Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders in Hospitality of 2023. These women have achieved significant accomplishments in various aspects of the hospitality industry, including brand architecture, sales and marketing, operations, sustainability, and media sales. They are known for their leadership skills, commitment to innovation and sustainability, and ability to create engaging and memorable experiences for guests. In addition, some of this year’s awardees are affiliated with several notable companies in the hospitality industry, including Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and TripAdvisor.
Among this year’s awardees is Tina Edmundson, President of Luxury, Marriott International, who has a remarkable talent for successfully introducing and revamping brands while effectively capitalizing on valuable business prospects. She expertly manages all aspects of Marriott's strategy concerning the company's unrivaled assortment of luxury brands, such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Also awarded is Phyllis James, Vice President at MGM Resorts International, who enriches her leadership role with extensive knowledge in food and beverage, catering and conference sales, development, and event planning gathered over two decades.
Ultimately, Stephanie Faskow, in her capacity as Director of eCommerce Analytics at Royal Caribbean Group, has dedicated her professional journey to channeling her expertise in digital marketing and product analytics towards generating long-lasting benefits for enterprises and their valued consumers.
These remarkable women have demonstrated unparalleled expertise across various domains within the hospitality industry. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders in Hospitality of 2023.
6. Pilar Stewart
VP of Sales & Marketing - The Americas, Palladium Hotel Group
Pilar Stewart is the VP of Sales and Marketing of The Americas at Palladium Hotel Group. She first joined the company in 2018. Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel company with corporate headquarters in Ibiza and Madrid. It is present in six countries through nine international brands. It was born in Ibiza in 1960 and currently has 50 hotels and more than 13,000 employees. It generates hundreds of new jobs a year, always promoting the training and professionalization of its teams. Each of its brands offers unique services to satisfy the desires of its customers, providing exclusive and personalized luxury experiences.
She has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, with a proven track record of delivering sales and marketing results for the hotel sector. With extensive knowledge and a network of markets in the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and Latin America, she has established strategic partnerships with major accounts in the travel and tourism industry. Currently, she oversees the sales and marketing strategy for 50 hotels and more than 16,000 rooms in six countries, under nine owned and other licensed brands. She’s leading a high-performance sales team that consistently exceeds sales and profit goals, resolves service issues, and improves internal and external communications. Pilar is passionate about delivering exceptional customer satisfaction and enhancing the brand reputation and recognition of Palladium Hotel Group. Her mission is to create memorable and unique experiences for their guests and to grow and innovate the Palladium Hotel Group brand.
Previously, Stewart was a VP of sales, marketing, and product at Playa Hotels & Resorts and, before that, a corporate director of sales and marketing at NIZUC and Las Brisas Hotel Collectio at NIZUC Resort & Spa. Earlier in her career, she worked with HYATT Hotels as an associate director of sales. Stewart earned an MBA from Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México.
12. Alison Zarrella
Vice President of Integrated Marketing, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
Alison Zarrella is the Vice President of Integrated Marketing at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. She first joined the company in 2017 as executive director and social media and content. The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas is an important part of the global company and sets a standard of luxury and service in the industry. It provides the best benefits, opportunities for advancement, and the greatest professionals with whom to work. Its company culture is the result of its commitment to its guests, its team members, and its community. It is the world's largest integrated resort, and its people make it the most successful as well.
Previously, Zarrella was a director of social media marketing at Let's Rally and before that, social media manager at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Earlier in her career, she worked with Advanced Media Productions as an interactive online copywriter and social media marketer. Zarrella is a solutions-driven marketing executive with over 16 years of experience in the digital landscape. She has led social media and marketing strategies for a wide variety of companies, most notably in the travel and hospitality industry. She is the co-author of “The Facebook Marketing Book” (O’Reilly).
A 2006 graduate of Boston University, Alison holds a BS degree in communications with a concentration in advertising. While at BU, Alison was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and served as their Public Relations Vice President. Zarrella has been credited as a Facebook expert in both radio and print interviews, and has been featured as a guest speaker at college courses at Boston University and Emerson College. A frequent conference speaker, including CES, SXSW, and PubCon, Alison has also contributed to industry publications such as Mashable.
17. Rachel Moniz
Chief Operating Officer, HEI Hotels & Resorts
Rachel Moniz is the Chief Operating Officer of HEI Hotels & Resorts. She first joined the company in 2014 as its corporate director. Founded in 1985, HEI Hotels & Resorts is one of the nation's leading privately held hotel investment and third-party management companies. Moniz is responsible for the day-to-day operation of HEI’s growing portfolio of 95+ hotels. Moniz oversees HEI’s team of regional leaders across all disciplines while also interacting directly with portfolio hotel asset managers and ownership representatives. Moniz has held positions within HEI Hotels & Resorts, including Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President of Independent Brands and Food & Beverage, and Regional Vice President of Operations, prior to being named Principal and COO.
Prior to her corporate leadership role, Moniz worked in several executive leadership positions in independent, luxury, and lifestyle hotels, including the famed Liberty Hotel in Boston, where she was general manager for eight years. Prior to this, Moniz held executive leadership positions with St. Regis and W Hotels and several independent hotel collections, where she was directly responsible for branding, re-positioning, and creating a business plan to increase real estate value.
Moniz sits on the boards of several major brands’ advisory boards, is an advisory board member of AHLA ForWard focused on advancing women in hospitality, is the co-founder and chair of WIL(Women In Leadership), and chairs the HEI mentor program, focused on advancing underrepresented racial minorities in hospitality. Moniz is an active volunteer for several charitable organizations, frequently participating in community service acts together with our hotels throughout the US. Moniz and her husband have six children and reside in CT.
20. Heather Massey
CFO Americas Region, Aspire Lifestyles
Heather Massey is the CFO of the Americas Region of Aspire Lifestyles (formerly VIPdesk), the world’s leading provider of white-labeled concierge and customer loyalty solutions, B2B benefit solutions, and personal assistance. In this role, Heather spearheads all pricing, contracts, and financial analysis for Aspire Lifestyles Americas, in addition to being highly involved in the company’s strategy, business development, and global expansion.
Aspire Lifestyles is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International SOS, the world’s leading medical and travel security risk services company. In 2010, Heather played a major role in brokering the successful strategic merger of VIPdesk with International SOS and was awarded the International SOS Award of Excellence in 2013. Prior to the merger with International SOS, Heather was responsible for VIPdesk’s financial management, accounting, and reporting responsibilities, as well as overseeing the human resources department. She was also involved in the company’s strategic development, partner management, and client services. Before joining VIPdesk, Heather held various roles in finance and business development with Dell and PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities.
Heather earned a BA in economics from Bucknell University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She resides with her family in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
21. Kimberly Corbin
Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Meeting Shields LLC
Kimberly Corbin transitioned to the convention production side of the hospitality industry in 2007, with over 14 years of senior-level experience in the hospitality and meetings industry, from the ground up to C-Suite Executive Management. Currently, Kimberly is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal for Meeting Shields, LLC, the largest 100% woman and minority-owned full-service protection and emergency management preparedness firm globally. The firm is home to original, exclusive, protective supply equipment and services, customized and designed specifically for the entertainment, hospitality, and educational industries. Kimberly also serves as Owner and CEO of Inside Out Hospitality Production, LLC, in coordination with ConferenceDirect, a full-service meeting planning firm.
As a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, with advanced degrees in hotel and restaurant management, as well as hospitality sales and executive meetings management, coupled with a minor in hospitality law and global perspectives, she is very capable and well-versed in her field domestically as well as internationally.
She is also an efficient and invaluable resource to her clients in the areas of creative event and meeting management for the corporate, non-profit, association, and government markets.
She is involved in the Georgia MPI Chapter, on the board for Southern Crescent Women in Business, serves as Founder and President for the African American Hospitality Coalition Network (AAHCN), was recently accepted into Who's Who in Events, and is a board member for several organizations and non-profits.
22. Dina Belon-Sayre
Chief Operating Officer, Staypineapple Hotels, Inc.
