PCMA TODAY JULY 2012

PCMA is the leading resource and premier educator for professionals in the meetings and conventions industry.

Setting the Standard Experient’s Ping He, center, was named the inaugural Global Meetings Executive of the Year. PCMA COO Sherrif Karamat, left, and IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom presented the award.

World Leader Experient’s Ping He named Global Meetings Executive of the Year.

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he inaugural Global Meetings Executive of the Year award was presented to Ping He, CMP,

director of global sourcing and partner relations for Experient, during a gala ceremony on May 23 at IMEX, the global exhibition for incentive travel, meetings, and events, held annually in Frankfurt. Introduced by PCMA and presented

in conjunction with IMEX, the new annual award honors an individual planner who demonstrates “a vision, commitment, and passion for the advancement and education of the global meetings industry.” That is an apt description of He, who

will set the standard for Global Meet- ings Executive of the Year honorees to come, according to Sherrif Karamat,

12 PCMA CONVENE JULY 2012 CAE, PCMA’s chief operating officer.

“Ping has steered the vision that has made Experient a true industry leader,” Karamat said, “with outstanding service capabilities around the globe.” Ping He “has helped put our brand

on the map through her tireless involvement in industry trade shows and global events,” added Rick Binford, CMP, president of event management services for Experient. He’s efforts have resulted in more than 300-per- cent growth of Experient’s offshore revenue in two years. “The company now does business in 37 countries and 102 global cities,” Binford said, “which is an incredible achievement.” “I had a tremendous sense of

gratitude” at the awards ceremony, He PCMA.ORG

said. “Several years ago, ‘going global’ sounded very much like a cliché and was viewed by many as a luxury. Today going global is absolutely a necessity.” He, who was born in Shanghai,

China, began her career in the meetings and hospitality industry as a training manager and public-relations liaison with the Shanghai Hilton International, the first foreign-owned and -operated hotel in China. She received a bach- elor’s degree in Shanghai and a master’s degree from the Western Illinois University, where she studied tourism administration and convention man- agement. She joined Conferon Global Services, now Experient, in 1993.

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