Share
Adrian’s Deadline Approaching: Submit Before It’s Too Late
There are 14 more days to submit Adrian Award entries! If you haven’t looked at the details – we’re excited to share that you’ll find some new categories recognizing the work that’s truly moving our industry forward. The updated Adrian Awards categories for 2025 reflect a marketing landscape that’s rapidly evolving – driven by innovation, data, and new channels for connection. These changes ensure we’re celebrating the real strategies travel and hospitality professionals are using today, from AI-driven storytelling to hyper-targeted digital engagement. We’ve modernized the Adrian’s to match the moment and to honor the creativity and results that define excellence in today’s hospitality marketing. Click here to learn more and to Submit the Extraordinary.
HSMAI Foundation Report: AI in Action
I’m excited to share the HSMAI Foundation continues its work exploring the impact of AI on our industry and on our workforce. The report will be widely distributed in the coming weeks, and what this latest AI report makes clear is that the future of hospitality’s workforce lies in embedding intelligence directly into daily workflows, not layering on another tool. Our case study with Expedia Group shows just how transformative this shift can be: sales managers reported saving over an hour a week, 83% said coaching quality improved, and sales teams saw measurable lifts in confidence, close rates, and partner satisfaction. Even a modest 0.3% rise in pitch success, when scaled globally, translates into millions in new revenue. The lesson is simple but powerful: when AI turns feedback into a continuous, data-driven process, professional development stops being an event and becomes a true engine for performance, retention, and growth. I welcome you to read the full report here and to share it with your teams.
Top 25 Awards: Nominations Open Sept 2
Each year, HSMAI honors the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization, celebrating the people who are pushing our industry forward with fresh ideas, bold strategies, and measurable impact. This award isn’t about lifetime achievement – it’s about specific initiatives over the past 18 months that have transformed businesses, advanced teams, and elevated our industry. Nominations for the 2025 class open September 2 through September 30. Nominations are now open, and I encourage you to take a moment to recognize a colleague whose work has truly made a difference. Let’s shine a spotlight on the extraordinary leaders shaping the future of hospitality. Click here to learn more about the nomination process.