Dina Belon's remarkable career in the hospitality and tourism industry spans over a quarter of a century and has been characterized by her unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, setting her apart as a trailblazer in the field. Beginning her journey in the industry as a designer, Dina quickly demonstrated a unique talent for creating captivating and distinctive environments. Her design expertise allowed her to infuse properties with a sense of character and style that resonated with guests, laying the foundation for unforgettable experiences.
As her career progressed, Belon seamlessly transitioned into the realms of development and asset management. Her ability to see beyond the aesthetics and understand the intricate financial and operational aspects of the industry set her on a path of influence and leadership. She played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of properties, ensuring their long-term viability, and cultivating sustainable practices that would leave a positive mark on the environment and the communities they served.
Belon's journey within the hospitality and tourism sectors pivoted into the complex world of operations. Here, she pulled together her multifaceted experience and knowledge, becoming a true multidisciplinary leader in the industry. Belon’s focus on delivering thoughtful hotel experiences that marry aesthetics with functionality and prioritize sustainability has not only set a new standard in the industry but has also left an indelible mark.
23. Erin O'Connor-Booth
Chief Operating Officer, Summit Mountain Rentals
Erin O’Connor-Booth has been in the vacation rental industry since 2014. She began by managing a vacation rental in Prospect Heights, one of Brooklyn’s most sought-after, historical neighborhoods. That experience solidified her interest in a career in the vacation rental industry, recognizing it as the perfect area in which to leverage her knowledge of marketing, advertising, consulting, and public relations. Erin excels in homeowner management, facilitating exceptional guest experiences, and utilizing her extensive knowledge of the industry to creatively solve problems. She served as the director of operations for a high-end vacation rental property management company based out of Fire Island and the Hamptons. After the company's acquisition, Erin stayed with the Vacasa family as a general manager for the same region. She was promoted to manage all of Vacasa's New York territories: Fire Island, the Hamptons, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, and Lake George. Erin now sits as the Chief Operating Officer for Summit Mountain Rentals, based out of Breckenridge, Colorado.
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24. Karen Anderson
Founder, Owner and President, Alberta Food Tours
Born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, Karen Anderson received a baccalaureate in nursing from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a master’s in adult health nursing with distinction from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She developed a Nurse Practitioner Program for Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada, and then, after a parenting sabbatical, she founded Alberta Food Tours in 2006 with the mission of increasing the health of soil, food, and people. She had a 21-year career as an RN and nurse practitioner and has 17 years of experience as a pioneer in food tourism.
Along with leading the team at Alberta Food Tours, Karen is also a Taste Canada, IPPY, and World Gourmand award-winning author. Her third book, Eat Alberta First - A Year of Local Recipes from Where the Prairies Meet the Mountains, a cookbook with 90 recipes, launched in April of 2023. Her fourth book is in progress and is focused on South India, where she's led many cuisine and culture tours.
Alberta Food Tours operates in four Alberta cities, employs 15 people, and has earned two Canadian Signature Experience designations from Destination Canada. In 2020, Anderson innovated Alberta Food Finder self-guided tours and Alberta Cares Packages gift boxes loaded with the best of Alberta’s food artisan products to continue the company’s mission of supporting the health of Alberta’s soil, food, and people during the pandemic. In 2021, Alberta Food Tours was awarded the RBC Resilient Business Award by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, the World Food Travel Association awarded Alberta Food Tours a Global Culinary Travel Award for Best Program to Promote Culinary Culture to Visitors.
25. Cali Nguyen
Co-Founder & CEO, SmittenKiss Planning and Production
Cali Nguyen is a San Francisco Bay Area Native. She co-founded the award-winning event design, planning, and production company SmittenKiss LLC. Her work has been featured and published in leading industry magazines such as BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Today's Bride SF, WeddingWire, and many more publications. SmittenKiss LLC was recently featured on CBS's Destination San Francisco, Season 2 (2023). While known for creating ethereal events, pushing past limits, and setting trends, Nguyen has established core competencies in consistent high quality service and impeccable relationship building, which has led SmittenKiss LLC to become a reputable brand and company.
