Highlights:

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A first-generation immigrant to the United States from Nicaragua, Karen Kühl has 35 years of rich and varying experience in the tourism industry. Though she now serves as the Executive Director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, she got her start in the industry as a young adult—working in hostess, bartender, and front desk agent positions. From there, she climbed her way to the top as an extension of her natural leadership skills. She took on roles as a restaurant manager and resort manager, started her own agritourism tour operator, and so on until she found herself where she stands today. 

Here in Cayuga County, she has been instrumental in implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, both in and out of the office. Under her leadership, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism has reached the Certified By Travel Union (CBTU) Level One designation and is now actively working toward pursuing the level two category by improving its internal DEI policies and procedures. Additionally, she has been instrumental in positioning Cayuga County as an epicenter of Black and activist history, embracing Harriet Tubman’s legacy in Auburn and the roots of the Underground Railroad in the area.  

Karen Kühl is an example not only of a strong Latinx leader in the tourism industry, but also of an individual with a staunch commitment to making her destination a safe and welcoming place for visitors and residents alike. 

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Jacob Messina, the CEO of Stayntouch, is a seasoned leader with a profound understanding of technology's critical role in the hospitality sector. Before taking the reins at Stayntouch, he served as the Senior Vice President of Technology & Innovation at MCR Hotels, where he oversaw technology for a portfolio of 150 hotels. With over a decade of experience at Loews Hotels & Co., his expertise spans hotel technology, distribution, and digital transformation. Jacob's unique blend of hotel and tech knowledge positions him as a dynamic force propelling Stayntouch's innovation in the hospitality industry, all with a strong commitment to the customer experience. 

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Dorothy Dowling, ISHC is a seasoned management consultant and growth advisor, with Horwath HTL with over 40 years of experience in the global hospitality industry. As the former Global Chief Marketing Officer and SVP of Sales at Best Western, she excelled at shaping marketing and commercial strategies. Dowling actively contributes to HSMAI and is a special advisor to the HSMAI Foundation Board. Her industry leadership earned her prestigious Lifetime Achievement awards from HSMAI, the NYU Investment Conference, and GBTA. She holds an Honours BA and MA from the University of Waterloo, completed executive programs at Harvard and MIT, and holds postgraduate certifications in D&I and ESG from Cornell. Dowling is also a public trustee at CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE), the third largest Storage REIT, and is Director-certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors

https://global.hsmai.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HSMAI-Foundation-State-of-Talent-2024.pdf

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Stephanie Sparks Smith, CHDM is CEO and Digital Matriarch at Cogwheel Marketing TM️ and partner and consultant at Cayuga Hospitality Consultants. Her agency focuses on helping hotel owners and management companies drive incremental exposure and revenue to their websites and online channels through hotel digital marketing and advertising. The expertise of Cogwheel Marketing is knowing the intricacies of the branded hotel systems and understanding where brand marketing stops and hotel level marketing begins. Cogwheel Analytics TM️ , developed by Cogwheel Marketing, is a hotel digital marketing reporting and BI tool that aggregates data from multiple sources to allow companies to identify trends and opportunities in their online presence.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-sparks-smith/

Resources mentioned in the episode:

The Energy Bus https://jongordon.com/book/the-energy-bus/

The Big Leap https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level-ebook/dp/B0026772QU

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As a graduate student deeply interested in hospitality, Krystal Qi is honored to contribute to the advancement of the hospitality industry. In her role as the program coordinator for corporate engagement at the University of South Carolina, Krystal facilitates connections and supports industry initiatives with humility and dedication. Leveraging her background in hotel operations, Krystal is committed to continuous learning and growth. With a focus on excellence and integrity, she navigates the complexities of the field diligently. Krystal eagerly embraces oportunities to explore new strategies and trends, striving to make a positive impact in the hospitality industry. Krystal is currently part of She Has A Deal, and has served as a student ambassador for ALIS three times. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yiming-krystal-qi-40042a194/

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Allie joined the Uncommon Hospitality team in 2020 after relocating to Maine from Australia. She looks after the brand, voice, and identity of each hotel in the portfolio and creates strategic marketing plans to drive new guest acquisition, retention, engagement, and lifetime value. Allie utilizes a variety of tactics to introduce guests to the hotels and ensure they return again and again—she is an expert in digital marketing, social media, influencer management, local partnerships, and more. Allie attended American University in Washington, D.C. and the University of Technology in Sydney, studied abroad in Rome, and completed online courses from Harvard Business School and Cornell University. She lives in South Portland with her husband, Ciaran.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-meyer/

Traveling through young adulthood with an intense fascination with maps and cartography in general, a career in land use management and geography seemed like a natural fit. Upon graduation from Clark University during the peak of the "Great Recession", like most other millennials, Paul refocused from his dream job towards something that would pay the bills. That lead him to the travel industry, specifically, a travel broker, where we channeled his past experiences and knowledge of the world to help aspiring globetrotters optimize their travel routes. His ability to merge logistical efficiency with intercultural communication and an understanding of diverse regions led him to pivot to a digital marketing role, and the boutique hotel management field. As Migis Hotel Group's Director of Digital Marketing & Sales, Paul directs all revenue management and marketing strategies, focused on combining only the best of corporate practices and expertise with the traditions and legacy of quintessential New England innkeeping.

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Vanessa Miller is a chef and operations strategist with more than 18 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. Miller’s unique perspective on restaurants and hospitality combines front-of-house and back-of-house management experience with an analytical approach to operations, fueled by Economics and Political Science training from Tufts University, where she also played basketball. Starting in restaurants at the age of 16, Miller quickly climbed the ranks and, with no formal culinary training, transitioned to the kitchen where she discovered her passion for food and honed her culinary talent. In 2013, at the age of 24, Miller became the youngest female Executive Chef in New York City when she opened The Dalloway in SoHo. Guided by a ‘team-sport-inspired’ leadership philosophy, Miller has executed creative and sophisticated menus, led diverse teams, and managed operations in a variety of leadership roles in NYC, including Director of Food and Beverage, Director of Restaurants, and Director of Culinary Operations. In her current role as Senior Director of Food and Beverage for 21c Museum Hotels, she oversees food and beverage operations for the company's 8 properties, including the development and execution of culinary and restaurant concepts, menus, and service standards.

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Mimi Oliver (www.waterwalk.com) is chief executive officer of WaterWalk, the nation’s most innovative flexible lodging brand. Mimi is a true ground up WaterWalk expert having learned from the best—her grandfather and founder of WaterWalk, the late Jack DeBoer. Over the years, she has worked in most business units of WaterWalk, led the introduction of their Generation 2.0 concept and has raised over $110 million in equity and over $125 million in debt for the company. Mimi was recently recognized as a “Female Force in Hospitality and Real Estate” by International Hospitality Media and participated in the Wall Street Journal’s roundtable of Most Influential Women in Hospitality. She has been featured in Hotel Management Magazine’s 30 under 30: The Hotel Industry’s Top Rising Stars edition as well as their Most Influential Women in Hospitality edition. Under her leadership, WaterWalk was awarded “Best Places to Work in Wichita” by Wichita Business Journal in 2022.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimi-oliver-954317203/