SAUSALITO, Calif., March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Meetings, the leading media company and most trusted resource for meeting professionals, announced that it has hired Vivian Shaw as director of global sourcing for its Smart Meetings 360 line of business. Shaw will report to Marin Bright, Smart Meetings founder and CEO.

Shaw, a 28-year veteran of the meetings and hospitality industries, brings a wealth of experience to the Smart Meetings 360 team. The company's complimentary site selection service locates and secures tailor-matched hotels and venues for meeting planners.  Smart Meetings 360 researches, negotiates and performs side-by-side proposal comparisons, site inspection preparations and more on behalf of its clients.

In her new role as director of global sourcing, Shaw is responsible for business development and sales. By leveraging her hotel and destination expertise, she will build business and enhance loyalty and performance through education, engagement and motivation. Shaw will develop future growth initiatives for the Smart Meetings 360 brand and craft strategic solutions for all site-selection efforts.

A proven senior-level sales expert, Shaw most recently served as senior national sales manager for The Sebastian-Vail. During her tenure, she was responsible for meeting and incentive group sales at the new luxury boutique hotel. While serving at The Sebastian-Vail, the hotel became rated one of Travel & Leisure's Best Hotels in the World and Conde Nast Traveler's No. 1 Hotel in the West.

Shaw is an industry leader, mentor and valuable team player who has served on prestigious boards and chair committees within the meetings and incentive industries. An expert in her field, she possesses a high level of business acumen and her impressive background includes serving as director of strategic alliance for MPI's Rocky Mountain chapter board of directors and committee chair for Society for Incentive Travel Excellence.

Her experience in a variety of senior sales and leadership capacities include Hinton + Gruish (merged with ALHI), Keystone Resort and Conference Center, and Vail Resorts. Shaw began her career in operations and training management in the hotel, conference, resort, food and beverage divisions, creating a rock solid foundation to further assist her professional meeting clientele.

"Vivian is a seasoned professional with an impeccable track record of success in our industry," Bright said. "Her good-natured and genuine personality, coupled with her aptitude for building valuable and meaningful connections, will nurture and develop tremendous new business for Smart Meetings 360."

Shaw resides in Colorado with her husband and two children, and enjoys an active lifestyle.

About Smart Meetings:

Smart Meetings is the leading media company and the most trusted resource for professionals in the meetings industry. Providing best-in-class service, Smart Meetings publishes cutting-edge meetings content in print and digital magazines, hosts world-class networking events, features thought-leading and interactive webinars, provides a complimentary site-selection service (Smart Meetings 360) and offers myriad digital resources.

Smart Meetings pioneered the widely celebrated one-on-one hosted buyer program and has become the most effective media company to connect meeting professionals with premier hotels and destinations.

About Smart Meetings 360:

With a best-in-class meetings and events experience, Smart Meetings 360 is the ultimate service for the modern planner. This personalized and complimentary site-selection tool begins with a consultative approach, focusing on the client's specific needs to secure the best available group rates at ideal properties. The comprehensive, personalized service performs property research, contract negotiations, side-by-side proposal comparisons, site inspection preparations and more.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Harrington
jennifer@smartmeetings.com
415-339-9355

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SOURCE Smart Meetings

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