2025 List of Influential Women in Hospitality Announced by Questex's Hotel Management

NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questex's Hotel Management announces the eighth annual "Influential Women in Hospitality” list, honoring innovative, leading women in the hotel industry. 

The 2025 honorees were selected by the Hotel Management staff for their strong leadership and dedication to excellence in hospitality. This influential group's list of accomplishments is as long as it is impressive, and Hotel Management is proud to feature these talented, inspiring women.

Hotel Management's 2025 Influential Women in Hospitality are:

1. Anne Becker Olins, Global chief design and technical services officer, Ultra Luxury and Luxury, Accor
2. Sara Becnel, President, Sandestin Investments
3. Odette Brown, Senior director, brand operations, Choice Hotels International
4. Vickie Callahan, President, hospitality management, Peachtree Group
5. Ann Christenson, Chief human resources officer, Aimbridge
6. Vanessa Claspill, Chief commercial officer, Crescent Hotels & Resorts
7. Armelle De la Porte des Vaux, Vice president marketing, Club Med North America
8. Lisa Drake, Vice President, Development & Owner Relations, GF Hotels & Resorts
9. Lan Elliott, Co-Founder & Principal, Acacia Hospitality
10. Emily Feeney, Senior director of capital markets and investments, Noble Investment Group
11. Wendy Ferrill, Vice president, Worldwide sales, BWH Hotel Group
12. Catherine Hance, Chief legal officer, Peregrine Hospitality
13. Brittany Jones, Chief development officer, Brittain Resorts & Hotels
14. Josie Kilgore, President, Cobblestone Hotels
15. Shannon Knapp, President and CEO, Leading Hotels of the World
16. Sandi Lesueur, Founder and CEO, VIRTU Resort & Residences
17. Helinda Lizarraga, President, Aligned Hospitality Management
18. Lisa Lombardo, President, Ark Holding Group
19. Kerry Mack, Chief revenue officer, Highgate
20. Luana Maitland, Area director of cultural experiences, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels
21. Ayesha Molino, President and COO, ARIA and Vdara; Chief public affairs officer, MGM Resorts International
22. Kendra Plummer, Founder and CEO, Elise Capital
23. Ayesha Rajput, Regional vice president, franchise development, Sonesta
24. Samantha Sugarman, Senior vice president, strategic operations, Trinity Investments

"It is Hotel Management's honor to recognize and celebrate hospitality professionals who make up this year's 2025 Influential Women in Hospitality list,” said Esther Hertzfeld, Senior Editor at Hotel Management. "These exceptional women are innovators, collaborators, entrepreneurs, developers, and leaders reshaping and redefining the global hospitality industry. Their contributions inspire us, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on their remarkable achievements.”

The 2025 Influential Women in Hospitality honorees are featured online in the March Issue of Hotel Management. Visit here to learn more.

About Hotel Management, a Division of Questex Hospitality Group

Hotel Management is a leading B2B centralized source for the latest news, trends and analysis across the hospitality industry. Stay up-to-date on breaking news in global and local investment, development, technology, operations, food & beverage and design.

About Questex

Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy - connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Media Contact

Esther Hertzfeld

Senior Editor

212-400-6230

[email protected]