ConferenceDirect

04/02/2025

Reliving our time at APM! ✨🎥

A week of education, collaboration, and celebration in Philadelphia! Special thanks to for capturing the magic👏

What was your favorite moment from APM?

04/01/2025

ConferenceDirect is excited to welcome Jennifer Sena, CMP, Global Account Executive!

Meet Jennifer:
Location: Bayonne, NJ

What was your first industry job?
My first experience in the hospitality industry was as a Business Travel Sales Manager at the Wyndham Newark Airport. Early on, I discovered my passion for working with groups, which led me to transition to the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott as a Group Sales Manager, specializing in the SMERF market.

What has been your favorite position during your time in the industry?
It’s difficult to choose just one favorite position because each role I’ve held has been a valuable learning experience. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with incredible professionals, refine my skills, and leverage my natural strengths in sales, creativity, and problem-solving. Plus, the ability to travel and connect with different people and markets has made every position exciting and rewarding in its own way.

What excites you most about joining ConferenceDirect?
I’m excited to be part of a dynamic organization that offers comprehensive solutions for meetings and events. Learning about all the services ConferenceDirect provides and leveraging them to bring value to my clients is something I look forward to. I’m eager to build strong partnerships, help clients streamline their event planning process, and ultimately make a meaningful impact in the industry.

What skills do you feel will make you successful with ConferenceDirect?
My success will be driven by my extensive experience in sales, account management, marketing and hospitality, combined with my ability to develop and maintain strong client relationships. I excel in contract negotiation, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving, all of which are essential for delivering successful events. Additionally, my passion for the industry, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to client needs will help me thrive at ConferenceDirect.

03/31/2025

✨ Reflecting on an unforgettable time in Philly! ✨ Two weeks ago, we came together to celebrate our incredible CD50 honorees with a fantastic awards lunch, made even more special thanks to our amazing partners at Omni Hotels & Resorts. Cheers to the achievements, connections, and memories made! 🎉

03/26/2025

The 2025 Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Engage Conference at the Austin Convention Center.

Sharon Williamson, CMP, CDS, CCM, Senior Global Project Manager, ConferenceDirect with client team including Executive Director, Tracy Ginsburg, Ed.D., CAE, and Becky Faulk, Chief Engagement Officer.

03/25/2025

On the last day of APM, we had the honor of celebrating our final group of award winners at a fantastic lunch sponsored by Hilton! 🎉 Our closing general session, sponsored by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority - LVCVA, featured an inspiring keynote from Henna Pryor, CSP, leaving everyone motivated to embrace growth and make confident decisions. We wrapped up with closing remarks from Brian Richey, reflecting on an incredible event and ready to take on the rest of the year!

03/25/2025

ConferenceDirect is excited to welcome Traci Beauchene, Global Account Executive!

Meet Traci:
- Current city: Littleton, CO

- What was your first industry job? Mountain Vacations (wholesale ski operator)

- What has been your favorite position during your time in the industry? Senior Sales Manager at Keystone Resort. Best team with so many great memories, benefits and traveling to the resort frequently. It was a fun chapter in my career journey!

- What excites you most about joining ConferenceDirect? Reconnecting with friends and colleagues and building a business that fits the life I want to create.

- What skills do you feel will make you successful with ConferenceDirect? As a dedicated professional with a strong work ethic, I have a passion for understanding the needs of customers in order to best provide the services they need. I'm detail oriented and value honesty, transparency and integrity. Additionally, my background in hotel sales provides a great foundation. It's very exciting to join ConferenceDirect as I begin this new adventure in my career path!

03/24/2025

Students from Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management joined us at APM last week for a Hospitality Industry student workshop led by Brian Richey, Executive Vice President, ConferenceDirect. Thank you Temple students for joining!

Donations were also collected of new or gently used clothing for the Professional Attire Clothing drive benefitting the Event Planning Association (EPA) Exchange Business Clothing Closet at Temple University. The EPA Closet provides students free access to business appropriate clothing for interviews, networking events and professional settings.

03/24/2025

03/21/2025

Caesars Entertainment Wellness Challenge Powered by Heka at APM 2025!

