The Travel Leader

For 15 years, up until 2019, Elaine was Executive VP of Preferred Hotels and Resorts. She built the sales team in 5 years from $32 million to $100 million in group sales. She worked in development and hotel retention as well as major events. During her time at Preferred she managed the events team and the sales team. In 2020 Elaine and Penny Wing joined forces and opened Reiimagine to provide sales support services to independent luxury boutique hotels, and utilize Penny's exclusive “Brojure” product to provide dynamic, live, digital marketing content as an additional service. Reiimagine’s objective is non-commission based representation that gives clients access to an exclusive collection of unique 5-star independent boutique properties. Learn more about Elaine Macy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-macy-4a97493/ ________________________________________________________________________________ The Travel Leader Podcast is brought to you by The Travel Leader, a travel content, leadership and coaching initiative for leaders in hospitality, travel and tourism. Learn more at www.thetravelleadercoach.com. Follow The Travel Leader at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-travel-leader and our host and founder Rachel Vandenberg at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmvandenberg/

Elle Rustique is the founder of Tip Brightly, a cashless tipping platform. Learn more about Elle at https://www.linkedin.com/in/erustique/ and her company https://tipbrightly.com/.  The Travel Leader Podcast is brought to you by The Travel Leader, a travel content, leadership and coaching initiative for leaders in hospitality, travel and tourism.  Learn more at www.thetravelleadercoach.com. Follow The Travel Leader at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-travel-leader and our host and founder Rachel Vandenberg at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmvandenberg/

Michael Maxwell joined Blue Orbit as a Partner in 2014 and has worked with Ray Camillo on various projects and in other businesses since 1994. Michael has over 36 years of hospitality operations and senior management level experience at some of America’s most celebrated and successful restaurant companies. Michael graduated from Southern Polytechnic State University in 1981 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. His passion for restaurants flourished while working with Peasant Restaurants where he helped grow their Mick’s expansion chain as their Training Director. Michael’s fun and fresh approach to restaurant operations served him well over his career as he worked with companies like Concentrics, The Fifth Group, Rio Bravo/Chevy’s, Cinebistro, Metrotainment, Rare Hospitality, Legal Seafood, and eatZi’s Market & Bakery, holding positions as District Manager, Director of Training, Operating Partner and General Manager. He has opened over 30 restaurants and implemented countless training and continuing educations programs. ____________________________________________________________ The Travel Leader Podcast is brought to you by The Travel Leader, a travel content, leadership and coaching initiative for leaders in hospitality, travel and tourism.  Learn more at www.thetravelleadercoach.com. Follow The Travel Leader at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-travel-leader and our host and founder Rachel Vandenberg at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmvandenberg/

Evan is an award-winning Hospitality Headhunter with Gecko Hospitality and specializes in full-service, permanent placement recruiting for hotels, resorts, private clubs, event management companies, and private estates in the New England, New York, and New Jersey Metro markets. Evan’s award-winning Northeast Recruiting Team creates a strategic partnership with clients and a personalized relationship with candidates throughout the search process; resulting in the “right” fit for both parties. We apply a grounded and balanced approach to recruiting, paired with an analytical method specific to our client’s needs. https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-kaplan-cpc-13253138/ _____________________________________________________________________ The Travel Leader Podcast is brought to you by The Travel Leader, a travel content, leadership and coaching initiative for leaders in hospitality, travel and tourism.  Learn more at www.thetravelleadercoach.com. Follow The Travel Leader at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-travel-leader and our host and founder Rachel Vandenberg at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmvandenberg/ 

Ana Connolly is a Senior Director of Revenue and Costing for Vantage Deluxe World Travel.  She has over 18 years of hospitality experience, including Panama and multiple U.S. markets. Obtaining her B.A. in Tourism from Universidad de Panama, and a Master’s of Science in Management from Emmanuel College. Currently obtaining a certificate on Google Data Analytics. She started her career at Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama City as a tour guide and hospitality desk attendant for U.S. incentive groups. She continued her career at Sonesta Hotel Boston/Cambridge as a reservation agent, and group coordinator. In 2013 she started her career on revenue management working for multiple franchise Hilton brand hotels and multiple markets, holding position for multiple Doubletree hotels in Boston, Hiltons and Embassy Suite in D.C. She worked her way up to multiple positions as assistant revenue manager, revenue analyst, Director of revenue Strategy, Director of Revenue Management, and today as Complex Director of Revenue management for Hilton manage hotels. Managing through the years close to $85 million dollar in hotel room revenues. When not at work, Ana enjoys playing soccer, traveling and spending time with her family, her husband Daniel and kids, Diego and Valentina. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-connolly-msm-b5162951/ _____________________ The Travel Leader Podcast is a production brought to you by PEAK Leadership Coaching - a leadership coaching firm dedicated to partnering with travel, hospitality and tourism leaders to increase awareness, build confidence, improve leadership competencies and reach their PEAK potential. https://www.peakinspiringtransformation.com/ Join the Travel Leader Community to continue the discussion and growth on leadership in the travel industry.   https://www.peakinspiringtransformation.com/the-travel-leader-community.html

Leah recently founded the Jane Hotel Group, a dedicated hospitality investment company based out of  the Midwest focusing on limited-service and extended-stay hotel acquisitions. Prior to forming Jane Hotel Group, Leah held executive and senior leadership roles with Cushman & Wakefield's Hospitality and Gaming Valuation and Advisory Group and HVS. Over a 14-year consulting career she valued various hospitality assets and land in excess of $12 billion. In addition to her valuation and advisory experience, she has nearly 7 years of operational experience in the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, bars, and theme parks. Leah is an adamant supporter of hospitality education through her involvement with the Washington State Alumni Association and historically as a guest lecturer at the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona, as well as with the Castell@College program through the American Hotel and Lodging Association. She also serves on the Rising Leaders Board of the non-profit PEARLS for Teen Girls. Although born in Seattle, Washington, Leah spent a large time of her childhood living in Frankfurt, Germany. Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from Washington State University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahdmurphy/

In this first full length episode of the Travel Leader Podcast, I asked fellow coach and consultant Debby Jewesson to interview me to introduce the podcast and talk about why I started it. Debby was the perfect choice as she has a history in the hospitality space as the founder of Branching Out Events a floral design and event production company.  Today, Debby is a Personal Coach & Business Consultant who specializes in working with ambitious female entrepreneurs. She helps them slow down, step away from the daily grind and figure out what they want most. Above all, she helps Clients find greater clarity and focus, so they can gain the momentum they need to achieve their goals and start living a more fulfilling life! Debby is a graduate of Coach U, the industry’s leading global provider of coach training programs. Since 2020, Debby has completed over 150 hours of intensive coach training courses and has logged over 440 hours of one-on-one coaching. Her programs and services are available to women worldwide. http://branchingoutevents.com/ https://www.therootsgroupcoaching.com/

In this short trailer episode we introduce the Travel Leader Podcast.  I’ve caught the podcast bug! After being a guest on several wonderful travel industry podcasts, I’m starting my own podcast dedicated to leadership in the travel industry. Starting this podcast comes from a genuine place of building relationships and learning from the industry’s top leaders while also providing space for these leaders to reflect on their leadership and connect with our listeners and other guests. ​The Travel Leader Podcast is dedicated to elevating the voices of leaders in travel and hospitality. We connect travel and hospitality leaders to one another through authentic conversations. Listeners will hear about leadership in the industry focusing on what makes our leaders who they are and how they are impacting the future of travel and hospitality. www.peakinspiringtranformation.com/podcasts https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmvandenberg/