weddings & Travels Jubilee; Philip Rose, Director
of Jamaica Tourism in Canada and Vinincia
Strachen, Manager Weddings & Honeymoons
at Bahamas Tourist Office in Canada
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
11:30 AM - 2:15 PM
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
5:00 – 7:00 PM
The best connection for Weddings in Mexico
by Michele Martinson, Regional Director of
Sales-Canada, Aeromexico
Coffee break
Get opportunity to knock on your door: learn
successful marketing techniques to increase
your business by Vanessa McGovern, EVP,
Business Development and Strategic Partner
at GIFTE
Walk around lunch & interactive Trade Show
Work Smarter: Advanced business
solutions with Camille Jocsak, President
Paradise 2 Perfection; Marilyn Cairo, Partner
AskMeWeddings and Muriel Saldalamacchia,
The International Wedding Planner
Social media beyond the basics: How to
use social media as a mean of creating
your identity and establishing your voice
in the industry by Lisa Sheldon, Director
DWHSA; Vanessa McGovern, EVP, Business
Development and Strategic Partner at GIFTE
and Brenda Fernandez, Director Dream
Weddings Mexico
A charming port or out at sea? Opportunities
in selling a unique Cruise Wedding by Dana
Gain, National Director, Sales – Canada for
Norwegian Cruise Line
Raffles & Awards
Workshop and cocktail with Paras Mehta,
Creative Director Paras Events
AEROMEXICO
ALL INCLUSIVE COLLECTION
Michele Martinson
Sarah Smith
[email protected]
(416) 561-9236
[email protected]
(647) 241-2419
AM RESORTS
BARBADOS TOURISM
MARKETING INC
Landy Cahumt
Joy-Anne Crichlow
[email protected]
[email protected]
(416) 214-9880
BARCELÓ MAYA BEACH RESORT
Simona Gigli
EXCELLENCE GROUP LUXURY
HOTELS & RESORTS
Haydee Tovilla
[email protected]
(984) 875-1500 Ex. 6765
[email protected]
(998) 872-8685
FIESTA AMERICANA
RESORT COLLECTION
HACIENDA ANTIGUA
TOURIST PARK
Lisbeth Cruz
Itzel Arguelles
[email protected]
(998) 881-7606
[email protected]
(987) 872-2624 / (987) 873-8553
HOTELS & RESORTS
IBEROSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS
OASIS HOTELS
Mariela Gómez
Paloma Flores
[email protected]
678-714-8487 - Ext. 104
[email protected]
1 (800) 446-2747 Ex. 815
®
PALACE RESORTS
PALLADIUM HOTEL GROUP
Diana Winters
Sebnem Richtmann
[email protected]
(416) 806-2369
bdm.easterncanada@
palladiumhotelgroup.com
(647) 297-8765
PARADISUS RESORTS
PIXAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Marilyn Cairo
Vincent Van Den Berg
[email protected]
(305) 669-2941 / (877) 276-0872
[email protected]
(984) 803-0348
PLAYA RESORTS
RIVIERA MAYA
Gina Johnson
Lizzie Cole
[email protected]
1 (800) 466-1289
[email protected]
(984) 206-3150 Ex.1101
ROMANTIC PLANET VACATIONS
ROYALTON RIVIERA CANCUN
Shelley Elkast
Cindy Tu
[email protected]
(519) 900-1279
[email protected]
(416) 646-5793
SAINT LUCIA TOURISM BOARD
SANDALS RESORTS
Alison Theodore
Maureen Barnes-Smith
[email protected]
1 (800) 869-0377
[email protected]
(416) 223-0028 Ex.4940
SANDOS HOTELS & RESORTS
TURKS & CAICOS TOURIST BOARD
Martina Mairhofer
Rosemarie Wilson
[email protected]
(984) 873-4444 Ex.17975
Toll Free (844) 259-6109
[email protected]
(416) 642-9771 / (866) 413-8875
VALENTIN IMPERIAL MAYA
WINDJAMMERS LANDING HOTEL
Jaqueline Stubbs
Jaqueline Stubbs
[email protected]
(905) 616-1170
[email protected]
(905) 616-1170
Ed Cotton
Chairman of WRTC
In the early 1990’s Ed was brought into Horizons
Unlimited Travel Group to create a groups and
convention division. Within a few years that
division became the most profitable division
within Horizons Unlimited Travel Group, with
their largest annual meeting having more
than 21,000 attendees and producing yearly
commissions in excess of $1,000,000.00. It was
during his time at Horizons that Ed recognized
the future of destination weddings, and with
the director of Horizons Unlimited and several
others, formed DestinationWeddings.com.