Though luxury weddings started as a staple of the SmittenKiss brand, SK LLC Production and Planning successfully branched into corporate production, with their team producing 3,500+ attendee events working with celebrity and notable figure keynotes. She develops strategical and tactical planning while overseeing full production and its key components in making conferences and summits successful.
While her role as a mother of three, business owner, and leader keeps her calendar busy, she conducts business development and is also a partner at Event Planner Matchmaker LLC, a lead generation platform for event planners that invests in other businesses within the hospitality industry. She is currently expanding SmittenKiss LLC to have a multi-faceted business model with a focus and intention on foundation and philanthropic mission alignment.
26. Jill Slater
Managing Director, HelmsBriscoe
Jill Slater is the Managing Director of HelmsBriscoe. She first joined the company in 1996 as regional vice president. HelmsBriscoe, the global leader in meeting procurement, streamlines the meeting planning process by managing the time-consuming task of researching, contacting, and evaluating venues for your organization's events. Since 1992, HelmsBriscoe clients have benefited from its global reach, unsurpassed experience, and industry relationships. Slater earned an undergraduate degree in business from Montreat College.
27. Cathryn Schmit
Brand Marketing Vice President, Las Vegas Portfolio, MGM Resorts International
Cathryn Schmit is the Brand Marketing Vice President of the Las Vegas Portfolio of MGM Resorts International, a Nevada-based company that owns and operates a chain of resorts providing accommodation, dining, and gaming services for individuals and families. MGM Resorts values the importance of respecting each other’s differences. They endeavor to embrace and leverage diversity to achieve best-in-class experiences and cultivate stronger ties with their employees, guests, suppliers, and community partners. They are committed to taking strong and principled stands on issues of equality and aim to better unify the world.
With 30 years of experience, beginning in 1993, Schmit is a hardworking executive with expertise in all functions of marketing, specializing in thought leadership and team development that is collectively focused on the enterprise-wide goals of branding development and driving revenue. She possesses strong communication skills and relates well to management and peers on all levels. Additionally, she demonstrates an adept capability to build effective teams and establish high levels of trust and engagement among stakeholders at all levels.
Before joining MGM Resorts International, Schmit was a VP of brand strategy at The Mirage Hotel and Casino, and before that, a VP of marketing and business partner relations at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino. Earlier in her career, she worked with Ericson Marketing Communications as a promotions coordinator and planner. Schmit graduated from the University of South Florida with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
28. Annemarie Mathews
Senior Director of Communications, Carnival Cruise Line
AnneMarie is a creative, innovative, and hands-on leader with experience directing corporate communications, public relations, events, internal communications, and social media strategies. She has a strong ability to effectively mitigate challenging stories with the media and advocacy groups. She quickly achieves results that positively impact revenue.
She heads the communications and events team at Carnival Cruise Line, the largest cruise line in the industry, responsible for issues management, corporate/executive communications, the news desk, company-wide events, and internal communications.
Previously, she directed the PR, public affairs, and corporate communications efforts for Norwegian Cruise Line, a $12 billion public company and the third-largest cruise line. While there, she launched five new ships, resulting in unprecedented coverage and publicity that translated into the company's stock more than doubling during the first year after its IPO. She was a well-respected member of the leadership team who reported directly to the CEO and was responsible for the launch and growth of social media for the brand as well as many high-profile projects, including "Undercover Boss." She successfully navigated the organization through several potentially damaging incidents and championed employee engagement, which led to increased guest satisfaction scores.
31. Stephanie Faskow
Director of eCommerce Analytics, Royal Caribbean Group
Stephanie Faskow is the Director of eCommerce Analytics at Royal Caribbean Group. She first joined the company in 2018 as an eCommerce and marketing analytics consultant. “Royal Caribbean Group delivers unforgettable vacations to their guests who trust it with life’s greatest moments. They build the best ships and even better careers, all while doing the right thing. It is passionate. It is innovative. It is unstoppable.”
