Richard G. Stewart, Jr., ICVB out-going board chair, provided an overview of events and accomplishments over the past year to more than 175 city and industry leaders, while board vice chair Dr. Carlton Turner presented an outlook for the coming year. The ICVB's executive director, Maura Gast, gave an update of the Irving Convention Center and entertainment district project.
Several staff awards were presented during the luncheon. Councilwoman Rose Cannaday announced Kelly Roche as ICVB "Sales Manager of the Year." Roche accomplished 137% of his room night goal for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. Technology manager Barb Schingle and customer sales and information coordinator Lisa Ross were presented with the ICVB "Outstanding Service Award," which is given annually to a bureau staff member who has consistently gone "above and beyond" during the past year. Those honorees were chosen by votes of ICVB staff which resulted in a tie.
"At the heart of it all, it's about getting the work done," said Gast. "We do that by making internal and external customers happy, and it is the staff taking care of those customers all day every day that make it a success."
A highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, Bill Geist, a destination marketing expert who shared the latest trend data and lessons learned from the last recession to suggest ways that Irving can thrive in the months ahead. Geist is the principal of Zeitgeist Consulting, a firm specializing in strategic planning, governance, marketing and legislative issues for convention and visitor bureaus, tourism-focused chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and communities. He is also the author of Destination Leadership for Boards and a contributor to Fundamentals of Destination Marketing.
