Wyndham International’s pioneering WOMEN ON THEIR WAY program has announced the winner of its 2005 contest, a national search for the “Woman Business Traveler of the Year.” The winner, Sherry Sacino, president, Youth Empowerment Alliance, and veteran business traveler, is well deserving of this title - in only one year, she has racked up 250,000 miles spanning 67 countries across five continents. The contest, which began in 1995 as a call for tips to improve the business travel experience, celebrates the Wyndham program’s 10th anniversary by honoring one woman who embodied the essence of WOMEN ON THEIR WAY. In her three-minute video submission, Sacino’s thoughts on how business travelers should make the most of their time on the road and look at their various travels as an opportunity to explore local culture indicate she is part of the growing trend of business travelers - especially women - who are combining elements of pleasure into business trips.
“The contest responses validate Wyndham’s platform to support women in all areas of their lives, to do things differently than our competitors, and to meet our goal of delivering services that appeal to all travelers, while keeping the needs of women business travelers top of mind,” said Craig Cunningham, senior vice president of marketing, Wyndham International. “Wyndham uses this contest, along with its WOMEN ON THEIR WAY Advisory Board, research with New York University and Wyndham ByRequest(R), our guest recognition program, to listen to all our guests and ensure we’re meeting their specific needs.”
Wyndham upped the stakes across the board this year, with a donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation matched by contest partner Panasonic Corporation of North America. In addition, the finalists and grand-prize winner will be provided with a seven-day/six-night stay for two at any participating Wyndham hotel or resort, round trip airfare for two from American Airlines, and choice of a Panasonic Lumix digital camera or digital Palmcorder Multicam. The four runner-up finalists include:
—Mary Kay Horrisberger, director of sales, Designs by Lucinda (North Yarmouth, Me.)
—Helen J. Fobi, founder, Family to Family Program (Rolling Hills, Calif.)
—Maria Montano-Harmon, professor emeritus, Department of Secondary Education, California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, Calif.)
—April Teitelbaum, consultant, Hematology/Oncology Consultants (Doylestown, Pa.)
Grand-prize winner, Sacino, also receives:
—Panasonic’s “Dream Media Room,” which includes a 50-inch diagonal plasma HDTV television and a home theater audio system with DVD changer
Additionally, Sacino will be featured on the NBC Astrovision by Panasonic screen in Times Square.
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