Experience

Guest speaking, our clients, and kudos plus travel tips from the Road Warrior.

Dirk Smith

Dirk Smith

President

    • President/Founder of Sports Destination Network in 1994.

    • Travel Coordinator; 50th Anniversary Commemoration of establishment of The United Nations (Participants included Presidents Clinton, Carter, and Ford, and all UN Ambassadors).

    • Team travel preparations for World Series, Playoffs, All-Star games, and NCAA Tournaments.

    • Travel Director for Japan-touring Major League Baseball All-Star Team.

    • Travel Manager for Team USA during World Baseball Classic.

    • Director of Travel for the San Francisco Giants Baseball team for 12 years.

    • Chairman, National League Baseball Travel Directors for 5 years.

    • Travel Coordinator for Goodwill Games, an Olympics-style competition

    • Meeting Planning International

    • National Sports Tourism Forum

    • MLB Rookie Career Development

    • Stadium Operation Directors

    • Hotel Revenue Summit

    • National Restaurant Sports Marketing Summit

    • Hotel General Manager's Focus Group

    • Carlson / Rezidor (Global Sales)

    • Elite Meetings Conference

    • Hilton Hotels Sales Force

    • Hyatt Hotels Bootcamp

    • Marriott Hotels Sales Force

    • MGM Resorts Bootcamp

    • Pacific Hospitality Group

    • Profesional Convention Mgmt. Assn.

    • Sage Hospitality Group

    • Starwood Hotels Sales Force

    • World Hotels Group National Meeting

    • Sports Travel Magazine

    • Sports Business Journal

    • Frequent Flyer Magazine

    • Men's Health Magazine

Some of Our Clients

SDN proudly boasts a client register that creates an influential diversified portfolio.

Kudos

SDN proudly boasts a client register that creates an influential diversified portfolio.

"SDN's assistance with the United Nation's 50th Anniversary Commemoration allowed us to accomplish our goals of providing safety and service to the attending dignitaries, visitors to our city, and resident citizens. The San Francisco Police Department could not have accomplished their mission without SDN's help."

— Tony Ribera, Chief of Police, San Francisco

"United Airlines has always found SDN a precise, concise, and professional travel planning organization, which only enhances the desire to continue our business relationship."

— Terry Johnson, Regional Director of Sales

"I so appreciate working with you; your customer service and attention to detail is impeccable. It's not often that I can trust someone to help me execute an event flawlessly."

— J. Wong, Google Cloud Marketing

"There isn't a single thing I've ever asked for—or anyone I know has ever asked for--that Dirk hasn‘t been able to accomplish. In the world of travel and its related industries, the man's Houdini."

— Tony Shepherd , Vice President, Spelling Television, Inc.

"Given the magnitude of the World Baseball Classic, Dirk made everything first class and it was a pleasure to travel with him in charge."

— Mike Schmidt, Baseball Hall of Fame member and Team USA coach

"Dirk was wonderfully flexible, accommodating and gracious as the Commemoration's travel coordinator: And in the middle of mayhem, no less! He did a tremendous job in ensuring that the guests were properly pampered."

— Zohreh Tabatabai, Coordinator; UN 50th Anniversary

"One of the best travel directors in the business!"

— San Francisco Chronicle

"For those who prefer to outsource the responsibility of securing hotel accommodations another option is to use a sports-travel specialist such as Dirk Smith with the Sports Destination Network, Inc."

— Stedman Graham, The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing

"The value Dirk brought to our team/delegation
cannot be quantified."

— Paul Seiler, Executive Director / CEO USA Baseball

"Dirk is always on top of things, while remaining unflappable. To me, that's a winning combination."

— Chris Berman, ESPN

"SDN represents true professionalism when working with hotels in the negotiating of quality pricing and service."

— Patty Stevens, Hilton Hotels, Nationwide Sales

"I have been in the major leagues for 30 years as a player, coach, and manager; and Dirk is the most conscientious and thorough travel director I have ever worked with."

— Dusty Baker, Major League Baseball Manager

Road Warrior

Road Warrior is our alter-ego, dispersing handy travel tips and presenting the latest travel gadgets and services, all complemented with our unique photo showcase of humorous travel-related photos.

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