DestinationWeddings.com grew to be the largest
and most well known company specializing in
romance travel.
Danielle Andrews Sunkel
Co-founder of The Wedding Planners
Institute of Canadá (WPIC)
Danielle is a professional wedding coordinator
associate, certified by the institute, in which
more than 3,900 wedding professionals
connect and share their ideas. In her role as an
instructor for WPIC, Danielle has trained and
certified all wedding coordinators at Sandals
Resorts in Jamaica, The Place Resorts in
Mexico, coordinators wedding Bahamas Bridal
Association and all of the wedding planners at
Atlantis Resorts in the Bahamas.
Marsha-Ann Brown
Director of Romance, Sandals Resorts
Marsha-Ann is responsible for capturing the
imagination of couples around the world and
helping create memories that will last a lifetime.
Her role is pivotal to the Sandals brand, a company
that has built its reputation on providing two
people in love with the most romantic Caribbean
experience possible. Marsha-Ann also played
an integral role in expanding Sandals Resorts
wedding program with the creation of Your
Wedding. Your Style., a new way for millennial
brides and grooms to plan their destination
wedding along with an online wedding designer
that allows soon-to-be brides to personally style
and execute their special day.
Marilyn Cairo
Partner – AskMeWeddings
Marilyn Cairo is the co-founder and Director
of Marketing for AskMeWeddings, a hospitality
solutions company specializing in destination
weddings. The company develops successful
wedding packages for resorts and creates
incentives and commissions for travel agents that
extend their reach and increase their income. She
serves as a Romance Director for an international
resort client, to include call center management,
operational support and brand positioning within
the destination wedding market segment.
Alvaro Concha
Colombia’s Trade Commissioner in Canada
Alvaro Concha is a seasoned professional with
over 15 years’ experience in global business
and market-development strategies. As Trade
Commissioner he heads the Canadian offices of
ProColombia—the country’s investment, tourism
and export promotion agency. Mr. Concha has
worked tirelessly to strengthen Colombia’s trade
relationship with Canada since his appointment
to the post four years ago.
Brenda Fernandez
Director Dream Weddings Mexico
Dana Gain
National Director for Sales in Canada
for Norwegian Cruise Line
Dana leads a seasoned team of six business
development managers dedicated to aggressively
growing the number of guests sourced from the
Canadian market and expanding the agency base
partnering with Norwegian Cruise Line. Dana has
a proven track record in the cruise industry, and
was formerly the Director of International Sales
for Carnival Cruise Line. Dana has the support
of a team of six business development managers,
strategically positioned to develop stronger,
more effective relationships with partners across
the country.
Zeina Gideon
President Travel Brands
Denise Georgiou-Newell
Weddings & Travels Jubilee
Dee Dee Newell is a professional, grab the bull
by the horns, no-nonsense, wedding planner
and travel agent. She has a combined 18 years
experience between Wedding Planning and
Travel and is a proud member of ACTA, TICO,
DWHSA & the Greek Community of Toronto.
Certified in both local and destination weddings
through the Wedding Planners Institute of
Canada & the Gay Wedding Institute, she is a
true expert in Mexico, Greece & the Caribbean.