APM attendees had the opportunity to participate in a range of wellness activities this week for a chance to win prizes. Congrats to our winners! 🏆

Jessica Brett, ConferenceDirect
Max Long, Visit Cincy
Dana Cox, ConferenceDirect

03/19/2025

It has been a busy week at APM in Philly! Attendees participated in the tradeshow, breakout sessions and award celebrations 💫

03/18/2025

APM is off to a great start! Yesterday's activities at Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau included a Associate General Session covering company updates and tools to support and empower associates in 2025. We recognized our CD100 at the award presentation and reception at The Bellevue Hotel hosted by Hyatt.

03/14/2025

We are heading to Philadelphia for APM 2025! Looking forward to a week of Education, Celebration & Networking!

03/13/2025

ConferenceDirect’s team of over 120 Global Project Managers is ready to assist with all your meeting planning needs. Whether you require ongoing support through a retainer or assistance with individual projects, we offer flexible solutions tailored to you.

With one of the most experienced teams in the industry, our meeting planners seamlessly execute events of any size—from intimate board meetings of 10 to large-scale conferences exceeding 100,000 attendees. Let us bring your vision to life with expert planning and flawless ex*****on.

Learn more: https://conferencedirect.com/customers/conference-management/

03/13/2025

Team Landers retreat at Rosewood Sand Hill featured a falcon experience that was highlighted in The Wall Street Journal! The story will be on the front page of tomorrow's print edition.

"Brian Landers and his team of about a dozen meeting-and-event consultants attended the Rosewood falconry event during their stay this month, as they did in Marrakesh, Ireland and Dubai. What amazes him? A fearsome bird landing on his outstretched arm."

Read more 👇
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/luxury-resorts-falconry-silicon-valley-e06cc384?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Guests pay hundreds to see birds hunt, but they won’t perform for drunks and hawks don’t like hugs; an owl with a weakness for bachelorette parties

03/13/2025

ConferenceDirect Black Associate Council Client Summit at the beautiful Salamander Middleburg! Special thanks to Douglas Camp and the Salamander Middleburg team and Preferred Hotels & Resorts for sponsoring.

Attendees:
Alicia Amaker, Adam Briggs, Brian Chisolm, Angela Daniel, Simone Green, Tiffany Hayes, Ricky Hopkins, Courtney Trusty, Andre Walker, Prema Winn (ConferenceDirect); Jerrine Lee (Visit Richmond), Fay Nedd (New Orleans), Maureen Nyamongo (Hilton Hotels), Shavonne Harding (Visit Pittsburgh), Rhonda Walker (Destination Cleveland), Tracey Chapman (Travel Portland), Eric Kincaid (Choose Chicago), Travers Johnson (Rosen Hotels), Danita Young (AASCU), Susan Cairnes (Mental Health America), Damian Garcia (PCACAC), Stephanie Turpin (United Negro College Fund - UNCF/ICB), Sherrell Bailey (IT Senior Management Forum), Zenia Henderson (National College Attainment Network), Aliyah Horton (Maryland Pharmacists Association).

03/12/2025

Morgan Basham, VP of Meetings, ConferenceDirect, on a site visit at Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle for the 2029 NCSL Legislative Summit. Thank you Mike Claravall, the Visit Seattle team and hotel partners for an iconic site visit of Seattle!

Pictured:
Meghan Keelean, CMP, Associate Director, Meetings with the National Conference of State Legislatures

Mike Claravall, National Account Director with Visit Seattle

Marisa Sterling-Abram, MTA, CMP, Director of Meetings with the National Conference of State Legislatures

Morgan Basham, Vice President of Meetings with ConferenceDirect, on behalf of Kristin House

03/11/2025

ConferenceDirect is excited to welcome Ruth Walsh, Global Project Manager!

- Current city: Austin, TX

- What was your first industry job?
Marketing Manager for a medical device company coordinating 60 corporate events a year.

- What has been your favorite position during your time in the industry?
From creating small-scale executive events in Austin to putting on partner meetings in several international locations from Shanghai, China to São Paulo, Brazil to Cannes, France.

- What excites you most about joining ConferenceDirect?
The opportunity to organize events around the world using the marketing and cultural experience I have gained in my career.

- What skills do you feel will make you successful with ConferenceDirect?
My 26+ years overall experience in Marketing & Events. My knack for chasing detail and analyzing data. My passion for making events feel personal and making people feel connected.