2021 MARKETING OUTLOOK FORUM
Speaker Lineup

Anirban Basu
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Sage Policy Group, Inc.

Biography: Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with an office in Indonesia. The firm provides strategic analytical services to energy suppliers, law firms, medical systems, government agencies, and real estate developers among others.

Melanie Brown
Director of Data & Analytics
Key Data Dashboard

Biography:  Melanie Brown is the head data and GIS analyst for Key Data, the leading analytics and benchmarking company for vacation rental managers.

Leah Chandler, CDME
Chief Marketing Officer
Discover Puerto Rico

Biography: Reputable, dedicated, results-oriented professional with 19 years of branding, advertising, and marketing experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Dr. Suzanne Cook
President
Suzanne Cook Consulting, LLC

Biography: For more than three decades, Dr. Suzanne Cook served as the Senior Vice President of Research for the U.S. Travel Association, providing economic and marketing research and analysis to organizations throughout the U.S. travel industry. She now runs her own company, Suzanne Cook Consulting, LLC, in Fort Myers, FL, specializing in research, strategic planning, and presentations for destinations and travel corporations.

Dawn Drew
Founder and CEO
MOSTE and  Dawn Drew Independent Productions

Biography: Dawn's 25+ years of experience in tourism marketing and product development features the production of live consumer and trade events for major destinations including India, Mexico, South Africa; strategic marketing and source market development, and executive producing and co-creation of on-location television series focusing on travel and food filmed in more than 14 destinations and airing on Nat Geo International.

Jeffrey Eslinger
Senior Director, Market Insights
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau

Biography: Accomplished market research professional with over 20 years of experience managing a portfolio of diverse quantitative and qualitative market research projects. An expert synthesizer of data and information that supports informed decision-making for key stakeholders.

Elliott Ferguson
President & CEO
Destination DC

Biography: Mr. Ferguson serves as President and CEO of Destination DC, the official convention and tourism representative DC. Mr. Ferguson received his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Religious Conference Management Association, Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives and Destination Marketing Association International. 

Dr. Sheila Flanagan
Registrar and Vice President Academic Affairs
Dundalk Institute of Technology

Biography: Sheila is currently Vice President and Registrar Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Institute and is responsible for the leadership and coordination of the Institute’s academic policy and quality assurance through the Institute’s Academic Council.

Apoorva Gandhi
Vice President Multicultural Affairs and Business Councils
Marriott International

Biography: Responsible to ensure Marriott International builds brand preference, loyalty, sales with multicultural and underrepresented groups (African American, Latino, LGBT, Asians, Veterans, People with Disabilities) by managing relationships with key external corporate diversity and inclusion partners.

Andria Godfrey
Vice President
Longwoods International

Biography: With a passion for advancing the travel and tourism industry, Andria brings over a decade of travel research, development, and advertising experience to the Longwoods team. She has expertise in leveraging data to enhance marketing efficiency and promote destination advocacy.

Dave Goulden
VP of Product
Sojern

Biography: Dave Goulden is an ad tech industry veteran, having led product and client development for some of the top digital marketing and technology companies. Today, Dave is the Vice President of Product at Sojern. Dave is responsible for product vision, strategy, and execution for this leader in travel marketing.

Gretchen Hall, CDME, CMP  
President and CEO
Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

Biography: Arkansas Native Gretchen Hall began her career with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2001 and now serves as the organization’s President and CEO.

Isabel Hill 
Director, National Travel and Tourism Office
US Department of Commerce

Biography: Experienced leader in the travel and tourism sector with a demonstrated history of creating and leading public-private partnerships. Skilled in the development of public policy, international relations and public diplomacy, sustainable tourism development and resiliency, strategic planning and facilitation.

Jerry Henry
CEO
H2R Market Research

Biography: A visionary executive & collaborative thought partner with more than 30 years of experience leading high-impact teams in Consumer Insights and Marketing Research. Jerry is an engaging and passionate presenter with a demonstrated ability to deliver highly effective strategic business solutions and bring insights to life.

David Huether
Deputy Director
National Travel and Tourism Office

Biography: Lead team of 7 researchers at U.S. Travel Association. Estimate economic impact of the travel industry at national, state, congressional district level; release forecasts, create monthly indicators for the travel industry, create web-based statistical visualization tool; create economic impact calculators for advocacy, multiple reports, and fact sheets on the impact of travel on the economy and for policy support. 

Alex Jarman
Research Analyst

Euromonitor International

Biography: Alex Jarman is a Research Analyst at Euromonitor International. Alex leads U.S. travel research and helps coordinate travel research across the Americas. His research focuses on sustainability in the travel industry and the evolution of consumers’ travel booking behaviors. Prior to Euromonitor, Alex completed a Fulbright-Schuman fellowship in Belgium.

Jack Johnson
Chief Advocacy Officer
Destinations International

Biography: Directs strategic planning, government relations, community outreach, and external coalition building. Develops policy solutions and civic consensus for government, not-for-profits, and small businesses. Provides executive management in areas of budget, finance, human resources, information technology, membership, sponsorship, research, board relations, and strategic direction.

