The Site International Foundation, which provides valuable research and trend analysis on the global motivational events and incentive travel industry, has appointed Mark Bondy to serve in the critical role of Research Chair. Mr. Bondy, Partner and President of VIKTOR Incentives & Meetings, brings to the position 32 years’ experience in the travel and incentive industry and more than 20 years of dedicated service to Site.
“The Site International Foundation looks forward to the guidance and energy that Mark Bondy will bring to this role,” commented Jane E. Schuldt, CITE, the Foundation’s prior Research Committee Chair and 2013 President. “I could not be more confident in his leadership for delivery of insightful and forward-leading data and analysis for our industry.”
“Those of us within the industry inherently know the tremendous impact that incentive marketing has on business. We help businesses grow, prosper and drive economic activity. However, there has still been relatively little published to prove it,” notes Mr. Bondy. “Only recently has it become a priority by some of us to educate others and focus on learning so we can continue to elevate what we do beyond the simple excitement of a unique travel experience or earning other non-travel awards and communicate its value as a business tool.”
Mr. Bondy is an expert in the many facets of incentive travel. He began his career in the hotel and hospitality industry in Aspen, Colorado, and spent two years in sales management at a major Midwest USA tour operator before using the connections he had made to enter the incentive travel arena in 1986 in Chicago.
In 1996, Mr. Bondy accepted a position at Viktor Weyand Travel Service, Inc., which re-branded as VIKTOR Incentives & Meetings in 2001. Mark became President of the company in 2003, and in 2009, took over ownership with fellow industry veteran Chris Bura k. While Mr. Bondy continues to be connected to the company’s sales efforts by serving as the account executive for select key accounts, he primarily oversees the general management of the company. Mark’s knowledge of selling, planning and operating incentive programs has enabled him to develop sales and operational strategies focused on exceptional customer service. He runs the company out of its home office in the northern Michigan resort town of Traverse City.
Mr. Bondy’s membership in Site dates back to 1988 and the days he was responsible for selling and directing the sales of incentive programs and meeting planning services for two Chicago-based incentive marketing companies. In 2001, he was elected to the Site International Board of Directors, serving two consecutive terms. He has served on the Site International Foundation Research Committee since 2009.
