Michelle Smits is the vice president of marketing communications and brand for Hilton Grand Vacations. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality corporate partner member! In this member spotlight, we asked Michelle a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman who inspires her, her leadership style, her...
There is an apocryphal ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times”. We in the travel industry are certainly living through an interesting time for tourism in 2025. After a smooth take-off at the start of the year, the travel industry quickly hit turbulence as concerns about trade, tariffs, and policy weighed on the global...
The vice president of marketing is responsible for assisting the director of convention and visitor development in the overall management and supervision of comprehensive marketing programs for the maintenance and expansion of the city’s domestic and international meeting/convention, participatory sports, leisure and/or group travel markets in order to increase convention and visitor expenditures, tax revenues and employment. Strategically lead team(s) of tourism professionals to develop appropriate budgets and achieve sales related to each targeted market segment.
The Vice President of Business Development is responsible for leading and managing the Convention Sales team to achieve organizational sales goals and position New Orleans as a premier meeting and convention destination.
Libby Starr is the chief people officer of Hospitality Management Corporation. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Libby a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman who inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of...
The executive director of operations will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of the rooms division Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality. The resort comprises a mix use of hotel offerings for luxury, full and select service and historic housing that incorporates 790 rooms. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the highest level of guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and financial success across all rooms-related functions, including front office, housekeeping, guest services, and concierge operations.
There are certain things we tell ourselves as leaders that keep us on autopilot, that keep us from unleashing our full potential, that keep us in a fixed mindset. Megan Miller and Dr. Brandi Baldwin, co-founders of UNLEASHED Women’s Leadership, took the stage at the Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Summit last month and dismantled...
Caroline Meyer DeBruyckere is the corporate director of marketing at Atlantic Hospitality. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Caroline a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman who inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation...
As the travel and hospitality industry undergoes rapid transformation, businesses must adapt swiftly to a variety of emerging trends to stay ahead. From a surge in technological and generative artificial intelligence innovations to rapidly changing consumer behaviors and demands, industry executives have to constantly analyze trends and figure out which ones to jump on (hello,...
The director of public relations and communications will oversee, develop and execute an annual strategic and integrated plan that supports the business objectives, including public relations, digital media, social media, and marketing communications strategies. This role is essential to increase awareness and positively position the perception of the resort, its food and beverage restaurants, spa, services, meetings and events, and personnel.
