Tiffany Cooper is the chief development officer, Americas and Caribbean, at Aimbridge Hospitality, an independent hotel management firm. She is also a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality! In this spotlight, we asked her a series of questions about her work, travel, goals, leadership philosophies and more so you can get to know her better.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
    “Leader’s Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
  2. What do you love most about the industry?
    Clients who have become great friends
  3. What’s something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
    This bougie hotel girl LOVES to go on RV trips!
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    Implementing certain difficult decisions that impact others’ lives.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    Sincerely care about people. Learn who they are and what lights them up.
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    I love Dolly Parton. I just listened to “Dolly Parton’s America” and she is such an incredible human being who leads by example. She’s inspiring, talented, strong and has built an empire, all the while helping others in need and leading with heart, mind and soul.
  7. Where do you believe the future of the industry is headed?
    More artificial intelligence tools to help our associates work better, smarter, more efficiently and effectively
  8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
    Resourcefulness
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    It’s been an interesting year indeed. To quote Gina Carey, “a strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.”
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    I love the HBR podcasts — great content all around.
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Authenticity
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I love to be surrounded by passionate, tenacious people.
  13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid?
    Hybrid
  14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
    Italy … always Italy!
  15. What’s a top item on your bucket list?
    To hike the Tour de Mont Blanc! Forget the Camino de Santiago, to walk through the mountains of Italy, France and Switzerland with a bottle of wine and baguette sounds pretty epic … and I don’t even hike!
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    I run, do hot yoga and listen to Led Zeppelin.
  17. What’s your biggest accomplishment?
    Nursing all three of my children for a year each — while working and traveling.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Become aware of and acknowledge your imposter syndrome early so you can develop strategies to get out in front of it and work through it.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    Gratitude for another day on this beautiful planet with my handsome husband, family and getting to do what I love with people whom I respect.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    It’s such an honor to be around other strong, capable, inspiring women leaders.

If you would like to become a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member or need additional information about our organization, click here.