DAVID KLIMAN
President
The Kliman Group

www.klimangroup.com

David Kliman, CMP, CMM, is founder and president of The Kliman Group, a market research and communications consulting practice based in Sausalito, California, which specializes in facilitating customer advisory boards, focus groups, and strategic planning meetings for hospitality industry organizations. Kliman helps his clients understand customer trends and converts those trends into sales, service, and marketing best practices.

Kliman is a widely respected hospitality industry leader with 30 years experience in business development, global sales, and marketing and operations management in both the hotel and financial services industries.

He has served as international chairman of MPI (Meeting Professionals International), and as a delegate on the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. He co-chaired the MPI PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Tomorrow’s Summit Conference and has served on MPI’s Multi-Cultural Initiative committee. Kliman was awarded one of the industry’s highest accolades, MPI’s International Meeting Planner of the Year, in 1999.

GEOFF FREEMAN
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
U.S. Travel Association

www.ustravel.org

Click for CNBC Interview

Geoff Freeman serves as senior vice president of public affairs for the U.S. Travel Association, the nation’s leading voice for increasing travel to and within the United States. He leads all advocacy activities for the organization, including lobbying, strategic communications, and grassroots mobilization. Throughout his career, Freeman has managed a variety of complex public affairs campaigns and developed innovative outreach strategies for such organizations as the Discover America Partnership, APCO Worldwide, Freddie Mac, and the American Association of Health Plans.

MARK KOMINE
Senior Vice President, Sales - Americas
Hilton Hotels Corporation

www.hilton.com

Mark Komine serves as senior vice president of sales – Americas. In this role he oversees sales strategy, development and execution across the Americas organization.  Komine came to Hilton from LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, where he served as executive vice president, directing sales and marketing strategies for LXR’s properties located throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. An industry veteran, Komine has also held sales & marketing leadership positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Westin Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and Fidelity Investments’ Seaport Companies.