Chris Klauda
Senior Director, Market Insights
STR

Biography: Marketing research professional and lodging industry expert providing consumer insights for strategic planning and high-impact marketing programs. Seasoned analyst frequently called upon by major lodging companies to assist them in applying market research information to their marketing efforts and to present research to top management.

Whitney Knollenberg
Assistant Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
North Carolina State University

Biography: Whitney's research focuses on tourism leadership and the influence of policy, planning, and partnerships in sustainable tourism development.

Jamie Lane
Vice President of Research
AirDNA

Biography: Jamie Lane is Vice President of Research for AirDNA, a short-term rental data & analytics company. He is responsible for data analysis, thought leadership, and leveraging advanced analytical techniques to provide new insights into short-term rental supply, demand, and pricing trends. He has been published in academic and professional journals and regularly speaks at lodging industry forums.

Tony Lyle
Vice President Tourism Development
Lake Tahoe Vistors Authority

Biography: A visionary, well-connected, transformational business leader with 25+ years of experience in tourism and destination marketing.

Dee Ann McKinney
Research Director
Missouri Division of Tourism

Rhett Morgan
Senior Director
Ailevon Pacific

Biography: Focused on assisting communities in air service recruitment and retention with over 15 years of industry experience.

Helen Marano
Founder and President
Marano Perspectives

Biography: Marano Perspectives leads the engagement and collaboration of key Travel & Tourism industry stakeholders to develop plans and solutions that promote responsible industry growth.

Steve Paganelli, CDME
Director Destinations, Hotels, and OTAs
TripAdvisor

Biography: Destination marketing professional with extensive experience in Board Development/Governance; Communications, PR, Community Relations and Political Advocacy; Branding, Marketing, and Sales; Operations; Publishing, and Meeting & Event Planning.

Richard Peterson
President and CEO
U.S. Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council

Biography: An Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism - Travel - Community Engagement - Art - Culture - History - Heritage - Brand Connections - Storytelling.

Derek Ramthun
Marketing Strategist, Industry Relations
Explore Minnesota

Biography: Derek manages a co-op program designed for the Minnesota tourism industry to participate in, leveraging the Explore Minnesota brand, trusted media contractors, and co-op exclusive rates.

Kristen Reynolds, CDME
President & CEO
Discover Long Island

Biography: Business Advocate, Economic Development Leader, Community Minded Solution Architect, Collaboration Builder, Kristen leads Discover Long Island, which contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting the region as a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and related activities.

Cathy Ritter
Founder & CEO
Better Destinations LLC

Biography: Managing tourism dynamics in prosperity and crisis, Cathy Ritter has built a reputation for partnership and turning insights into action. From her award-winning journalism career to top roles in government and nonprofits, she has cultivated a network of expert resources, now a key asset for Better Destinations’ collaborative model for destination management planning. Her work to create the Colorado Tourism Roadmap is widely credited with leading a national movement toward responsible tourism. To inspire Colorado travelers, she approached the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, creating the ground-breaking Care for Colorado Principles as a model for other destinations to follow. Now a Trustee of The Travel Foundation, she is immediate past chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors and has served on the U.S. Travel Association’s Executive Committee and as an officer for the Western States Tourism Policy Council. She is a contributing author to Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future, released in May by Island Press. 

 

Adam Sacks
President
Tourism Economics

Biography:Biography: Adam Sacks is the founder and President of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company dedicated to understanding the relationship between travel and the economy. For more than 25 years, Adam has worked with destinations, industry associations, and companies around the world to deliver market assessments, forecast scenarios, policy evaluations, and economic impact studies. Adam is a member of the US Department of Commerce Travel & Tourism Advisory board and his work regularly informs national and local government advocacy efforts. Adam sincerely enjoys speaking at industry conferences but prefers singing and playing guitar. 

Allison Schult, CDME
Director of Marketing
Visit North Carolina

Biography: Allison Schult, founder and CEO of Mile Marker 630, is a proven creative sales and marketing strategist with more than 15 years in travel and tourism. Schult is currently leading the strategic marketing initiatives for Visit North Carolina.

Martha Sheridan
President and CEO
Greater Boston Convention & Visitors 

Biography: Over 30 years of experience in destination sales and marketing. Currently, lead a team of professionals in generating high-value economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the deployment of a strategic and integrated destination sales and marketing program.

Jennifer Stoll, PhD, STS
Principal
Stoll Strategies

Biography: Jennifer Stoll, Ph.D. founded Stoll Strategies in 2018 with one goal in mind—propelling the sports events and tourism industry to the next level by putting her passion for sports and her love for learning, research, and advising to work.

Marlise Taylor
Director, Tourism Research
Visit NC - Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina

Biography: Dedicated to quality research and statistical analysis through proven methods, while keeping abreast of new techniques and methodology, I strive to provide relevant information to my colleagues, partners, and clients to support research-based marketing strategies.