SITE sends warm wishes and heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed past president, Annamaria Ruffini (SITE President, 2018) whom yesterday, May 22, was honored by the Italian senate with the Women Who Won award. 

On the initiative of Senator Daniela Scrollini, and in collaboration with the industry webmagazine Quality Travel, Annamaria and six other women professionals, were recognised for their sterling contribution to tourism in Italy at a special ceremony in the historic splendour of the Palazzo Giustiniani, Rome. The ceremony followed a day of education on the leading role that women play in tourism in Italy. 

Annamaria Ruffini, founder and president of the Rome-based Events In & Out agency, was President of SITE Italy and, in 2018, President of SITE. She received SITE’s Jane E. Schuldt Master Motivator Award in 2011 for maintaining “the highest standard of excellence in creating or executing motivational events.” For her exceptional contribution to Italian tourism she received the Global Award at World Travel Market and the “Green Tourism National Award" for her hands-on manual "Ecoeventi.” 

During her presidential year at SITE, she founded the Women in Leadership mentorship project, with the aim of identifying, training and channeling deserving women into the right career. She has been recognized as one of the 25 most influential people in the global incentive travel industry and has delivered keynotes on matters pertaining to business events and incentive travel all over the world.