Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)  has added two MICE industry veterans to their management team. Tahira Endean, CMP, DES, CED has been named Head of Events starting immediately, and Jennifer Juergens will assume the role of Director, Industry & Media Relations on Jan. 1, 2019.

Endean brings three decades of diverse event management experience to SITE. Most recently she was event producer for the #BCTECH Summit, during which time she authored and published her first book, "Intentional Event Design: our Professional Opportunity." Endean is replacing Tina Gaccetta who has accepted a position as Vice President, Marketing & Incentives for LegalShield.

“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed head of events at SITE,” said Endean.

She continued, “It truly allows me to channel the experience I’ve accumulated over the years as an event professional. I look forward to helping SITE create truly transformational, motivational events that bring value and purpose to our members, our industry, the business world and society at large.”

Juergens is known to incentive travel professionals from her time as senior editor with Meetings & Conventions Magazine and Successful Meetings, and decade long leadership as editor-in-chief at Incentive Magazine. More recently she has alternated freelancing for BizBash, Prevue and Meetings Today with her 3-year tenure as manager of convention communications at Visit Orlando. Juergens will be taking over the role currently held by Julie Johnson.

“I’ve been writing about SITE for decades and am privileged to be connected with many SITE members who contribute so generously as thought leaders to the Business Events / MICE industry,” said Juergens. “I am excited to be joining the SITE Marketing & Communications team at this hugely exciting time in the organization’s evolution and look forward to continuing to help expand SITE’s reach and influence around the world.”

Incentive Travel is the fastest growing segment of MICE, and this year SITE has reached the highest membership numbers of its 45-year history.

“Having industry professionals like Tahira and Jennifer join our management team is incontrovertible proof of our legacy, reputation and future direction,” commented Didier Scaillet, CIS, CITP, CEO SITE & SITE Foundation.  “We are definitely in good hands and this strengthened team will ensure our continued growth and relevance into the future.”

Meanwhile, IACC has tapped Nancy Lindemer of Destination Hotels to head up its Americas chapter as president, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Lindemer, who has more than 26 years of experience in the meetings and events industry, was elected by IACC members for the 2019 – 2021 term. She will succeed current IACC Americas President, Sean Anderson of Sodexo Conferencing, who in turn was elected into the role of vice president of the Americas Board.

“It’s an honor to be elected president of IACC’s Americas Chapter,” said Lindemer.

She added, “I have been involved in the association since 2002 and have seen it evolve with the industry. I’m looking forward to leading the Americas chapter and working with a group of talented and inspiring individuals as we continue to drive the ambition of representing all of the top one percent of meeting venues globally.”

Other new additions to the IACC Board include Creston Woods of Benchmark, a Global Hospitality Company as vice president, and Peter Angelis from UCLA as a director.

The newly elected Board will serve a two-year term, from Jan 1, 2019 through Dec 31, 2020.

In government news, Kurt Ekert, president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, was appointed as vice chair of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. Established in 2003, the Board advises the Secretary on key matters affecting U.S. travel and tourism and provides a forum for industry-related discussions.

Board members represent companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry from a broad range of products and services, company sizes and geographic locations. Past Boards have provided counsel on issues including travel facilitation, visa policy, infrastructure, aviation security, research, energy policy and economic sustainability. 

“I am honored to be part of this team of experts who play such an important role in shaping the travel industry,” said Ekert. “We will focus our efforts on attracting new visitors to America, solving current issues and continuing to positively impact the economy.”