As the industry struggles with layoffs in the face of a historic loss of business, the HSMAI Foundation pivoted to narrow the focus of its mission. The Foundation brought together human resource professionals from major hotel brands and management companies to discuss the new realities of talent and leadership development. Virtual gathers too place in each of HSMAI’s regions to address their unique needs, with articles written following each to share best practices with the industry.  

CHRO Articles:

• The State of Hospitality Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Talent

• Messaging, Trust, and Other Priorities for Hotel Loyalty Professionals

• Best Practices From Hospitality HR Professionals in North America

• Restructuring Departments and Other Priorities for Hotel HR Professionals in the Middle East

In addition, the Foundation created a Covid Relief fund. The fund is designed to specifically provide support to industry professionals who have been impacted by the crisis. Funds are being disbursed worldwide to assist individuals with grants for professional development and membership in HSMAI. 

Recognition of best practices in the area of talent and leadership development was also part of the Foundation/s 2020, with the awarding of the first recipients of the first talent and leadership awards at the 63rd Annual Adrian Awards. The HSMAIF Talent & Leadership Adrian Award fosters and celebrates best practices in attracting new talent, developing emerging talent, and engaging existing talent . The winners were: 

• Attracting New Talent: Salt Hotels 

• Developing Emerging Talent: Marriott International 

• Engaging Existing Talent: Terranea Resort 

The work of the HSMAI Foundation could not be accomplished without the support of major contributors AccorHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Preferred Hotels & Resorts. 

Thank you to our Partners

HSMAI Foundation
Board of Directors

Chair: Agnelo Fernandes
Chief Strategy Officer & EVP,
Revenue Terranea Resort

Barb Bowden
Complex Managing Director
Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando

Lisa Checchio
Chief Marketing Officer
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Matthew Clyde
President
Ideas Collide

Jeff Doane, CHBA
SVP of Sales & Marketing - North & Central America
Accor

Dorothy Dowling
SVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Best Western Hotels & Resorts

John Fareed, CHME
Managing Director
Horwath HTL

Kenneth Greger
Partner
August Leadership

Warren Jahn, CRME
Head, Global Operations Training, Americas Learning Delivery
IHG

Stowe Shoemaker
Dean
UNLV-William F. Harrah
College of Hospitality

JC Thompson
COO & Chief Disrupter
Aspire

Bruce Tracey, Ph.D.
Professor, Editor,
Cornell Hospitality Quarterly
Cornell University

Amanda Voss, CMP
VP of Sales
MGM Resorts International

Michelle Woodley
President
Preferred Hotels & Resorts