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After an illustrious 30-year tenure at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas, HSMAI Foundation, and HSMAI Global, the organization has announced the retirement of President and CEO, Bob Gilbert. Gilbert, a revered leader in the global hospitality industry, has accelerated his retirement due to a serious health issue.
“It is with the utmost respect that we announce today the retirement of Bob Gilbert from his role of President and CEO of HSMAI,” said Andrew Rubinacci, CHSP, HSMAI Americas chair and chief advisory officer at FLYR Hospitality. “Bob has been a mentor and friend to many in the industry and has taken the association to new heights over the course of his incredible 30-year tenure, expanding HSMAI across the globe. The association will benefit from his leadership for many years to come.”
Reflecting on his career, Gilbert expressed, “I want to express my appreciation for my years at the association, the deep partnerships built with so many of you, and the trust you placed in me to help guide the organization to truly impact sales, marketing, and revenue optimization in the hospitality industry. The hospitality field has always proven its vitality and resilience, evolving with the world’s changes no matter how quickly those changes have happened. We’ve adapted through events like 9/11 and the pandemic and emerged stronger than ever before.” He added, “In the last year alone, we unveiled HSMAI’s first-ever Commercial Strategy Conference, continued coalition building with other industry organizations like AHLA, HFTP, HEDNA, and more, and launched HSMAI’s Century Campaign to celebrate HSMAI’s 100-year anniversary in 2027 and ensure it is here for members and the industry for 100 more. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of the industry leaders who have served as volunteer leaders for the organization, and a staff of dedicated professionals who have implemented their vision.”
Under Gilbert’s leadership, HSMAI has seen remarkable growth and innovation. He brought HSMAI’s regions across the globe under the umbrella of HSMAI Global in 2002 and introduced organizational membership in 2018. New chapters were launched in the Americas, including Brazil and Puerto Rico, and formalized Europe as an HSMAI Region, along with global regions such as Asia Pacific (2003), the Middle East (2008), and Latin America (2023).
Gilbert spearheaded the creation and growth of HSMAI’s Strategy Conferences, implementing special interest groups for sales, marketing, and revenue management professionals. He introduced revenue management as a discipline in 2003 with the launch of the HSMAI Revenue Management Strategy Conference, which evolved into the “commercial” discipline in 2024. HSMAI also introduced several certifications under his guidance, including the Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME), Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer (CHDM), Certified Hotel Business Acumen (CHBA), and Certified Hotel Sales Leader (CHSL).
Gilbert led HSMAI through significant industry challenges, including the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic, each time ensuring the association emerged stronger. He focused the HSMAI Foundation’s mission on talent attraction, growth, and retention, and proudly launched the HSMAI Foundation’s Century Campaign to support the next generation of industry professionals.
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