Originality and the Spirit of Hospitality

With nearly 10 years of hospitality-focused digital marketing experience, and a combined 14 years of copywriting, public relations, social media and digital marketing experience, Katy has honed her creative and analytical skills with hotels and resorts across the U.S., Mexico and Europe. She has had the pleasure of working both on-property in markets including San Diego, Miami and Virginia Beach, and at the corporate level overseeing ecommerce efforts for over 100 hotels and resorts.

Having started her hospitality career while working at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA, Katy found her passion by focusing specifically on independent, boutique and lifestyle hotels and resorts. While at La Costa Resort, Katy oversaw and implemented a full-scale, strategic overhaul of the resort's CRM program, resulting in a 65% increase in YOY email-generated revenue. A lifelong, self-professed creative writer, it wasn't until Katy's introduction to Google Analytics when she found particular interest in marrying her love for writing with data-driven insights to guide her hotels' strategies and successes.

Originally from Plymouth, MA, Katy first discovered her love for travel (and warmer weather) while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. Since then, she's chased sunshine and coastal living, never living more than a few miles from the beach.

Starla is a dynamic, data-driven and detail-oriented marketing and ecommerce professional with more than 15 years of experience driving integrated digital performance and delivering a cohesive customer experience across the entire marketing ecosystem. Named to the 2019 HSMAI Top 25 Minds in Marketing, she most recently led the digital marketing and social media centers of excellence for Marriott International. Starla began her career working with well-known brands such as Chili's, Corner Bakery Cafe and Maggiano's Little Italy. A foodie at heart, she combines her passion for great culinary experiences and innovative online demand acquisition to meaningfully grow brand awareness and drive increases in food and beverage revenue.

Starla studied hospitality marketing at Cornell University, holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BA in economics from the University of Texas at Dallas. A lifelong learner, she likes to think of herself as 'an analyst trapped inside a creative's body.' Starla possesses that magic left brain, right brain balance that allows her to plan strategic marketing campaigns while also pursuing a strong, repeatable return on investment.

Alfio has worked in the food and beverage industry for over 17 years. Through his career he has worked with celebrity chefs, won food network shows, led successful celebrity chef galas for universities and has been key in product development and operations for over 45 successful openings, transitions and re-concepting efforts. Through tenure at Hornblower Cruises and Events and PM Hotel Group, he has worked to elevate product offerings, operations and efficiencies for multiple companies and ownership groups.

His last position with TPG Hotels, Resorts & Marinas he served as Vice-President of Food &  Beverage Prior to that he worked as Corporate Director, Bars & Restaurants at PM Hotel Group where he was accountable for overall revenue generation for all bar and restaurant outlets across the portfolio and oversaw 90+ million in outlet sales.