Global DMC Partners (GDP), the leading global network of independently-owned destination management companies (DMCs) and creative event experts, announces the appointment of Catherine Chaulet as President and CEO.
With her new title and expanded role, Chaulet will further champion the hospitality industry and its critical influence on the global economy. She will continue to speak on global trends and educate the industry on important topics, ranging from over- to under-tourism, hospitality’s impact on local economies, group booking trends and top meeting and incentive destinations. In the year ahead, she will travel extensively, connecting with DMC partners and clients while building upon the company’s strong foundation in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) category.
Chaulet’s promotion to CEO became effective at the end of 2019 and was an obvious next step due to her strong leadership skills, which drove the company’s exponential growth and success. As President over the past six years, she has built and led the strategy, success and growth of GDP, which now boasts a global footprint of more than 65 DMCs worldwide and is the leading global network of DMCs. Under her leadership, the company has collected many awards and accolades. In 2019 alone, GDP received the CWT Suppliers of the Year Award, Smart Meetings’ Smart Stars Award, and a spot on Special Event’s Top DMCs List. Chaulet was named to Smart Meetings’ Smart Women in Meetings as well as BizBash’s Top 1,000 People in Events.
Regarding her new CEO position, Chaulet responded, “I am particularly proud to be working with an exceptionally talented team that is focused on implementing the best solutions and strongest value to our clients. The future looks extremely bright as we further identify and unlock growth opportunities with our global network of DMCs.
Prior to Global DMC Partners, Chaulet worked for Fidelity Investments where she managed two of their subsidiaries and brought them to worldwide success. As a dynamic and seasoned leader with a proven track record of building successful global companies, she dramatically increased Fidelity’s global footprint through the subsidiaries’ alliances with over 250 affiliates worldwide. Chaulet doubled revenue and profitability by aligning operational efficiencies and pricing structures to better suit client demand. She created a culture of excellence throughout the entire organization by setting high standards, forming collaborative teams and motivating employees, partners and affiliates to perform at their best. Under her leadership, both Fidelity subsidiaries became number one worldwide in their respective industries.
Chaulet is also a French Trade Advisor (Conseillers au Commerce Exterieur, CCE) and a board member of the Boston chapter. Selected for their competence and their international experience, CCEs are appointed by the French Minister for Foreign Trade to share their experience of dealing with the opportunities and risks of the world’s markets. Present in 146 countries, CCEs form an active network of over 4,000 members around the world.
