Highlighting a shift in strategic direction, the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) announced…
Highlighting a shift in strategic direction, the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) announced that it is canceling University 2003 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
SITE made the decision to cancel the event following a strategic look at all of the organization`s programs and services in an attempt to ensure their relevance to members and the industry at-large. It was through this process that SITE`s Board of Directors came to the conclusion that the organization, its members and sponsors would derive greater value if SITE were to channel its resources into its International Conference, which takes place 3 – 7 December in Iceland, and the development of a series of new educational seminars.
SITE University had served our members, sponsors and the incentive travel industry well for many years, said William Vastine, SITE President. But the reality was that all of these parties, SITE included, had outgrown the value proposition SITE University offered. In order to maintain the trust that our members and others have placed in SITE as an industry leader, we are channeling our resources into areas that will derive a greater return on investment for everyone that comes in contact with a SITE program.
One such program is a series of educational seminars that SITE will introduce later this year. These seminars will maximize the amount of high quality education that members receive while minimizing the amount of time they spend away from their businesses. In addition, SITE will continue to provide educational opportunities through sessions presented at such industry events as EIBTM, IMEX and IT&ME, as it has previously done. Members also will have opportunities to network during the SITE 2003 Crystal Awards, which take place in September in Chicago, and the upcoming ESNEP event in Budapest, Hungary.
Members of the incentive and travel industry also have many strong educational and networking opportunities available to them on the local and regional level through SITE`s global network of chapters, said Brenda Anderson, SITE`s Executive Director and CEO. SITE encourages all of its members and the industry at-large to support the chapters by participating in one of their many educational events.
SITE also acknowledges the support of the Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts, whose Punta Cana property was to host SITE University 2003. SITE and Sol Melia enjoy an excellent working relationship and we look forward to building on it in the months and weeks to come Vastine added.
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