A US-based trade association for convention bureaux and destination marketing organisations (DMOs) has made a key appointment in its bid to woo more European members.
Destinations International has snapped up Stockholm-based Jane Cunningham who joins the association as director of European engagement later this month (January 2022).
Cunningham is a highly regarded figure in the European meetings industry having spent the last 12 years as community engagement director for BestCities Global Alliance.
She has also worked for GainingEdge in a consultancy role, and has focused on building more productive, legacy-focused relationships between destinations and associations.
“Global coordination and the sharing of best practices will be essential as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Washington, DC-based Destinations International. “Collaboration has never been more important than now and engaging with the European market is crucial. Throughout 2022, Jane will be embarking on a listening tour to see how Destinations International can best become a part of the global community. Her network and 20 years of experience in almost every sector of our industry will prove invaluable as she helps our association develop key opportunities for our European strategy in 2022 and beyond. Destinations International and our entire industry will benefit from her energy and collaborative spirit.”
Cunningham added: “A new year and a new exciting role. I am delighted to have been welcomed into the Destinations International community. My experience and knowledge gained over the years have brought me to this wonderful position and I can't wait to get started. Deep listening, knowledge exchange and finding solutions will be key. There is a great opportunity for collaboration and learning between European destinations and the North American community. Europe is driving innovative destination thinking and policy making. The global destination community can contribute towards and learn from the very best European ideas.”
Cunningham has extensive experience across the meetings and events industry, having worked at hotels, a convention centre, a DMO, and a professional congress organiser (PCO).
Her first day at Destinations International will be January 24, 2022.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
