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By Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President and CEO, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
This month, I am honored to highlight the winners of the HSMAI Revenue Optimization and Marketing Awards that were given out in Toronto on June 27 & 28, as part of HSMAI Commercial Strategy Week 2023. The honorees showcase exceptional talent, innovation, and expertise in marketing and revenue optimization. Let’s celebrate these individuals!
Revenue Optimization Awards
Since 2008, the Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year Awards have recognized and promoted excellence in the field of revenue optimization in the hospitality industry. The selection committee read many inspiring stories of achievement and on June 28 at HSMAI ROC Americas, we honored the following four outstanding revenue optimization leaders:
Andrew Rubinacci is receiving the prestigious Vanguard Award for Achievement in Revenue Optimization. Andrew expertise, leadership, and commitment to the industry have made him a highly regarded figure in revenue management and global distribution, driving results and advancing the field for the betterment of the hospitality industry as a whole.
Monika Morrobel, CRME, CHDM, Senior Corporate Director of Commercial Strategy at Kessler Collection was presented with the Revenue Professional of the Year Awards for corporate. Monika has taken revenue optimization to the next level in the last year — now overseeing all of Kessler’s Area Directors of Revenue Management, the brand revenue management team, and the Group Coordinators. She shares her knowledge with the industry, serving on HSMAI’s Revenue Optimization Advisory Board and mentoring HSMAI’s Rising Revenue Optimization Leaders.
Don Hood, Director of Commercial Services at Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa, was presented with the Revenue Professional of the Year Awards for single/multi-unit. Don said, “Demonstrating leadership comes in many forms — listening, caring, mentoring, showing empathy, remaining fair and consistent, and leading by example.” That mind set can explain how he consistently receives 100% scores with colleague engagement.
Dave Roberts, professor at Cornell University, author, and longtime hospitality executive at Marriott, was honored with the Revenue Optimization Educator of the Year Award. Dave loves revenue management so much that he’s a guest speaker at several other universities — from Virginia Tech, Wharton, Florida State, Johns Hopkins, and others. He’s a member of HSMAI’s Global Distribution Advisory Board.
Marketing Awards
The Marketing Professional and Educator of the Year Awards recognize and promote excellence in the field of marketing in the hospitality industry. There were many amazing nominees this year, with impressive stories of achievement. We heard from the judges that they found it both inspiring and humbling to review all the highly qualified nominations.
On June 27th, we celebrated these three marketing leaders during HSMAI’s Marketing Strategy Conference:
Jay Hubbs, CHDM, Vice President-Advertising, Marketing, Innovation and Analytics of BWH Hotels was presented with the Marketing Professional of the Year Awards for corporate category. Jay is a current member of HSMAI’s Americas Board and a past chair of the Marketing Advisory Board. He is a relentless champion for the hospitality industry, HSMAI, BWH Hotels, and his team.
John White, CRME, CHBA, CHDM, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kaanapali Beach Hotel was honored with the Marketing Professional of the Year Awards for single/multi-unit category. John is a servant leader who actively encourages his team to grow and learn — from supporting them in earning certifications to helping them find volunteer opportunities in industry organizations.
Dr. Makarand Mody, Associate Professor of Hospitality Marketing at Boston University, was honored with the Marketing Educator of the Year Award. As noted in his nomination, “He is brilliant, approachable, is admired by students and faculty, and really exemplifies the smarts of a hospitality marketer.”
These award honorees in both fields embody excellence in our industry. I congratulate them for their remarkable achievements, dedication, and innovative approaches that inspire us all to push boundaries in revenue optimization and marketing.