Industry Day 2024
Thank you for joining Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission for Industry Day on Oct. 1, 2024 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. During this event, Tariq Khan, senior economist of Tourism Economics; Amir Eylon, president, CEO and partner of Longwoods; Hannah Smith, senior analyst of STR; and Jennifer Stoll, president and CEO of Cimarron Global, will share the latest tourism industry trends and data. We hope you found these industry updates about the current economic climate, hotel trends, traveler sentiment and more valuable.
Meet the Presenters
Tariq Khan Senior Economist, Tourism Economics
Tariq Khan is a Senior Economist at Tourism Economics with nearly a decade of professional experience in the economics industry, having previously held roles at the International Monetary Fund and Institute of International Finance in Washington, DC. He currently conducts macroeconomic and economic-impact analysis for numerous destinations throughout the US and Canada, as well as oversees Events Impact Calculator’s use and development in North and South America.
Amir Elyon President & CEO, Partner, Longwoods
A 33-year veteran of the Travel & Tourism industry, Amir joined Longwoods in 2015 from his previous role as Vice President, Partner Engagement with Brand USA, the public-private partnership serving as the destination marketing organization dedicated to increasing international visitation to the US. Prior to joining Brand USA, Amir served as Director of the Ohio Office of Tourism. He has also served as Executive Vice President of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, Assistant Director of the Ohio Tourism Division, and Sales & Marketing Manager with the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau. Amir is a regular speaker on market research and tourism at conferences and events around the country. His thoughts on the tourism industry and travel trends are often quoted in the media, and he has appeared in dozens of interviews among many national media outlets. Amir is an active member of many Travel Industry committees and task forces, and currently serves on boards for the Destinations International Foundation and the U.S. Travel Association. Amir holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Dayton and resides in Columbus, OH with his wife and two children.
Hannah Smith Senior Analyst, STR
Hannah serves as the Senior Analyst at STR and previously worked on the Consulting team for STR, focusing on providing custom data and analytics solutions to clients using STR’s extensive database. Today, on the Product Analytics and Insights team, she works to enhance STR’s product offerings through the CoStar platform. She is an experienced speaker at industry conferences and events, and assists in the production of industry articles, reports, and videos. Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.
Jennifer Stoll President and CEO, Cimarron Global
Dr. Jennifer Stoll founded Cimarron Global Solutions in 2024, following the success of Stoll Strategies, which she launched in 2018. Known for her dedication to advancing the sport and tourism industry, Dr. Stoll excels in innovative research, communicating the value of sport and tourism, and strategic business advisory. Recognized worldwide, she guides clients toward impactful transformations through sport and tourism.
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