Meet Katarina Railko, a seasoned hospitality expert with a deep-rooted passion for travel, tourism, and event planning. With years of experience in the industry, Katarina has become a trusted voice in entertainment, expos, and conferences, bringing a unique perspective to the world of destination management. Today, we dive into her insights on Ovation Global DMC’s exciting presence at IMEX America, their fresh strategic vision for 2025, and how their global approach is reshaping corporate events. From leadership transitions to innovative tools, Katarina shares what makes this a transformative moment for the company and its clients.
How does Ovation Global DMC’s new chapter of strategic growth at IMEX America reflect the company’s future direction?
This new chapter is really about redefining how we position ourselves in the industry. It’s a shift toward amplifying our global presence while staying true to our core strength—delivering personalized, high-value experiences for corporate clients. At IMEX America, we’re showcasing this by bringing together our destination experts from around the world to demonstrate our renewed focus on innovation and service excellence. It’s about showing our partners that we’re not just adapting to trends but setting them for 2025 and beyond.
What role does an event like IMEX America play in communicating this strategic shift to your clients?
IMEX America is a powerful platform for us to connect face-to-face with corporate event planners and industry leaders. It’s one of the few events where we can have our global team in one place, allowing clients to see the depth of our expertise and the consistency of our approach across destinations. It’s not just about telling them we’ve evolved; it’s about letting them experience it through meaningful conversations and tailored solutions right at our booth.
Rudolf Rannegger’s appointment as Managing Director seems to mark a significant moment for the company. What unique strengths does he bring to this role?
Rudolf brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the global events landscape. His ability to think big-picture while focusing on operational excellence is exactly what we need right now. He’s got a knack for identifying opportunities to innovate, whether it’s through technology or team empowerment, and his passion for client satisfaction drives everything he does. His fresh perspective is already making waves in how we approach our goals.
How has Rudolf’s vision started to influence the company’s plans for 2025?
His vision is centered on leveraging our unique global structure to deliver even more value. For 2025, that means a stronger emphasis on seamless integration across our offices worldwide, ensuring that no matter where a client’s event is, the experience feels cohesive. He’s also pushing for creativity in event design and sustainability strategies, making sure we’re ahead of the curve in meeting client expectations for impactful, responsible events.
Rudolf highlighted your global structure as a key asset. Can you elaborate on what sets this apart from other destination management companies?
Unlike many in our field who rely on networks or affiliates, we operate with wholly owned offices in over 60 locations, plus strategic partnerships in many more. This means we control the quality and consistency of service directly. There’s no middleman or varying standards—our clients get the same level of expertise whether their event is in New York, Tokyo, or Lisbon. It’s a true global framework that’s rare in our industry.
What specific advantages does this structure offer to corporate clients planning events?
For corporate clients, it translates to reliability and peace of mind. They’re working with one partner who can manage complex, multi-destination events with the same attention to detail everywhere. It also means faster decision-making and problem-solving since we’re not coordinating through third parties. Plus, our local knowledge in each destination allows us to craft authentic, impactful experiences that resonate with attendees, no matter the location.
There’s been talk of empowering teams with new tools and strategies. Can you share some examples of these innovations?
Absolutely. We’re rolling out advanced tech platforms that streamline event planning and logistics, making real-time collaboration between our global teams and clients smoother than ever. Think digital tools for instant updates on event progress or budget tracking. We’re also investing in training programs that focus on creative problem-solving, so our teams can design outside-the-box solutions tailored to each client’s vision.
How are these new strategies helping your teams deliver more creative solutions for events?
These strategies free up our teams to focus on the big ideas rather than getting bogged down in manual processes. With better tools, they have more time to brainstorm unique event concepts—like immersive cultural experiences or sustainable event formats that align with ESG goals. It’s about giving them the bandwidth and resources to push boundaries and create memorable moments that stand out.
Rutger Hoorn is leading the charge at IMEX America as VP of Global Sales & Strategic Partnerships. How does his role help bridge connections with clients at the event?
Rutger is the perfect person to spearhead our presence at IMEX. He has an incredible ability to understand client needs and translate them into actionable strategies with our global team. During the event, he’s there to facilitate direct conversations, ensuring clients feel heard and can see how our solutions fit their goals. His focus on building long-term partnerships makes every interaction meaningful.
What can attendees expect when they visit Booth F735 and meet with Rutger and the team?
When attendees come to Booth F735, they’re in for a real treat. They’ll meet experts from destinations across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and beyond, all ready to dive into their specific challenges. Rutger and the team will be there to discuss everything from creative event ideas to complex logistics, offering a glimpse of how our global network operates. It’s a chance to start building a partnership, not just have a quick chat.
What makes meeting your global team at IMEX America a unique experience compared to other networking events?
IMEX America stands out because we bring such a diverse group of destination experts together under one roof. It’s not often you can talk to someone from, say, Fiji and France in the same hour about a single event portfolio. This setup lets clients see firsthand how connected and collaborative our team is, giving them confidence in our ability to execute seamlessly across borders.
How do you plan to showcase the consistency and creativity of your services during the event?
We’re focusing on interactive discussions at our booth where clients can explore case studies of past events that highlight our creative flair and logistical precision. Our team will also walk through how we maintain consistency—whether it’s a conference in Mexico or an incentive trip in Italy. It’s about showing real examples of how we blend local expertise with a unified global standard to deliver standout results.
With representatives from so many destinations at Booth F735, how does this diversity benefit corporate event planners?
Having experts from over 30 destinations at the booth means planners can get tailored insights for virtually any location they’re considering. Whether they’re planning a small executive retreat or a large-scale conference spanning multiple countries, they can talk directly to the people who know the ins and outs of each place. It saves time, builds trust, and ensures their events are culturally relevant and logistically sound.
Looking ahead, what is your forecast for the future of destination management and corporate events in the coming years?
I think we’re heading toward an era where personalization and sustainability will dominate. Clients will expect events that are not only unique to their brand but also reflect a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Technology will play a bigger role in creating immersive experiences, like hybrid events that blend in-person and virtual elements. At the same time, the demand for authentic, local experiences will grow, and companies like ours with deep global roots will be best positioned to deliver on that. It’s an exciting time to be in this space, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
