The Metro Toronto Convention Centre today announced that its Director of Event Coordination, Sharon Dayal, has been named the winner of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the Year Award.

Each year PCMA honours outstanding members for their contributions to PCMA and the meetings and hospitality industry. Winners of the 2008 Achievement Awards will be officially recognized at the 53rd PCMA Annual Meeting, to be held January 11-14, 2009, in New Orleans.

"The winners of the 2008 PCMA Achievement Awards make PCMA the outstanding organization that it is. We’re proud to recognize these exceptional members — and meetings industry leaders — through the annual Achievement Awards program," said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton.
       
The Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of convention services. The Award pays tribute to the fact that the convention services department is often what determines the success of meetings and conventions. It is presented annually to the convention service manager or convention coordinator in PCMA’s North America-wide membership who has shown exceptional performance, professional expertise, and seamless dedication.

Barry Smith, President & CEO of the MTCC, said that the Centre offers its heartiest congratulations to Ms. Dayal on her big win. “Sharon Dayal has been a considerable asset to the MTCC for almost 20 years. Her customers and staff rave about her, and she has been a big part of our high client satisfaction rates and our overall success. We are very pleased to see her recognized in this important way.”

Sharon Dayal joined the MTCC in 1989 after nine years of service at two Toronto-area hotels, the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel and the Constellation Hotel. Her current position at the MTCC is Director of Event Coordination, where she works with a team of 15 people to provide superior customer service to more than 700 events at the MTCC each year. Overall, she has 28 years of continuous and progressive experience in the meetings and conventions industry.