Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year Awards

About the Awards

HSMAI’s Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year Awards recognize and promote excellence in the field of revenue optimization in hotels. Nominations come from HSMAI members, chapters, and the industry at large. Nominees represent the very best of revenue optimization in the hospitality industry.

The awards are presented annually at HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference.

Congratulations to Past Honorees*

  • Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, Director of Revenue Management, Balboa Bay Resort (2024: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Scott Dahl, SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management, Wurzak Hotel Group (2024: Corporate)
  • Monika Morrobel, CRME, CHDM, Senior Corporate Director of Commercial Strategy, Kessler Collection (2023: Corporate)
  • Don Hood, Director of Commercial Services, Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa (2023: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Christian Boerger, CRME, CHBA, CHDM, Vice President of Revenue Strategy, Oxford Collection Hotels (2022: Corporate)
  • Andres Reyes, Director of Revenue Management, Foxwoods Resort Casino (2022: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Jenna Villalobos, CRME, Vice President Commercial Strategy, Outrigger Hospitality Group (2021: Corporate)
  • Apurv Batra, CRME, Area Director of Revenue Strategy, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts (2021: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Sarah Kalin Churchill, CRME, CHDM, CHBA, Director of Revenue Strategy, Pasea Hotel & Spa and Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort (2019: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Nicole Young, CRME, Senior Corporate Director of Global Revenue Management, Rosewood Hotel Group (2019: Corporate)
  • Derek Brewster, Director of Revenue Management, LOTTE New York Palace (2018: Single/Mulit-Unit)
  • Cassandra (Cassie) Bond, CRME, Regional Vice President of Revenue Management, Chesapeake Hospitality (2018: Corporate)
  • Tim Kayser, CRME, Director of Revenue Strategy, Grand Geneva Resort and Spa (2017: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Jennifer Mooney, CRME, CSM Lodging, CSM Lodging (2017: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Yira Segarra, CRME, Director of Function Space Revenue Management, Loews Hotels & Resorts (2017: Corporate)
  • Emily Bowen, CRME, Revenue and Customer Relationship Manager, Penn State University (2016: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Christian Boerger, CRME, CHDM, Corporate Director of Revenue Strategy, Pacific Hospitality Group (2016: Corporate)
  • Colleen Birch, CRME, VP, Revenue Optimization, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (2015: Single/Multi-Unit)
  • Christopher A. Wilroy, Senior Vice President, Commercial Services, Hilton Worldwide (2015: Corporate)
  • Jennifer Hill, Director, Revenue Management for the Hamilton Crowne Plaza, Washington DC / Interstate Hotels & Resorts (2014)
  • Gopakumar “Gopu” Menon, Director Revenue Management, Highgate Hotels / Park Plaza Boston (2013)
  • Melissa Graves, Director of Revenue, Platinum Hotel (2012)
  • Janelle Cornett, Coastal Hotel Group (2011)
  • Imtiaz Ali, Morgans Hotel Group (2010)
  • Mark Robertson, Wyndham Hotel Group (2009)
  • Angie Belknap Hughes, CRME, Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino (2008)

*Titles and employers are as of the time of the award presentation.

Nomination Process

There is a 2-step process that will make the nomination process simpler and more collaborative, and ensure the resulting nominations more clearly detail why a nominee deserves the award.

STEP 1: Nominate someone who you think has made their mark in revenue optimization. You’ll share their contact information and why you think they should be a Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year.

STEP 2: We’ll contact the person you nominate and ask them to complete an application form so that the Awards Committee can gather insights into their achievements — and we encourage you to work with them on this step. Questions on the application include:

  1. What does your role entail?
  2. How are you advancing revenue optimization and/or hotel industry?
  3. In what ways are you innovative in your work and your approach to it?
  4. How do you collaborate and strengthen relationships with various commercial disciplines in hotels (e.g., sales, marketing, revenue optimization, distribution)?
  5. How are you developing talent in revenue optimization as a team leader, mentor, or educator?
  6. How do you continue to increase your knowledge of the industry and commercial disciplines in hotels (sales, marketing, revenue optimization, distribution)?
  7. Provide evidence of your success. This can include qualitative as well as quantitative measures.
  8. Is there any additional information that is relevant to your application?

If you have been nominated and received an email outlining the next steps, please review it carefully and finalize your application/nominations by EOD on March 29, 2024.

To qualify for the Single-/Multi-Unit award, a nominee must:

  • Currently serve in an on-property or multi-property revenue optimization role for a brand, management company, ownership group, or independent property.
  • Have more than 75% of their responsibilities specific to the day-to-day management of revenue optimization for the property or properties.
  • Advance the discipline and/or industry, demonstrate leadership skills, and collaborate across teams within their organization.

To qualify for the Corporate award, a nominee must:

  • Currently serve in an above-property regional or corporate revenue optimization role for a brand, management company, or ownership group.
  • Have more than 50% of their responsibilities specific to the oversight of revenue professionals, and not in the performance of daily revenue optimization tasks.
  • Advance the discipline and/or industry, demonstrate leadership skills, and collaborate across teams within their organization.

Partnership Opportunities

Partnership opportunities are available for this awards program. For information, contact our team at partnership@hsmai.org.