Dee Dee has appeared or had events featured
on CBC News, the National,City TV’s Breakfast
Television, and Rogers Daytime as well as a being
featured in notable print & online media.
Camille Jocsak
Founder and President of Planned 2 Perfection
Limited and Paradise 2 Perfection
Paradise 2 Perfection is an expert guide equipped
to assist and guide clients in choosing the best
destination and customized travel experience.
Camille is a member of the International Society of
Business Leaders, Canadian Society of Professional
Event Planners, International Special Events Society,
Women’s Speaker’s Association, Barbados Hotel
& Tourism Association and Love Mexico. She is
certified as a Travel Specialist in Mexico, Canada,
United States, the Caribbean as well as many
European and Middle Eastern countries.
Laurie Keith
President of Romantic Planet Vacations
Laurie Keith is one of Canada’s first Certified
Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists
and owner of award-winning Romantic Planet
Vacations Inc. She founded the company in
2004, and now has offices in Calgary, AB and
Burlington, ON. Ms. Keith is the producer
and keynote speaker at the annual “Romance
Travel Show” which is Canada’s only nationwide
consumer Destination Wedding & Honeymoon
Expo. She’s WPIC certified as a wedding planner,
has a degree in Travel & Tourism and has been a
travel agent and agency owner for over twentytwo years with extensive worldwide experience.
Vanessa McGovern
EVP, Business Development & Strategic Partnership,
Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE)
Vanessa McGovern inspires positive change for
business owners in the digital age. Vanessa is an
established and respected business coach for
hundreds of travel entrepreneurs, sought after
speaker and known as an advocate for travel
professionals. In June 2012, Vanessa joined the
Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE)
as VP of Business Development and Strategic
partnerships; Vanessa oversees many facets
of the growing travel business coaching and
education company.
Paras Mehta
Creative Director Paras Events
Recognized as one of Canada’s top talents in
event design, Paras Mehta is the creative force
behind Paras Events, creating highly stylized
and luxurious social and corporate events
internationally for the most discerning of
clientele. Paras is known for his calm demeanour,
sophisticated design aesthetic, and commitment
to each and every client. Paras has garnered the
acclaim of the Canadian events industry. He
was awarded ‘Event Designer of the Year’ by the
Canadian Wedding Industry –one of the highest
achievements in wedding design in Canada.
Philip Rose
Regional Director, Canada
for the Jamaica Tourist Board
Philip Rose has worked with the Jamaica Tourist
Board for 18 years. He currently leads the
Jamaica team in Canada as Regional Director
for the country and has held this post since early
2012 when he moved from the Jamaica Tourist
Board’s U.S. office. Rose and his team have played
an integral role in the Jamaica Tourist Board
being named “Favourite Tourist Board in Canada”
and “Favourite Honeymoon Destination” at the
annual Agents’ Choice Awards. He is also on the
board of Helping Hands Jamaica, a foundation
that aims to give children a better future through
education and builds new schools on the island.
Muriel Saldalamacchia
The International Wedding Planner
Muriel is a wedding expert. She is regularly
consulted to give advices or to train wedding
planners already in activity. With plenty of
articles and e-books, Muriel is a leader industry.
Lisa Sheldon
CTC, Executive Director of DWHSA.
The Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists
Association has over 800 North American travel
agents who specialize in romance travel –
destination weddings, honeymoons and romantic
getaway. Lisa has been in the travel industry for
28 years and has focused on the romantic travel
niche for more than 16 years. Lisa is the owner of
I Do Island Weddings & Honeymoons which she has
owned and operated for 18 years. In addition to
her travel agency, she recently began the Travel
Designers Academy - where she also mentors
new travel agents to the industry as well as those
in the romance travel niche.
Jordi Solé
Senior Corporate Director of Operations
Blue Diamond Resorts
Vinincia Strachan
Manager Weddings & Honeymoons
at Bahamas Tourist Office in Canada