Kelsey Weeks turned her first year in incentive travel into a standout mentorship performance, earning a scholarship to one of the industry’s premier young professional events.
[Kelsey] embraced every opportunity presented to her. She got involved with committees, built a strong relationship with her mentor, and looked for ways to apply what she was learning.”— Tiffany NewsomeATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, November 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Extu Program Coordinator Kelsey Weeks has been named a scholarship recipient from SITE Southeast’s Pathways Program, earning her a spot at the SITE Young Leaders Conference held during IMEX America week in Las Vegas. The award covered her registration for the October 11 conference and reimbursed her airfare.
Weeks joined the Pathways Program in her first year working in the incentive travel sector. As part of the initiative, she was matched with mentor Carol Owen, owner of Retreats Resources, and the pair connected regularly throughout the year to tackle industry challenges, career growth strategies, and the nuances of planning incentive travel programs. Beyond those conversations, Weeks volunteered for SITE Southeast’s education and sustainability committees, gaining exposure to how seasoned professionals structure and execute programs.
Recognition for Maximizing Opportunity
When Pathways mentees were invited to apply for conference attendance, they had to present a summary of their mentorship journey to a panel of judges. The evaluations focused on how well each participant articulated their goals, reflected on what they’d accomplished, and delivered their presentation with clarity and polish.
Weeks’ presentation earned the top score.
"Kelsey jumped in with both feet and no turning back," said Tiffany Newsome, SITE Southeast’s Vice President of Young Leaders. "She embraced every opportunity presented to her. She got involved with committees, built a strong relationship with her mentor, and looked for ways to apply what she was learning. We want the scholarship to go to someone who is going to maximize its benefits, and Kelsey demonstrated that she would do exactly that."
Bringing New Ideas and Relationships Back to Extu
At IMEX America, Weeks sat in on meetings with destination management companies, hotels, and other travel partners, observing how planners evaluate locations, negotiate with suppliers, and forge the relationships that anchor successful incentive travel programs.
"It allows you to learn so much about different destinations, companies, and their offerings," Weeks said of her IMEX experience. "So much of the industry is relationship-based and making sure you can connect as individuals. Program planning is so much easier when you connect as humans, because incentive trips are big undertakings. When you can just be genuine with your partner, that goes a long way."
Investing in the Next Generation of Incentive Travel
Looking ahead, Weeks aims to move into an account management role where she can take on more responsibility for incentive travel programs, including partner selection and sales, while shaping trips from initial concept to final execution. Though the formal mentorship wraps up at year’s end, she sees the connection with Carol Owen as one that will endure.
"My mentor and I just really hit it off," Weeks said. "She’s phenomenal and has been super helpful in terms of networking and industry knowledge. Carol’s always going to be my mentor."
For Extu, Weeks’ recognition highlights the company’s commitment to nurturing the talent behind incentive travel programs. By broadening her industry connections, learning from veterans, and carrying fresh perspectives back to the Extu team, Weeks demonstrates the payoff of investing in the field’s emerging leaders.
Ken Szpindor
Extu
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Why it matters: Recognition like this signals a broader shift in the incentive travel industry toward structured mentorship and early-career investment. As companies like Extu develop future leaders through programs like Pathways, the sector strengthens its pipeline of skilled planners who can navigate complex, relationship-driven travel programs.
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