Speaker Profiles – 2018 Budapest, Hungary

Speaker notes, where available are against each speaker profile. Click on the speaker profile to access their presentation.

Agnes Herczeg

Fine Wine Consulting

Agnes Herczeg graduated as an economist, majoring in international relations. She has been involved with the world of wine since 2000. She has held a WSET Diploma, and WSET Certified Educator title since 2010, and a Fine and Rare Wine Specialist title since 2011. She was the recipient of the Woman of the Year Entrepreneurial Award in 2015. She is a student of the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Agnes is running her wine consultant company since 2007, and currently working as a wine consultant and advisor for Lidl Hungary, and several Hungarian and foreign wineries, while participating in private and corporate events as an expert. She is the head of the wine tourism advisor postgraduate program and WSET program of the Budapest Metropolitan University, and a member of the university's advisory board.

Alfredo Retortillo

Euskadi - Basque Country

Minister of Tourism, Trade & Consumer Affairs. Euskadi - Basque Country

Armin H. Mueller

Gourmet Wine Travel

My name is Armin H. Müller and I was born in the Northern part of Germany in 1964. After graduation in Business Adminstration at the University of Cologne, I worked for many years in Technical Sales. Already in the 90s I started organizing Wine Tasting for other people, mainly in the Franciacorta region of Italy. Step by step I build up relationships with the wine producers. Of course I learned a lot about the way to produce these famous sparkling wines. And then I decided to enroll for a Sommelier Course in Zurich. Over the period of 3 years, I could learn a lot about wine and the wine world. During this period I also organized the first Wine Tour in Franciacorta and during the last 6 years I organized many Gourmet Wine Tours in Europe. In the mean time, I am Europe`s number 1 expert for Gourmet Wine Travel and I developed the 7-Step-Formula For An Unforgettably Unique Gourmet Wine Tour.

Armin's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.4 The 7-Step Formula for an Unforgettably Unique Gourmet Wine Tour>>

Chuanfei Wang

Sophia University

Chuanfei Wang is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Comparative Culture of Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan. Her PhD dissertation covers wine culture in Japan, focusing on how Japanese wine producers, consumers and cultural intermediaries have incorporated Japan into the global wine world from the perspective of the sociology of culture. She is currently conducting ethnographic research on the wine culture in Japan; and, the comparative study of wine tourism as a cultural experience in Japan, Australia and China.

Chuanfei's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.3 Japan's Wine Tourism: Culinary Politics in the Japanese Wine World>>

Csilla Jánosi

Wine a'More Travel

Co-founder and Co-owner of Wine a’More Travel, Master of Arts, tourism manager, guide, WSET intermediate. I have spent more than 25 years in the travel industry. In the last 5 years I have been deeply involved in the wine tourism business in Hungary, since 2014 I am managing my own boutique tour operator company, with the main profile wine and culinary tourism.

Csilla's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.5 Hungary Prime for Wine Tourism>>

Dr. Barbara Masberg

Central Washington University

Dr. Barbara Masberg is an Associate Professor at Central Washington University teaching in the Recreation, Tourism and Events Program. I have done consulting and research in wine tourism and currently team teach two wine tourism courses on campus.

Barbara’s Speaker notes can be obtained by sending an email to Barbara.Masberg@cwu.edu

Session 2.2 An Analysis of Wine Tourism Life Cycle Stages in Washington State

Dr. John Hudelson

Central Washington University

Dr. John E. Hudelson is assistant professor of Global Wine Trade at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. John has worked as a Viticulture researcher at Cornell University's Hudson Valley Agricultural Experimental Station, served as V.P. of Operations for the Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Association, been the wine chemist of a large U.S. winery, and taught at several colleges in the Northeast United States. He is the author of Wine Faults: Causes, Effects and Cures published by the Wine Appreciation Guild and The Wines of Eastern Europe published by Board and Bench Publishing, 2017. John has been a vineyardist for the 24 years and is co-owner of North River Methode Champenois Wines.

