ABOUT TASSO PAPPAS

After an international career of 35 years abroad, Tasso Pappas, CITE, CIS, returned to his home land in Greece from where he offers his services as independent consultant, industry speaker, and trainer, for the Incentives & Meetings Industry. A native of Athens, Greece and resident of Belgium since 1970, Tasso Pappas has accumulated over 35 years international experience in tourism and the meetings, incentive and convention business, worldwide.

Industry Education:

Tasso is a graduate of the High Commercial School of Athens and the IATA Professional Training Program on ticketing & tariffs. Further, he has attended eight SITE universities and numerous SITE, MPI & industry seminars. Tasso is one of the few Certified Incentive Travel Executives (CITE) in the world, and speaks and writes Greek, English and French. Tasso regularly delivers seminars related to the Incentives and Conferences Industry.

Industry Positions:

Tasso has acquired worldwide experience by travelling in over 60 countries and holding management positions in Hellenic Tours & Orient Express Athens (Greece) Maupintour (USA), Transcontinental-Generalcar (Belgium), and Belgium International Events. In 1993, he created CIB PERFORMANCE Belgium where he remained as partner and director until 2003. Under his management CIB Performance became an international leader in the market for the handling of quality incentive and conference events. Since January 2005, Tasso shares his time between Brussels and Athens, and works as an independent consultant and speaker for the MICE industry.

Industry Leadership:

Tasso Pappas, CITE, has served the MICE industry in the following international positions:

• • 1985-1990 Founding member of ABITO (Association of Belgian Incoming Operators) and President for five years.

  • 1987-1993 Member of the executive committee of WATA (World Association of Travel Agents) for six years

  • 1992-1996 President of the SITE Benelux chapter for four years.

  • 1994-1995 Chairman of the SITE Ethics Committee.

  • 1996-2001 Member of the Board of Directors of SITE Intl. for six years holding Executive positions of Vice President - Marketing, Vice President – Membership, and President Elect.

  • 2000 President of SITE International.(Society for Incentive Travel Exellence)

  • 2002 Member of the Organizing Committee of MPI/PEC 2002 in Brussels.

  • 2007-2010 Founder and President of SITE Greek Chapter. (4 years)

  • 2008-2009 Member of SITE's Chapter Leadership Council

  • 2010 Chairman of SITE Media Committee and Member of SITE's Bylaws Committee

Industry Recognitions:

• • In 1995 Tasso received the EIBTM/IT&ME “European Incentive Personality Award”

• In 1996, Tasso became the third European ever to obtain the prestigious CITE designation (Certified Incentive Travel Executive), the highest designation in the incentive industry. For his designation he wrote the thesis “To Be or Not to Be a DMC” which today has become a successful SITE educational book and seminar.

• In 2012 Tasso was one of the first to receive the new Site certification of CIS (Certified Incentive Specialist

Hobbies/Personal Interests

Computer, painting, golfing, cooking, gardening, photography, and reading of historic books.