Faskow has spent her career focused on digital marketing and product analytics to create lasting impact for businesses and their customers. From strategy through launch, she has worked with brands across e-commerce, travel and hospitality, government, and healthcare verticals. Believing in an analytics-first approach to marketing, Stephanie focuses on identifying and understanding consumer behaviors to drive cross-channel strategies. Her experience includes user acquisition and retention, conversion rate optimization, web/product analytics, SEM & paid media, SEO, A/B testing, customer experience, journey mapping, and third-party reseller programs.
Previously, Faskow was a director of d2c acquisition and marketing at Plum, Inc., and before that, a manager of marketing strategy and experience at PwC. Earlier in her career, she worked with Hostway Corporation as an online marketing analyst. Faskow earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from Penn State University.
33. Ginger Taggart
Vice President - IHG Global Marketing and Brand Management
Ginger Taggart is a truly global, versatile trailblazer with a proven track record of driving effective marketing and commercial growth in previously uncharted waters for value-rich brands.
Her experience spans across functions (marketing, brand management, sales/commercial delivery, P&L, and general management). She offers a visionary, energetic mindset, often to newly-created positions, and combines extensive global, internationally-based leadership experience with a focus on delivering commercial results, often leading the launch of new brand extensions, market expansions, and customer segment growth opportunities.
Within her current role, Ginger is part of IHG's global senior leadership team, with $27 billion in gross brand revenue across nearly 100 countries and 6,000 hotels, and also part of America's regional leadership team (the company's largest operating region, including more than 4,300 hotels and resorts).
Previously, she spent nearly two decades in global roles with Fortune 100 companies including Disney and Coca-Cola, as well as board-level positions with Disney. She has more than 14 years of experience working and living internationally and was recently named as one of 2021's Luxury Women to Watch by Luxury Daily.
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34. Dina Galperson
Senior Director, Global Brand Strategy, Hilton
As Senior Director of Global Brand Strategy for Hilton, Dina Galperson is living out her passion for hospitality, storytelling, culture-shaping and personal wellness in every aspect of her professional work. Galperson joined Hilton in 2022 and draws upon her extensive expertise in brand building, marketing strategy, communications, and team management to enhance and advance the global brand strategy. A compassionate leader and relentless brand champion, Galperson leverages her strong communication skills and gift for interpersonal connection to help teams establish common goals, embrace creative collaboration, and deliver innovative, commercially effective solutions.
Before putting her skills to work for Hilton, Galperson accumulated nearly 20 years of experience leading strategic growth initiatives for a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, consumer packaged goods, and telecommunications. As a self-described “friendly persuader”, Galperson is often sought out for her consensus-building abilities and serves as a natural change leader through her contagious enthusiasm. She also prioritizes service to others, donating her time as a fundraiser, volunteering for the Kellogg Executive Women’s Network, and recently completing a volunteer term as Wellness Tourism Association secretary. Galperson holds an undergraduate degree in marketing and advertising from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
36. Lawana Lewis
Director of Systems and Processes, InterContinental Hotels Group
Lawana Lewis is the Director of Systems and Processes at InterContinental Hotels Group. IHG is an England-based multinational hospitality company that manages and franchises luxury hotels and resorts, offering services such as lodging and event management. Lewis has 24 years of experience. She began her career in 1994.
Before joining InterContinental Hotels Group, Lewis was a project manager at the Georgia Technology Authority and, before that, an office manager at the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as a project administrator.
38. Amy Ras
Director of Marketing, Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Amy Ras is the Director of Marketing at Loews Miami Beach Hotel. The Loews Miami Beach Hotel cuts an iconic silhouette in South Beach's skyline. Located on the oceanfront just a block south of Lincoln Road, its Art Deco-style tower crowns the 790-room resort, making it immediately recognizable from near and far.
A multi-lingual, innovative idea woman, Amy knew since the age of 6 that hospitality would be her calling. Determined to be part of people’s happy memories, she decided to move from Aruba to another small island, Manhattan, and pursue her master’s degree in the hospitality industry with a concentration in revenue management at New York University.
