CSR and Sustainability

👨‍💼 Elizabeth Harlow, with 4 years at Sonesta Hotels as chief brand officer, saw double-digit brand awareness growth post-acquisition of Red Lion Hotels Corporation in 2021. Sonesta's TravelPass, following the Hello Rewards integration, boasts over 7 million members. Amina Gilyard James bought a 70-room Quality Inn in Memphis for $3.85 million in 2023 and opened a 120-room Wyndham Lake Charles, leveraging Wyndham's diversity programs. Kimberly Rowell, with 30+ years in the industry, aims to make Five Star Hospitality a premier hotel owner-operator, emphasizing the need for more women and diverse leaders in high positions.

📢 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) expanded its executive team with Ralph Posner as Chief Communications Officer and Khristyn Brimmeier as Chief of Staff, under President and CEO Rosanna Maietta. Posner has decades of experience and was formerly with Seven Letter. Brimmeier's 25-year career includes work with Lot Sixteen and political campaigns. Additionally, Neal Daftary joined AHLA as VP, Market Development, Green Key Global, bringing over a decade of experience from OYO Hotels and other roles.

👨 Stacy Silver entered the hospitality business unexpectedly, with a full-time role launching a hotel industry publication. Mentored by Jerry Merkin, Jerry Daly, and Pat Ford, she learned industry fundamentals, the importance of relationships, and hotel financing. Silver acknowledges the progress in diversity and inclusion, with increasing women's participation from a mere handful to significant presence in leadership, yet anticipates further advancements. She envisions diversity as a future norm in hospitality.

👥 Sarah Dinger, influenced by her community of 20,000 where Super 8 originated, cites hard work and "Midwest nice" as her inspiration in hospitality. She joined My Place in 2012, mentored by founders Ron Rivett and Ryan. Advocacy and supportive leadership were crucial lessons from Rachel Humphrey. Dinger sees progressive diversity and inclusion within hospitality and is optimistic about women's increasing leadership roles, acknowledging organizations like Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance and AHLA ForWard Network for their efforts in advancing women.

📢 Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart began her career at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts as a finance intern, transitioning to a sales coordinator role which sparked her hospitality passion. With mentors from Hyatt, she learned adaptability and the value of nurturing talent. Arizmendi-Stewart emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion for innovation and stronger teams in hospitality. Despite progress, she notes a gender gap at the executive level, advocating for more female leadership through mentorship and organizational commitment.

🏠 Heidi Grant began her career in the high-stakes Bingo industry during the Oklahoman gaming and hospitality boom, transitioning from small Bingo halls to world-class resorts and casinos. Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, owned by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, emphasizes community and cultural connections, including a Choctaw language program introduced last year. Almost half (46%) of the leadership at Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is female, with women holding positions like general managers and corporate leaders.

🚿 Kathy Sue McGuire, President and CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Solutions, on March 26, 2025, shared how one hotel saved $45,000 on trash bags by adopting sustainable practices. Implementing sustainability strategies, such as switching to toiletries dispensers and reducing plastic disposables, not only cut costs but also increased revenue and employee engagement. Sustainability was presented as a smart business practice for hotels, with the potential to grow revenue and create positive team dynamics.

🎯 The Institute of Hospitality renewed the endorsement of Tourism for All's (TFA) online disability and accessibility training courses, vital for inclusive tourism. TFA's Travel Planner platform has seen a 40% user engagement increase year-on-year. The Purple Pound's economic impact is valued at £14.6 billion annually. The UK aims to be Europe's most accessible tourism destination by 2030, with a goal of 50 million international visitors per year.