Simpleview’s Christine “Shimo” Shimasaki announced her upcoming retirement as managing director of 2Synergize, LLC, a Simpleview consulting company, as she prepares to welcome Simpleview’s newest strategic hire Vail Ross to the role.
Shimasaki has provided unparalleled leadership and guidance to hoteliers, destination marketing organizations, convention and visitors bureaus and the industry as a whole since 1983, contributing to the creation, evolution and advancement of the destination organization industry.
She was recognized in July 2022 by the Destinations International Hall of Fame for her efforts as an industry contributor and was instrumental in the creation of FuturePace, ICCA Business Intelligence and the recent launch of Simpleview Data Engine.
Shimasaki will retire from her role of managing director of 2Synergize at the end of 2023, when she will transition into the role of a strategic advisor and board member at Simpleview. In her new role, Shimasaki will continue to counsel Simpleview to advocate and support destinations in meetings and group sales markets.
“From Marriott to the San Diego Tourism Authority, to my consulting at Destinations International, and then joining Simpleview, this journey has been amazing—I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Shimasaki said in a press release announcing her retirement. “This year marks my 40th anniversary in the industry; I have a lot to be grateful for, including having people around me who believed in me.”
Vail Ross, former senior vice president of global business development and marketing at STR, is a travel industry leader sitting on a number of association and non-profit boards and was named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute in 2022. Ross was also recognized as one of Hotel Management’s Influential Women In Hospitality in 2019 and will begin her role as co-director of 2Synergize in September 2023 before transitioning to managing director in the new year.
This information is based on a press release from Simpleview.