As a hospitality sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience, she has worked for organizations such as Leading Hotels of the World and as director of marketing for Europe and Latin America at the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association prior to joining Hyatt Hotels, where she held several positions ranging from associate director of sales and marketing to regional director of field marketing, overseeing approximately 40 hotels for two specific brands. These fine places introduced her to new people, big ideas, and global concepts that helped shape the person she is today.
39. Cindy Ramesh
Director of Sales and Marketing, Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 Hilton
Cindy Ramesh has been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, starting her career in Monterey and working for an assortment of hotels. For many years, she was in Monterey and was instrumental in establishing the Monterey Meeting Connection and the Monterey Convention Authority. She then moved on to the meeting planning side and worked as the regional vice president for ConferenceDirect in Portland, Oregon. A third-party sourcing and planning company. In that role, she worked mainly with Fortune 500 technology companies on their meetings and events.
For the past fourteen years, she has been at the Hiltons of San Francisco Union Square, currently in the role of Complex Director of Sales and Marketing for both the Hilton Union Square and the Parc 55 Hilton. She earned the CMP (certified meeting professional designation), and she is the past recipient of the Northern California Chapter of MPI (Meeting Professionals International). She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Tenderloin Business Improvement District in San Francisco.
40. Beckie Bruffey
Director of Catering, Google Playa Vista
Beckie Bruffey is the Director of Catering at Google Playa Vista. As the strategic leader of all food and beverage operations within the catering department, her team ensures that all events are Googley.
Bruffey is a preeminent American event planner. Throughout her career, she has planned royal weddings and top government events of national and historical significance. Prior to Google, Bruffey was the general manager of L'Horizon Resort & Spa, which was voted the #1 resort in America and #2 in the world by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. She also received a Patriotic Employer Award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She was formerly the general manager of Pepperdine University's esteemed Villa Graziadio Hotel & Executive Center. Beckie graduated with honors from the University of California, where she earned a master's degree in hospitality and tourism.
41. Jennifer Viccellio
Senior Director Account Initiatives & Development, Partner Services, Choice Hotels International
Jennifer Viccellio is the Senior Director of Account Initiatives and Development within Partner Services at Choice Hotels International. She first joined the company in 2005 as the area director of franchise services. She is an accomplished, results-driven hospitality professional with a proven record of leadership in team building, hotel operations, revenue management, and sales operations and analytics. In her current role, she oversees a team of strategic and national account managers.
Previously, she produced leading KPIs as the director of strategic accounts in Choice’s Global sales team and led a best-in-class sales organization, delivering millions of room nights to Choice Hotels’ franchisees. Before moving into the global sales realm, Viccellio was deployed as a Regional Area Director in Franchise Services, consulting an average of 60 Choice Hotel Owners and Operators in the South Louisiana Region while simultaneously coaching six Area Directors. Previously, Viccellio was a director of hotel operations at Reeves Development and, before that, a director of hotel operations at Ascension Hospitality.
Viccellio is passionate about team building, continuing education, and personal development. While not working, she enjoys volunteering and serving various charities and is active in her two sets of twin boys' activities. She serves on Choice Hotel’s Diversity Advisory Council and is active in numerous Choice Employee Resource Groups.
42. Jennifer Husbands
Director, Global Accounts, GlobauxSource
Jennifer Husbands joined GlobauxSource in 2016 with over 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including positions in operations and group sales. Her longest tenure was with Hilton Hotels and Resorts, spanning from work with an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta to her most recent position as Senior Sales Manager at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
With her diverse background and extensive knowledge of group contracting, Husbands is a great resource for her clients. She has the passion and drive to ensure her clients are well taken care of, and she takes pride in her ability to create long-lasting partnerships with her customers. She enjoys working with stakeholders to cultivate ideas, form key partnerships to develop opportunities, and provide resources, support, and assistance to help companies and organizations achieve their goals. Jennifer strives to leverage her extensive industry knowledge to provide value to her clients while fostering strong relationships with their partners.