John’s Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.4 Getting it Right in Eastern Europe>>

Elizabeth Gabay

Master of Wine

Elizabeth Gabay came to wine thirty years ago from a marketing background in publishing and the theatre. She is a Master of Wine (1998) and author of ‘Rosé: Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution’ (2018). She judges in international competitions and the President of the jury for the International Rosé Competition; writes for various magazines and websites such as Decanter and Drinks Business, and is the editor of the Provence section for Jancis Robinson’s World Atlas of Wine. She regularly gives masterclasses and lectures in France, UK and Hungary. Apart from specialising in rosé wine from around the world, she specialises in the wines of Provence and Hungary. She moved to south eastern France (on the edge of Provence) in 2002.

Evon M. Spangler

Spangler and de Stefano

Evon M. Spangler, Esq. and Perry M. de Stefano, Esq. are attorneys with more than 40 years of combined experience who represent business owners with issues affecting both their business and their family in transactional, litigation, and appellate matters. As business owners themselves, they understand first-hand the challenges and rewards of being a business owner. They help business clients develop strategies and minimize the risk of exposure for their business and themselves personally. Educating business owners is one of their passions, which has taken them all over the world in speaking at international conferences.

Evon and Perry's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.3 Branding in the 21st Century: A Legal Perspective>>

Felicity Carter

Wine Business International

Felicity Carter is editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, the world’s only global, English language wine business magazine. Published in Germany, it has subscribers in more than 40 countries. Felicity is a regular speaker at international wine events from ProWein to Wine2Wine, and she has spoken on wine tourism at a number of international conferences, including in South Africa and Portugal. A wine judge, Felicity has judged in Portugal, Germany, Bordeaux, Brussels and Georgia, and in 2015 formed part of the ‘empowerment of women in wine’ panel for Wines of Argentina. She is an international judge of the Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Wine List of the Year, and the China Wine List of the Year, and has been the international judge of the nationally televised German Wine Queen finals.

Felicity’s Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.2 Plenary Session How to Thrive in the New Tourism Economy>>

Géza Ipacs

Apacs Studio

I have been a graphic designer for more than 25 years and took part in the building of several major national brands.

My main focus is packaging and restaurant branding. The number of wine labels I have designed exceeds eight hundred and I have designed the bottle for dry Tokaj wines.
I have been dealing with wine marketing and branding consultancy for ten years.

Hungarian Tourism Agency

The Hungarian Tourism Agency is the Premium Sponsor for the 10th edition of the annual International Wine Tourism Conference, Exhibition, Workshop and Fam Trips and will be opening the 2 days of Conference talks with a Welcome followed by the delivery of the opening plenary session.

István Szepsy

Szepsy Ltd. & St. Tamás Ltd.

István Szepsy was born in 1980 in a family which has been dealing with wine making and vine growing since the 17th century in the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja. He finished his winemaking studies in 2004 and has been working since then in Hungary as a winemaker at Szepsy Ltd. He founded Szent Tamás Vineyards & Winery with two business partners in 2009.

István’s Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.3 Tokaj - Discover the Destination Behind the World Famous Name>>

Jochen Erler

Wine & Wine Tourism Journalist

After years in academia and the international civil service, I am now a wine lecturer and journalist writing mainly for wine magazines in Austria, the UK, Germany and South Africa. I also judge at wine & spirits competitions worldwide, and work occasionally as a wine consultant. I have lived in Germany, the States, the Caribbean, in Paris and 25 years in England. My present residence is in Austria, but most of my activities as a juror are in Germany.

Jochen's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.3 What Makes a Wine Tour in a Wine Region Successful?>>

Judit Sulyok

University of Pannonia

Judit Sulyok is a senior lecturer at the University of Pannonia and leader of the Balaton Tourism Research Centre since 2015. Before joining the higher education, she had been worked in tourism research area at the Hungarian Tourism Ltd. She holds a PhD degree, her research focused on branding of the Lake Balaton. Besides teaching at the University, she is involved in Hungarian and international projects. On behalf of the University, she is a project partner of The Wine Lab international project. She has various publications focusing on tourism.

Judit's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.2 The Wine Lab - Generating Innovation between Practice & Research>>

Judith Lewis

deCabbit Consultancy

Judith Lewis is the founder of the deCabbit Consultancy specialising in integrated digital marketing consultancy and execution. She is a specialist integrated online marketer with skills in SEO, PPC, and Social Media Marketing as well as other digital marketing techniques. She has been doing SEO since before it had a name and has worked both in-house and agency-side.

