Zita Steglich-Ross, a certified meeting professional with more than 30 years of experience in sales and business development, launched a new boutique destination management company.
Steglich Ross Business Solutions leverages Steglich-Ross’ extensive experience in meetings, conventions sales and management. The company provides an array of comprehensive services and consultation to meeting planners and organizations needing additional assistance with planning their meetings and events.
The firm provides an array of services to meeting and convention groups of all sizes, from the corporate, association and specialty markets, including site selection, conference management, booth exhibition and sales services, transportation management, audio and visual production, and developing local consultative partnerships to help provide access to services needed in the meetings destination.
With a 16-year tenure with Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for the second-most popular meeting destination in the U.S., Steglich-Ross is astutely aware of trends in the meetings and conventions industry and offers specific expertise on issues related to effectively managing the meetings experience from beginning to end. With a proven track record in fostering and nurturing long-term relationships, she anticipates client needs and provides and procures supplemental services to help ensure a successful event. The launch of Steglich Ross Business Solutions enables her to offer these services to an array of clients booking meetings anywhere.
In her most recent role as director of convention sales for Visit Orlando, Steglich-Ross managed a 30-person sales and support team to drive convention and meetings bookings for corporate, association and SMERF groups and manage exhibit and meeting space for national, regional and local conventions, tradeshows and organizations. Using her expertise in strategic business development, she implemented educational programming for Visit Orlando staff members and acted as an advisor to various internal departments.
During her tenure, Steglich-Ross is also credited with revitalizing relationships in niche markets and with SMERF groups, and establishing a specialty market for accounts using one million gross square feet of exhibit space. She has managed more than 900 accounts while continuing to regularly exceed sales goals.
Prior to joining the Visit Orlando team, Steglich-Ross served in sales and convention management roles for some of the top hotels in the country. This includes Hotel Inter-Continental, Hyatt Regency Miami, Pittsburgh Vista Hotel and Sheraton Kensington Hotel.
She is a member of Meetings Professionals International, Professional Convention Management Association and National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners. Steglich-Ross also remains active in civic organizations, including serving as a board member for the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida and working with Florida Hall of Fame Highwaymen Artist, Inc.
