In presenting the coveted award, IACC Americas President Peter Stockmann noted that Eisenstodt was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s Hall of Fame, was recognized as an Educator by the PCMA Foundation for Lifetime Achievement and was the 2002 recipient of the Pyramid Award for sustained contributions to IACC education over many years.

Eisenstodt is active in PCMA, MPI, ASAE, DMAI and other industry and non-industry organizations and is widely recognized for her passion for lifelong learning, meeting preparation, risk anticipation and contingency planning, ethical and inclusivity practices and meeting excellence.  An ardent champion of the conference center concept, Eisenstodt holds the record for having facilitated, moderated or presented at ten annual conferences and other IACC events.

A good friend of Mel Hosansky before his death in 1990, Eisenstodt is the first non-member of IACC to receive the Distinguished Service Award since Mel Hosansky himself.

Beginning in 1985, IACC has annually acknowledged one individual who has given the most to IACC and the conference center industry.  Originally called the Distinguished Service Award, it was renamed in 1990 in memory of its first recipient, Mel Hosansky, who died later that year.  A longtime editor of Meetings & Conventions Magazine and later Successful Meetings. Hosansky was an early supporter of IACC and its objectives.

Accepting the award in front of a standing ovation at The National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA, Eisenstodt remarked, “This is the ultimate!  Particularly since it’s named for somebody who had more integrity than anyone I’ve known in hospitality.  I see the award as reflective of Mel’s value and contributions to this industry segment, and that’s particularly meaningful to me.”  She also expressed hope that “IACC conference centers would continue to be true to their mission, that they would be places where true learning would happen.”

Founded in 1981, the International Association of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry and to giving member properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptional meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent Universal Criteria and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, England, The Netherlands, Germany and Japan. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org.  IACC = exceptional meeting experiences.