She has judged both UK & EU Search Awards, is a founding everywoman Modern Muse and is the coordinator for London Girl Geek Dinners.  Having both an in-house and agency background, her clients have included Google, Virgin, NSPCC, Zopa, Slendertone, the Guggenheim, SAP, Amadeus, Blue Cross, & ShareThis.

Judith writes for the SEO Chicks and Mostly About Chocolate as well as the Huffington Post.  She speaks at various conferences around the world and is passionate about teaching and helping businesses large and small (as well as chocolate).

Judith's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.4 Getting Seriously Social>>

Session 2.4 Integrate or Die>>

Laurence Cogan

School of Wine & Spirits Business - Dijon

Currently teaching wine marketing & wine tourism at the School of Wine & Spirits Business at the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon. Launched in January 2016 a specialisation in wine tourism for our Bachelor 3rd years.

International experience in international advertising and HR. Two entrepreneurial experiences in wine in Dublin and tourism in Burgundy.

Laurence’s Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 1.4 Wine Tourism in an Emerging Wine Destination, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy>>

Meridith May

The Tasting Panel / The SOMM Journal

Meridith May is the owner of three national U.S. wine and spirits trade publications: The SOMM Journal, The Clever Root and THE TASTING PANEL Magazine. She is responsible for the publications’ branding and content. She has successfully increased each national magazine’s circulation and readership to reach over 75,000 bi-monthly for SOMM Journal and over 90,000 hospitality industry professionals 11 times a year for The Tasting Panel.

Meridith’s career in the media spans over 30 years. She began as VP Marketing for Los Angeles-based KIIS FM/KRLA radio in the 1980s working with such notable on-air personalities as Charlie Tuna, The Real Don Steele and Rick Dees. She soon started a noon talk show about food and wine, which developed into a longer formatted show with Merrill Shindler on KFWB and then KABC called “Happy Hour.”

Segueing into food and wine, she was the restaurant columnist for the Santa Barbara News Press from 1998-2001 and then took the role as Senior Editor at Patterson’s Beverage Journal where she ran the magazine until 2007, when she purchased the name, with partner Anthony Dias Blue, and began The Tasting Panel, which has evolved as the nation’s leading national wine and spirits industry magazine.

Meredith's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.5 Country Branding - The Wine as the Messenger>>

Nadia Frittella

Wine in Moderation

Nadia Frittella, WiM Association Communication & Event Manager - Nadia is responsible for the association’s communication activities and events. She holds a Master's degree in Corporate Communications and an advanced Master's in the “Interdisciplinary Analysis of European Integration”. Following a period of travelling abroad and experiences in the EU Institutes and associations, Nadia joined Wine in Moderation in 2013.

Nadia was not able to attend the conference as co - speaker with Stylianos Filopoulos as planned.

Stylianos' Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.5 Responsible Wine Tourism for a Sustainable Wine Culture>>

Paul Richer

Genesys Digital Transformation

Paul Richer is founder of Genesys Digital Transformation, a management consultancy specialising in providing strategicadvice on all matters relating to the application of technology to the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.   Paul has built a worldwide reputation for his knowledge and experience of online/offline technology,business, organisational and operational strategies.   Clients include many of the best known names in travel.

Paul has co-authored several reports examining the impact of technology on the distribution of travel, including “Distribution Technology in the Travel Industry” published by Financial Times Retail and “Marketing Destinations Online – Strategies for the Information Age” published by the World Tourism Organisation.

An example of the work Paul has undertaken is the transitioning of travel businesses from offline to omni-channel.Twoof the clients he has assisted in this area are the largest travel companies in Portugal and New Zealand.  Both had offline operations – retail units and call centres.  Both have successfully extended their businesses to encompass online –web and mobile.  As well as planning and implementing new technology, this also required re-configuration of retail units and, importantly, organisational and cultural change.  The challenge with omni-channel is to create a culture where all staff realise that they are part of an over-arching single entity serving the customer to best effect at whichever touch-point he/she chooses.  Organisational silos need to be broken down in order to achieve this.

Travel is a very idiosyncratic industry.  External expertise can bring an essential and refreshing view to strategic planning.  However, it is good to couple this with relevant, comprehensive experience.  Paul embodies this unique combination of a thorough understanding of where the travel industry has come from as well as insightful expertise on where it should be heading.  Paul chairs many digital-travel conferences and so is privy to much of the thought leadership that is moving the industry forward.This is set against a solid background of 20+ years’ experience of travel industry strategy and operations.

