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In honor of the passing of HSMAI President and CEO Bob Gilbert we are sharing his last Perspective column written following his retirement announcement.
Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President and CEO, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
As many of you have heard, I recently announced my retirement as President and CEO of HSMAI Global, Americas, and Foundation. While I had planned to continue leading HSMAI through its 100th anniversary (in September 2027), I decided to accelerate my retirement timeline due to an unexpected and serious health issue.
In this, my final perspective column, I will share some reflections on my time with HSMAI. I am filled with gratitude for the incredible journey and the profound relationships I have built with so many of you. I am immensely proud of the work we have accomplished together in expanding the association’s reach and impact across the globe, and the fun we have had along the way. It has truly been a privilege to serve our resilient industry.
As I step aside, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the industry leaders who have served as volunteer leaders for the organization and to the HSMAI staff who have been my A-Team. Many of the staff members have been HSMAI for the long haul, and their loyalty, expertise, and hard work have been instrumental in our success. I’m grateful to the team and the culture we’ve created.
Since sharing news of my retirement, I have been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the messages and tributes from colleagues, friends, and collaborators. The outpouring of support has been incredibly moving, and I am profoundly grateful for the recognition and appreciation of my contributions to the association and the hospitality industry.
Many of those kind tributes have included generous offers of assistance to make this transition easier for me, the staff team, and the association overall. If you feel called to action, I encourage you to celebrate HSMAI and my 30+ year legacy with a gift to the HSMAI Foundation’s Century Campaign. Your support will help nurture the next generation of hospitality professionals and advance our industry’s growth and innovation, long after all of us have retired.
Thank you for the honor of serving our extraordinary community. The future of HSMAI is bright, and I am confident that with our dedicated staff, Board of Directors, and new leadership, the association will continue to flourish and make a lasting impact on the global hospitality industry.