There’s nothing quite like summer in Chicago. I had a great friend from college who lived in Lincoln Park, and when he lived there I would try to visit him every summer. Sure, it was great to see him, but I couldn’t get enough of that city in the summer. I remember playing volleyball on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan (right in the city!); attending fun summer fests in his neighborhood where we would enjoy local beers, food and music; and sipping cocktails from rooftop bars with skyline views — the list goes on and on!

Another reason to go to Chicago this summer? To attend Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s upcoming Roundtable event on July 14. Have you ever been to one of our Roundtable events? They are truly unique, featuring content focused on both executive professional development and business strategy. Our Roundtables begin with a networking hour, followed by some delicious bites, and then a keynote presentation and panel discussion, before wrapping up with one-to-one speed networking.

Our keynote and panel speakers are top notch, too. Lori Gustafson, who will be the opening keynote, is the executive vice president and chief brand and digital strategy officer for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp., as well as a member of the company’s executive committee. In her role, Lori is responsible for the enterprise’s global brand footprint and driving growth and customer satisfaction through digital innovation. She will be speaking about how she achieves success in her current role, her career trajectory, her leadership style, how she motivates her teams in this transitional time for the travel industry, and more.

Our panel discussion will feature the following travel and hospitality rock stars:

  • Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation
  • Monique Pinnock, Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources and Philanthropy, Hyatt Hotels
  • Rita Chen, Vice President, Marketing, Choose Chicago
  • Doreen Burse, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, United Airlines

Lisa Oswald, senior vice president, global customer service, Travelzoo — and Women Leading Travel & Hospitality board member — will be leading the conversation.

If you’re interested in attending, please register here. The event is free for Women Leading Travel & Hospitality members, and $79 for nonmembers.

I can’t wait to see you in sunny Chi-Town!

Melissa