Prior to founding Genesys, Paul was a Director of Finite Group plc, a blue-chip strategic IT consultancy operating in the automotive, finance and travel industries.  Paul headed-up Finite's consultancy division and led some of the consultancy's largest projects for household, blue-chip organisations.

Whilst at Finite, Paul realised that there was a gap in the market for a professional consultancy advising on technology in the travel industry, hence his decision to leave Finite and found Genesys.

Paul holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, is a Fellow of the Institute of Travel & Tourism and Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Paul's Speaker notes can be obtained by sending an email to paul.richer@genesys.net

Session 2.1 Plenary Session Travel in a Digital World

Perry M. de Stefano

Spangler and de Stefano

Evon M. Spangler, Esq. and Perry M. de Stefano, Esq. are attorneys with more than 40 years of combined experience who represent business owners with issues affecting both their business and their family in transactional, litigation, and appellate matters. As business owners themselves, they understand first-hand the challenges and rewards of being a business owner. They help business clients develop strategies and minimize the risk of exposure for their business and themselves personally. Educating business owners is one of their passions, which has taken them all over the world in speaking at international conferences.

Evon and Perry's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.3 Branding in the 21st Century: A Legal Perspective>>

Robin Shaw

Wine Tourism Australia

Robin is passionate about all things wine and tourism and is widely regarded as Australia’s leading wine tourism development specialist.  Her experience extends across sales, marketing, business development and operational roles with companies such as Pernod Ricard, South Australian Tourism and Winemakers’ Federation of Australia.  Awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2004 to study wine tourism innovation, Robin used the information gained to develop a series of workshops and resources which she has successfully delivered in Australia, South Africa and Chile.  Robin’s company, Wine Tourism Australia, works with wineries, tourism operators and regions to maximise their destination appeal and deliver memorable visitor experiences.  She also hosts wine tourism study tours for industry professionals to locations in South Africa and Australia that epitomise best practice and service excellence and develops leisure packages to some of the world’s best wine regions.

Robin’s Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.2 Don't Go West, Go Direct!>>

Session 2.4 Take your Kids to Wine Country>>

Ronn Wiegand

Master of Wine

Ronn Wiegand is an international wine professional with 35 years of experience as a sommelier, wine journalist, wine critic, wine educator, wine judge, and wine consultant. He is a Master of Wine (1991) and Master Sommelier (1986)—and was the first person in the world to hold both titles.

He has published hundreds of wine articles in such publications as Decanter and Wine Spectator, and, since 1988, has been Editor of Restaurant Wine, a journal that goes to sommeliers and hospitality industry wine and beverage directors throughout North America.
Wiegand lived and worked 30 years in Napa Valley, California, but in 2010 moved to Tokaj, Hungary, where his wife manages Erzsebet Pince, her family’s estate winery, begun by her mother in 1992, immediately following the change in Goverments.

Stylianos Filopoulos

Wine in Moderation (WiM) Association

Stylianos Filopoulos is the Managing Director of the Wine in Moderation-Art de Vivre non-profit international association (WiM Association). He has been devoted to “Wine in Moderation” since its creation, helping the development of this social responsibility programme from a policy commitment to an international reference of the wine business.

He has extensive experience in the wider agro-food sector and a wide interdisciplinary academic background covering fields of Food Technology, European studies, Wine Management and International Association Management.

Stylianos is passionate to drive change by bringing people together and has travelled around the world studying and understanding wine culture and market. He appreciates fine taste and enjoys sunny days with friends and family.

Stylianos' Speaker notes are available for download here:

Session 2.5 Responsible Wine Tourism for a Sustainable Wine Culture>>

Zsombor Gál

Hungarian Tourism Agency

Zsombor Gál, economist, is a lead expert of wine marketing at the Hungarian Tourism Agency. He is also co-owner of the famous Tibor Gál winery in Eger. Zsombor earned his Master’s degree with distinction in wine business at ESC-Dijon, France. He has worked in wine and gastronomy marketing in Boston and Paris at top rated companies such as Boisset Family Estates or Dalloyau-Paris. He is currently preparing a phd in Geopolitics.

Zsombor's Speaker notes are available for download here:

Opening Plenary Session: Destination Hungary>>

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