Max Byrd
“Max is the rare professional who possesses superb capacity for detail & creativity, but at the same time Max has the drive & personality that make him a perfect partner.”
Max is one of the industry’s elites in the realm of identifying the right destination and the right venue or hotel for any event worldwide. During the past twenty-two years we’ve earned our clients trust and become a sustaining resource for Meeting and Event Planners
“ ..It’s not just finding the less expensive place…. Its finding the place that will provide an environment for success. The client’s reputation is on the line, and being in the wrong place can cost them immeasurably in how their guests look at them…”
As National Sales Manager for a combined twelve years with Amelia Island Plantation, Saddlebrook Resort and PGA National Resort and Spa, he assisted clients in meeting and exceeding their goals and objectives for conferences and incentives. Having exceptional success onboth the hotel side and from the planner perspective gives him unique advantage.
Since leaving PGA National Resort in 1999, Max has been involved in negotiating services for approximately 1500 events worldwide. Among the client representation services that will be provided from the Palm Beach Gardens office are conference planning; RFP creation and supplier negotiation management; comparative cost benchmarking; air, hotel, cruise line, and DMC contract analysis and negotiation; site inspection coordination; dispute resolution; and meeting cancellation/attrition recovery mediation.
Max maintains membership in Meeting Planners International (MPI). Max is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a graduate of Auburn University. You could say he is a true southern gentleman. He and his wife Cathleen live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. When time permits, Max spends as much time as possible on the golf course, skiing or cycling. The couple have a beautiful daughter and a small menagerie including four cats.
Geoff Simons
“Geoff is an extension to our Meetings Department Team, and at no charge to us! I can focus on other meeting planning projects that demand my attention, knowing he is handling the site-selection process with the hotels, and negotiation process on our behalf.”
Geoff Simons
Joining forces and forming Global Advisory Council, Geoff and Max combined their long term client relationships from the hotel industry to create a new environment in order to best satisfy their clients objectives within the meeting industry. Following an extensive career in the hospitality industry for 30 years, including The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, and The Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida. Geoff developed a multimillion dollar account base of national associations programs, and has sustained his long term relationships with his clients to move forward in a new direction with Global Advisory Council. Today, with the advantages of a “Virtual Office Location”, Geoff has found living in South Florida a perfect home base with easy access to travel to any destination regardless of the domestic or international nature of this client’s needs.
Geoff has been an active board member with various industry associated committees, as well as a participating member on advisory board for top hotel companies. He has also co-chaired hospitality courses at local universities in Florida, with continued membership in Industry Related Conferences.
Nancy Vera
“Your own efforts deserve a Gold Medal. You worked at least 25 straight days on the project and were always willing to cheerfully help with any aspect of the project. We could not have made this accomplishment without ya’ll. Do you realize that we sent hundreds of customers to 98 different events at 23 venues, within a 100 mile radius, in 17 days; with no complaints. What great job!”
Nancy Vera is a creative and effective event professional with broad experience in the meeting planning and event management field. Over the last 20 years, she has managed conferences, corporate incentive programs, annual meetings, and hospitality programs at major sporting events. She has worked with clients such as the National Football League, Altria Group Inc., Kraft Foods Inc., the Miller Brewing Company, Volvo Car Corporation, Nationwide Insurance, Oracle and Seagate Technologies.
From 1998-2005, Nancy served as President and minority owner of Event Links International, a small hospitality firm with 10 employees and over $5 million in annual billings. She effectively managed the day-to-day demands of running a business while maintaining the relationships of the companies top clients.
She has been involved with many major sporting events including the Super Bowl, The Olympics, The Masters, The Breeders Cup, The U.S. Open, and the Volvo Ocean Race.
Nancy is a graduate of Boston College. She currently lives in Delray Beach with her husband Rodrigo and 2 children.