Christina Pappas

Christina Pappas is CEO of Open the Door. With over 35 years’ experience,

Pappas’ background covers a long career in the hospitality industry holding the position

of Director of Marketing for both the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and

the Massachusetts Port Authority before founding Open the Door in November, 2001 to

provide clients with innovative solutions and a fresh approach to marketing, sales and

public relations.

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A solid leader with a number of key relationships on local, regional and international

levels, Pappas is responsible for designing marketing, sales and public relations

programs which are highly proactive and work towards meeting very specific objectives

with measurable results. From creating global destination marketing programs for

Boston, resulting in increases in the number of international visitors five times the

national average, to generating media coverage for the USS Constitution Museum

which led to a 30% increase in museum visitors year over year; from booking six times

the revenue expected by Best of Boston over a three month period to generating $2.1

million worth of media coverage for Petlink, Pappas is known for meeting and exceeding

goals for her clients.

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Open the Door also manages the Massachusetts Lodging Association and as such,

Pappas serves as President & amp; CEO of the MLA.

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With extensive experience in all aspects of marketing, including branding, advertising,

sales, promotions and public relations, Pappas has been recognized for her marketing

expertise by the Travel Industry Association of America and the Hospitality Sales &

Marketing Association International, with over 30 awards for advertising, public relations

and community programs.  She is often asked to speak by national and international

groups, particularly on destination marketing, leveraging budgets and working with

international markets.

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Pappas serves on the board of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Meet

Boston and the Skal Boston Philanthropic Foundation and has served on the board of

the Travel Industry Association of America, MAASH (Massachusetts Advocacy for Arts,

Sciences, and Humanities), and Skal International Boston where she was also

President from 2011 – 2012.  She is a member of Professional Convention

Management Association, Meeting Professionals International, American Society of

Association Executives, Meet Boston, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors

Bureau, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.  Pappas has also served as

an adjunct professor at the Boston University School of Hospitality.