Airy Garrigosa, until very recently Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau and serving as ECM Board member received the best recognition in the Meetings Industry.
Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) President Philippe Fournier has announced the winner of the 2012 JMIC Unity Award as Airy Garrigosa who formally received the award at the IMEX Awards Banquet in Frankfurt, Germany on May 23.
In making the Award, Fournier said “JMIC as an organization is devoted to creating stronger relationships within our industry and promoting greater awareness of the values we represent. Airy is an individual that has for many years represented the kinds of qualities and activities that support industry growth and professionalism, and it therefore gives me great pleasure to be making this highly respected award to her in recognition of her accomplishments”.
Airy Garrigosa also had a leading role within European Cities Marketing, being an active ECM member since 2007 and the creation of ECM through the merger of the former European Federation of Conference Towns (EFCT) and European Cities (ECT) organisations. Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, ECM President, said: “Airy’s involvement in the Board since 2007 has always been very valuable and her contribution to the association is second to none through the setting up of a variety of convention events and workshops, such as Mercado or Meet Europe. Airy was truly the initiator of expanding ECM activities outside Europe and to the USA as a first start.”
Airy spent the first twelve years of her career in the hotel industry and moved into the meetings sector with an appointment to start up what was at the time the first convention bureau in Spain. She subsequently developed her knowledge of the conference business to the extent that she became a leading authority on this subject and was able to share this through lectures around the world. In the course of this activity she also helped to establish numerous other convention bureaus both in Spain and other countries as well. At the same time, she also served in many different Industry Associations, including ICCA, ECM, MPI and SITE where she made an ongoing contribution to industry development.
The Unity Award is made annually to an individual who represents the best qualities of Meetings Industry Leadership and who has devoted major efforts to creating stronger relationships and a greater cohesion for the industry. Award criteria evaluate industry leadership and initiative both in a candidate’s own professional conduct and the efforts they put into industry-building through association, education and professional development activities.
