Meeting/Event Information

Driving Hotel Compliance Panel

Speaker: Panel

Sean Parham - Senior Manager, Travel & Meeting Services, Corinthian Colleges, Inc

With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, Sean began his career as a courier for a small travel agency in Memphis, TN while attending classes at the University of Memphis.  In the years that followed he has managed the travel programs for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Guess, Inc. and Hilton Worldwide.  In late 2010, Hilton announced the relocation of the corporate offices in Beverly Hills to suburban Washington, DC.  Sean, not wanting to leave the beautiful Southern California weather behind, chose to part ways with Hilton and ultimately took a position with Corinthian Colleges.
In addition to his duties as Senior Manager of Travel & Meeting Services, Sean has served on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Business Travel Association for the last 5 years and currently holds the position of Secretary and has twice been awarded the President’s Choice  Award.  

Gina Felts - Travel Coordinator, Cricket Communications

As the Travel Program Specialist for Cricket Communications, Inc., Gina is responsible for sourcing and managing Cricket’s air, car, hotel , expense audit and traveler tracking  programs.  In addition, Gina has implemented an online booking tool and a Strategic Meetings Program.  Due to programs implemented, the percentage of hotel travel tracked by Cricket’s TMC has increased from 50 to 94% since 2009. 
Gina is a member of SDBTA, GBTA as well as a founding member of Cricket’s TMC Client Advisory Board.  Since joining the travel industry, Gina has earned both her CTE and CCTE. 

Matthew  J. Forget – Regional Vice President of Business Development, Lanyon, Inc. 

Matthew Forget is Vice President of Business Development for Dallas based Lanyon Inc. (a leading hospitality spend management solutions company). He brings more than 24 years of global sales and executive management experience to Lanyon and for the past 13 years he has specialized in internet based RFP technologies for the Hospitality, K-12 Public Education and Acute Healthcare markets.
Matt was previously with hospitality RFP providers; RFP Express and Uversa International before Lanyon acquired Uversa in Feb. of 2011.
Matt’s is also one of the rare “San Diego Natives” and is graduate ofSan DiegoState and SouthwesternCollege.

Moderator – Frank Costa Portfolio Manager - Support Services, Sempra Energy

Frank Costa is a long-time SDBTA member and has held several leadership roles on the board.  He is a Supply Management professional with Sempra Energy, currently as Support Services Portfolio Manager serving San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas.  
Frank has over 25 years of travel industry experience.  He has owned and operated retail travel organizations and created travel-related loyalty programs for national accounts.  He produced and hosted “The Travel Insiders”, a weekly local radio show between 1997 and 2004.  
Frank has won recognition within travel and charitable organizations including the 2004 “Innovation and Integrity in Travel” award from The American Society of Travel Agents and the Muscular Dystrophy Citation of Merit.  He has served on several travel industry advisory boards including Amadeus, American Express, Continental Airlines, Lowestfare.com, GEM-Cruiselink and Vacation.com.  
Frank is an SDSU alumni and resides in San Diego. 

Sponsor: Emirates Airlines

Lunch Meeting Agenda:

Registration/Networking: 11:30am - 12:00pm

Program: 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Location: Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Parking: Self Parking complimentary / Valet $15.00

Menu:

Salad: ***Mixed Baby Lettuce, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, Sundried Cranberries, Cucumber, Toasted Walnuts, Crumbled Goat Cheese & Champagne Dijon Vinagrette ***

Entree: *** Free Range Chicken Breast, Leek & Prosciutto Risotto, Wilted Arugula with Thyme Jus**

Vegetarian Option: ***Penne Pasta, Wilted Arugula, Asparagus with Artichoke Relish***

Dessert: *** New York Style Cheesecake with Seasonal Berries***

Registration Questions: Please email: [email protected]