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45. Jennifer Dunn
Director of Sales & Marketing, InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco
Jennifer Dunn is the Director of Sales and Marketing at InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco. With its rich local legacy and grand architectural style, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco is a beloved landmark at the crest of celebrated Nob Hill. Voted "The Best 5 Hotels in San Francisco", by Travel + Leisure, you can't mistake its Historic charm, modern services, amenities, and breathtaking views that make this premier San Francisco hotel one of the city's most sought-after destinations for meetings, weddings, and Bay Area exploring.
Jennifer Dunn is privileged to lead the teams and complex innovations that make those guest experiences happen effortlessly, working closely with corporate vice presidents and travel managers, meeting planners, celebrity handlers, and diplomatic representatives in Asia, Europe, and North America. In addition to her work with guests, Dunn has leveraged multi-brand experience to help multinational hotels become global brand leaders, stimulating profitable growth and overseeing turnarounds for two decades. She attributes her success to close relationships developed internally and externally with peers, partners, and clients.
46. Dawn Walzak
Director of Sales and Marketing, Hilton Worldwide
Dawn Walzak began her professional career 37 years ago. Today, she is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising nearly 7,300 properties and more than 1.1 million rooms in 123 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earning a top spot on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list and being recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for six consecutive years.
Dawn leads one of the highest profile and most significant impacting hotels in Hilton's USA portfolio, with a team of over 25 people. She is a dynamic leader of sales and marketing strategies designed to drive growth, increase revenue, and meet and exceed business goals. She has achieved Best in Class in the digital, social, mobile, and web arenas. Dawn is metrics-driven with the agility, flexibility, and dedication to implement creative organizational change.
Walzak first got her start in 1986 as a national and international president at HSMAI. From there, she went on to Hyatt Hotels & Resorts before eventually rising to SVP at Tishman Hotel Corporation, her most recent position prior to joining Hilton Worldwide. Walzak graduated from Florida International University with an MA and an undergraduate degree in hospitality management.
47. Dee Gilbert
Senior Director, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe
Dee Gilbert is the Senior Director of Global Accounts at HelmsBriscoe, the global leader in meetings procurement. He streamlines the meeting planning process by managing the time-consuming task of researching, contacting, and evaluating venues for the organization's events. Since 1992, HelmsBriscoe clients have benefited from their global reach, unsurpassed experience, and industry relationships.
Gilbert, a hospitality veteran in the industry since 1985, joined HelmsBriscoe as national account manager in 2000. The majority of her career has been in hospitality sales, including director of sales positions, but her vast experience incorporates the operational side of the hotel business as well.
Gilbert graduated from Michigan State University with an undergraduate degree in hospitality.
Gilbert’s client base consists of a mixture of corporate, association, educational, and religious organizations all over the world, in various sizes and complexity. Her achievements have earned her HelmsBriscoe's prestigious President's Club status and the highly coveted Master's Club distinction given to the company's top 25 associates.
48. Diandra Lopez
Director of Guest Relations, Aman
Diandra Lopez began her professional career 15 years ago. Today, she is the Director of Guest Relations at Aman. Diandra Lopez is a performance-driven, strategic, and process-focused hospitality service leader, showcasing unwavering commitment towards delivering high-quality standards to executive clientele and being recognized for achieving high-level customer success and satisfaction. She facilitates process improvements, streamlines operations, and generates cost optimization while negotiating mutually beneficial agreements, building win-win relationships, and generating innovative solutions. She delivers advisory and consulting services to clients by utilizing consultative solution-selling, up-selling, and cross-selling techniques by aligning products and services with requirements.
As a customer-centered and dynamic professional, Lopez showcases subject matter expertise in logistics management and client services. She possesses a proven track record in maintaining mutually beneficial customer relationships, identifying solutions for new and existing clientele, and facilitating end-to-end customer engagement, acquisition, and retention.
Lopez has attained recognition as an excellent communicator and presenter, skilled in navigating organizational processes and building diverse teams of dedicated employees by cultivating an atmosphere of support and collaboration. She excels at consistently exceeding expectations, delivering luxury and high-end services to achieve client success, and thriving in fast-paced work environments. Lopez graduated from St. Peter's College with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
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