Christine Ford has joined Visit Plano as the destination marketing organization’s new Event Services Coordinator.
Christine is a seasoned venue professional in the destination marketing space, with deep experience working with event planners and external stakeholders. She served as a conference and event sales manager with the Aberdeen Performing Arts in Aberdeen, UK, where she worked closely with the Aberdeen Convention Bureau and Visit Scotland. She also worked as an Association Sales Executive at the Aberdeen Conference Center. Christine earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Travel and Tourism Business and graduated with honors from Glasgow Caledonian University in her native Scotland.
In her new role, Christine manages all logistics, arrangements, and services for Visit Plano clients once they have been booked in Plano by the Visit Plano sales team. She also assists meeting and sports planners in coordinating events in each of Visit Plano’s targeted market segments including corporate, association, government, sports, and SMERF (social, military, education, religious, and fraternal).
During its 2022-2023 fiscal year, Visit Plano hosted 131 events resulting in a total of 50,035 room nights, and the Event Services Coordinator has a hand in all 131 of those events.
Christine is a wonderful new addition to the Visit Plano team! Let’s take a minute to get to know her better.
Q & A With Christine
Q. Tell us a little about yourself, Christine.
A. I’m a friendly lassie from Scotland who enjoys adventure and took the leap across the pond, moving to Texas with my husband in 2019. I am also a fan of watching wildlife documentaries, especially if it’s narrated by Sir David Attenborough!
Q. What were your previous roles before joining the Visit Plano team?
A. Product and Sales Trainer (tech industry), Conference & Events Sales Manager (Aberdeen Performing Arts), Association Sales Executive (ASM Global – Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center), and Quality and Tourism Advisor (Visit Scotland).
Q. You have a few months under your belt now, so what is your favorite part about working for Visit Plano so far?
A. Just one? The banter, with coworkers and partners!
Q. What have you found to be some of your favorite things to do in Plano thus far?
A. I enjoy a stroll around Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, tapas and sangria at Bulla Gastrobar, and a festive drive around Deerfield with friends – which has become a tradition now!
Q. What has been your favorite vacation?
A. This is tough, I’ve been very lucky and have many great memories from vacations over the years. Let’s go with my first vacation to the USA (which was also my first snowboarding vacation!). We had an amazing time exploring the town of Breckenridge and the ski slopes, and then spent a week taking in the sights of New York City, including a New Year’s Eve boat ride on the Hudson. So many fantastic memories from that trip, even though I injured myself and was also unwell for New Years. Two very different vacations in one – and the snow gear was very handy in NYC when a freak snow storm came in!
Q. Guilty pleasure: What can you not live without?
A. A strong cup of hot breakfast tea to start my day.
Q. What is an interesting fact about yourself?
A. I drive a vintage orange Jeep (she’s a pavement princess!).
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share?
A. I had never eaten BBQ before moving to Texas, and I am a FAN!
