Passport New Mexico

Passport New Mexico's President/CEO, Arlene Schiffer, began her career conference planning more than 25 years ago planning attorney retreats and client conferences, before moving over to destination management. So she understands the challenges that meeting planners face. Arlene opened Passport New Mexico in 1996, and for more than 13 years, has created successful programs and events for her clients. A former professional actress and singer, Arlene combines her talents, expertise, and theatrical perspective with her love of New Mexico to create interesting, unusual, and memorable events, activities, tours and experiences for groups visiting New Mexico. Arlene shares her vision of New Mexico and her sense of integrity with her staff, our vendors and particularly with our clients. Member: SITE, MPI, NAFE

Account Executive, Pele Saubers, is a native Arkansan and three-year New Mexico resident. Her extensive background in event planning and event coordination includes employment with Eldorado Hotel & Spa's Santa Fe Destinations as a Tours & Event Coordinator and with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico as their Special Events Coordinator. In addition, Saubers has been an Events/Production Coordinator for medial and marketing entities including CBS Evening news, AETN (a PBS affiliate), NBC Network News and C-Span. Before joining Passport New Mexico, Saubers served as Film Liaison for the City of Rio Rancho's Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Account Executive, Carol Hill, brings 18 years of event planning expertise to Passport New Mexico. In her life's travels from coast-to-coast, Carol has planned events from "both sides of the table," and has a can-do attitude that makes her events such raving successes. Carol has spent the last 12 years working at some of New Mexico's top hotels and resorts, blending her talents and planning experience with the uniqueness of New Mexico, its natural beauty, its cultural integrity, and its extraordinary cuisine.

Passport New Mexico's Host Staff is comprised of experienced, seasoned professionals who often have set the performance standards for others in the industry. Every Passport New Mexico staff member assigned to a program is fully-versed in the program and is ready and willing to be of assistance to group members.

We work with only those Transportation Companies that maintain all the appropriate insurances and maintenance/safety programs required by the State. Each transportation company with which Passport New Mexico works is required to provide an annual certificate of insurance, as well as a copy of its substance abuse screening policy and procedures.

On the Production side, Passport New Mexico works with professional entertainers and their managers, with stage and lighting designers who have worked throughout the world, and with reputable companies to provide tenting and other rental equipment. Our decor professionals include former film set designers and dressers to manufacturers of specialty decor items.

Our Catering Companies are innovative in their menu development, creative in their presentation and display, and professional in demeanor. All of our caterers have extensive experience in the food and beverage industry and can prepare anything from the simplest box lunch to the most lavish gourmet feast for groups as small as 8 and as large as 2000+.

Our Guide Staff are all certified New Mexico Guides. Their experience is vast, and their knowledge even greater. From diverse backgrounds, these resident historians, anthropologists, archeologists and scholars, present the history and culture of Northern New Mexico in entertaining ways that keep the group members enthralled. Fine arts guides, many of whom are members of the Santa Fe Art Guild, and even a few gallery owners and directors, share the Santa Fe Art Scene in all its color and romance.