Rising Leaders Councils

HSMAI’s Rising Leaders Councils are professional development and advocacy groups, comprised of up-and-coming professionals working in a mix of hospitality roles (e.g., hotel on-property, regional, or corporate, DMO, DMC, Management Company, brand or partner, etc.).

Rising Sales Leader Council | Rising Marketing Leader Council | Rising Revenue Optimization Leader Council

The Rising Leaders Council is part of the HSMAI’s respective Advisory Board’s work to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders by providing this unique opportunity for emerging professionals to advance their skill sets, shape the future of HSMAI, network with peers, and contribute to the industry and the Advisory Board via their insights, feedback, and thought leadership.

  • Mentorship Program – Rising Leaders have an opportunity to connect with Advisory Board members for 1:1 mentoring twice a year to help build their professional network and advance their skill sets.  The program is designed on a matching process that best aligns professional development goals and leadership competencies.
  • Workgroup Initiatives – Collaborative small groups that focus on projects and initiatives that contribute to HSMAI and hospitality industry as the voice of the next generation of leaders.
  • Annual In-Person Meeting – In conjunction with the council’s respective conference, Rising Leaders meet in-person once a year to connect with peers for candid, relevant, and actionable conversations.
  • Monthly Virtual Meetings – Full council discussions on operations, projects, and exchange of insights and best practices on trending industry topics with the goal of producing a POV (Point of View) article or resource to share with all HSMAI members.

If you are interested in joining one of these councils, watch for the call for applications that is released to all HSMAI members in August of each year. For more information, contact Renee Blessing at renee.blessing@hsmai.org

Rising SALES Leaders Council

2023 Members include:

  • Kathryn Alioto, Director of Sales, Springhill Suites Madison / Raymond Management
  • Estefania Arevalo, Global Business Development Manager, Leisure, Accor
  • Mackenzie Bennett, Account Manager, GitGo
  • Sophia Burge, Sales Manager, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts/Rosewood Sand Hill
  • Megan Chase, CMP, SMERF, Sales & Events Manager, The Otesaga Resort Hotel
  • Cecilia Dominguez, Convention Sales Manager, Bellagio
  • Ashley Edwards, Sr. Director, SMB Sales, Sojern
  • Mike Estrin, Senior Catering Sales Manager, Hyatt Regency Dulles
  • Danielle Fournier, Sales Manager, Hilton Denver Inverness
  • Ksenia Hanlon, Corporate Sales & Events Manager, The Otesaga Resort Hotel
  • Heather Harmeyer, Director of Sales, Greenwood Hospitality/Embassy Suites
  • Tayla Hull, Convention Sales Manager, ARIA Resort & Casino
  • Zoe Katz, Marketing Coordinator, Rosewood Hotel Group
  • Jenna Keegan, Regional Director of Sales, Aimbridge
  • Nicole Lazo, National Sales Manager for the Southeast Market, Terranea Resort
  • Jenna Light, Group Sales Manager, Parks Hospitality Group
  • Sara Maly, CRME, Director of Sales, IDeaS Revenue Solutions
  • Rachel Martin, Director of Sales, Graduate Hotels
  • Jake Moreland, Property Sales Manager, Worldwide Sales, BWH Hotel Group
  • Max Smith, Sr. Sales Manager, Groups WWS, Best Western Hotels & Resorts
  • Kate Swantak, Sales Manager, Kessler Collection

Rising MARKETING Leaders Council

2023 Members include:

  • Megan Allen, Marketing Manager, Second Wave Marketing
  • Taylor Davis, Vice President of Brand Marketing, AutoCamp
  • Hilary Feutz, CHDM, Director, Sales Marketing, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
  • Laura Grissen, Senior Manager, Customer Success (MDS), Marriott International
  • Emily Hill, Account Manager, Field Marketing, IHG
  • Katie Horner, CHDM, Email Marketing Manager, Red Roof
  • Davis Keeter, CHDM, Marketing Activation Consultant, Best Western International
  • Garrick Lee, Digital Marketing Manager, Oneida Nation Enterprises
  • Michele Marcinick, Communications & Events Coordinator, Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association
  • Sarah Merrell, Field Marketing Manager, IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Meredith Pittman, CHDM, Digital Marketing Manager, Remington Hotels
  • Kelsey Prince, CHDM, Area Director of Marketing, Pacific Hospitality Group
  • Jessie Radcliff, Director of Revenue Management & Direct Marketing, Perdido Beach Resort
  • Ashley Seier, Director of Marketing, Blue Mountain Resort
  • Bianca Sewake, Social Media Manager, Aqua-Aston Hospitality
  • Jacob Smith, Marketing Project Manager, Oxford Collection
  • Isaiah Tillman, Marketing Specialist, Best Western Hotels & Resorts
  • Jennifer Torres, CHDM, Markerting and Communications Manager, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort

Rising REVENUE OPTIMIZATION Leaders Council

2023 Members include:

  • Matt Acker, CRME, Corporate Manager of Revenue Strategy, Concord Hotels
  • Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, Director of Revenue Management, Balboa Bay Resort
  • Emily Bardin, CRME, Area Director, Revenue Strategy, Aimbridge Hospitality
  • Amanda Bruun, CRME, Cluster Director of Revenue Management, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
  • Natalie Fournier, CRME, CHDM, Director of Revenue, Thompson San Antonio
  • Sadie Garside, CRME, Senior Manager, Client Engagement, Kalibri Labs
  • Jesslyn Gillespie, CRME, Cluster Revenue Manager, Autocamp
  • Yvonne Gu McDowell, CRME, CHDM, CHBA, Revenue Manager, Kaanapali Beach Hotel
  • Charity Hanke, Corporate Revenue Strategy Manager, Oxford Hotel Collection
  • Haley Maltz, CRME, Director of Revenue Strategy, CoralTree Hospitality
  • Anthony Martely, Sales Leader, Business Intelligence, OTA Insight
  • Cheryl McMaster, MBA, CHA, CRME, Director, Third Party & Commercial Operations, Sonesta International
  • Shelby Neal, Director, Revenue Management, Atrium Hospitality
  • Dev Patel, Owner/VP Revenue, Mission Hospitality
  • Anthony Rose, CRME, Director of Sales,, IDeaS Revenue Solutions
  • Scott Schachter, CRME, Account Manager, Booking.com
  • Emma Scher, Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant, ZS
  • Kari Speckmeyer, CRME, Revenue & Inventory Manager, Terranea Resort
  • Danielle Wurtzell, CRME, Area Director of Revenue Strategy, Remington Hotels