She was the best Ambassador Nice ever had and the Grande Dame of ICCA
, the International Congress and Convention Association.
Meetings industry colleagues and friends will recognise the description of Mdme Jacqueline Pietri who sadly passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2009.
It was provided by Pieter van der Hoeven, former general manager of the Adelaide Convention Centre, a close friend. Jacqueline Pietri made history by becoming the first female President of ICCA in 1990.
“It set the association off in an entirely new direction,” recalls Pieter van der Hoeven.
Henri Ceran, shortly to retire as head of the Cote d’Azur Convention Bureau, recalls first meeting Jacqueline in her office at the old Palais des Expositions in Nice in 1979.
“I was not really relaxed because she had the reputation of a ‘Dame de fer’. I was not the only one to have this feeling facing her.” But that day was the beginning of a 30-year complicitous and respectful friendship.
“When you knew Jacqueline, you discovered she was the most delightful person with the greatest sense of humour.” They shared hilarious moments “in airports, on aircraft, in hotel lobbies, in the middle of the night after a presentation, laughing hysterically at something quite bizarre”.
He recalls they had laughed again on the phone while Jacqueline was in hospital only three weeks before she died.
Jacqueline Pietri was Executive Director of both the Acropolis Nice Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Nice Convention Bureau from 1972 to 1984. In 1983 the Acropolis became an ICCA member followed by the Convention Bureau in 1985. Next year Jacqueline was elected to the ICCA Board and re-elected in 1988, being appointed 3rd Vice President in 1988 and 2nd Vice President in 1989.
In 1990 Jacqueline became the first female President of ICCA, serving until 1994. During her time on the Board she was passionately committed to the association and its members, and served on numerous committees, only leaving at the end of 1998 after 12 years active input.
In 1995 she received the prestigious Lorenzo de' Medici Award.
“She always brought an enormous charm to the association even when times were very tough for her and the association was going through some growing pains,” records Pieter van der Hoeven.
Jacqueline was a mentor to many youngsters, some of whom are now leaders in the convention world.
“Jacqueline’s professionalism, elegance, grace and warmth will always be remembered and she will be very much missed by all who knew her.” - Patricia Soen, ICCA.
“Thank you, Jacqueline for having been my mentor in the meeting industry and for the great time we had. I already miss you.” - Henri Ceran.
“I not only will miss her as a great friend but also as an icon in the global meetings industry.” – Pieter van der Hoeven.
Image: Jacqueline Pietri
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