Maria Tuttocuore And Sandi Robinson Are Two Of The Four New Board Members Appointed To The International Gay And Lesbian Travel Association
by Heather Cassell
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association announced four new members to its board of directors – two are women – May 8.
Monaco tourism expert Maria Tuttocuore and boutique hotels sales expert Sandi Robinson join two other new board members at the LGBTQI travel association.
Maria is the senior executive sales and marketing for the Monaco Government Tourist Office.
Sandi is director of sales at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago.
Maria
Maria has an extensive background in the travel industry and is a well-respected luxury tourism leader. She currently raises awareness of Monaco’s diverse offerings to North American travelers conceiving, plans and implementing marketing efforts to the leisure sales community. She works with agencies, suppliers and business partners and has collaborated with Leading Hotels of the World, the New York State Department of Tourism, New York University and PhoCusWright. Additionally, she implements her strong digital background and analytical skills that have played a significant role in developing Monaco’s online presence in addition to her other marketing and sales expertise.
“It is an honor to be working with such a group of great professionals at the ILGTA Board of Directors,” Maria told FTN News. “I am looking forward to the sharing of ideas and programs with my colleagues throughout the tourism industry to help promote LGBTQ travel worldwide.
Cindy Hoddeson, Director, North America, MGTO, expressed her pleasure of having Maria join the association’s board.
“It is a very exciting time for the LGBTQ travel and Monaco is proud to be a member of IGLTA. Maria’s understanding of the organization’s mission combined with her experience in representing such a welcoming destination makes her a natural fit for the leadership of this organization,” she said.
Sandi
Sandi is a longtime hotel expert and Chicago native. She is a 20-year hotel professional starting her career in hospitality while she was still in high school at the Spirit of Chicago when she was 16-years-old, reported Chicago Defender. She was studying cosmetology, her first love, at Dunbar Career Academy, but by the time she was 20-years-old, she fell in love with the hotel business. Her cosmetology training didn’t go to waste, it taught her the foundation for her work ethic and style selling and planning events, she said.
She briefly attended Harold Washington College to get a degree in hospitality, but she quickly discovered she was learning everything she needed to know while working at Spirit of Chicago. She worked her way up to become the company’s top sales representative during her eight-year tenure at the hotel. She moved on to briefly sell vacations to college students before returning to the hotel and hospitality business. She worked at the Holiday Inn, the Four Points Sheraton, and the Dana Hotel and Spa before landing at The Godfrey Hotel in 2014, reported Glappitnova.
Sandi was recruited by fellow academy graduate to work at the boutique hotel for her signature style.
“My signature style is making sure the events are fabulous. Making sure that my clients are not worried about their events. I tell my clients that’s not your job and I know that’s what they’re used to, but when they are in my place — that’s my job,” she told the news outlet.
Sandi serves as a Choose Chicago Ambassador and is a co-chair of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association Lights Festival Committee. In addition to her local commitments, she is also a member of IGLTA and of the Chicago chapter of Meeting Professionals International.
She served on the board of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce from 2006 to 2013, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Sandi didn’t respond to Girls That Roam’s request for a statement.
New Members Welcome
Juan Julià, IGLTA board chair, also expressed his approval of Maria and Sandi along with their fellow new board members.
“We are always striving to attract high-quality board members that reflect the diversity of our global association,” said Juan. “I’m proud to see the new appointments include two lesbians, a straight ally and a gay man who all come from different business backgrounds within our tourism community. I look forward to working with them on the strategic plans for IGLTA’s future growth and development.”
Maria and Sandi join two other new executives to the organization’s 2018-2019 board.
In addition to Maria and Sandi, the new board members are Apoorva Gandhi, vice president, multicultural affairs at Marriott International; and Oriol Pamies, co-founder of Moovz – The Global LGBT Social Network.
Returning board members are Felipe Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce (Colombia); Earl Fowlkes, president and CEO of Center for Black Equity (US); Richard Gray, vice president and LGBT+ Market at Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (US); Uwern Jong, editor-in-chief of OutThere Publishing (UK); Juan, founder and president of Axel Hotels (Spain); Richard Krieger, president of PrideWorld and The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands (US); Steven Larkin, director of sales, Canada at Delta Air Lines (US); Dan Melesurgo, vice president, strategic partnerships at the American Society of Association Executives (US); Jon Munoz, vice president, global diversity and inclusion at Hilton (US); and Don Skeoch, chief marketing officer at LA Tourism and Convention Board (US).
Shiho Ikeuchi, director, overseas marketing, executive guest services and operations at Hotel Granvia Kyoto (Japan), was reappointed for another two-year term. The renewed appointment reflects association’s continued commitment to expanding its reach into Asia.
John Tanzella, president and CEO of IGLTA, holds a non-voting seat on the board.
The association’s board is made up of LGBTQI and ally tourism leaders in social media/marketing, corporate accommodations, destination promotion and boutique hotels.
The new board will take effect during the board meeting prior to IGLTA’s 35th annual Global Convention in Toronto, Canada, May 9 – 12.
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