May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — a time to honor the leaders whose vision, creativity and cultural intelligence continue to shape the global travel and hospitality industry.
This year, we’re especially proud to recognize women whose work spans strategy, wellbeing, guest experience and leadership transformation — each bringing a distinct lens that is helping redefine what our industry can be.
Leaders like Rishma Khimji – one of our new advisory board members – who has become powerful voice in shaping customer and brand experience at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority through a deeply global, hospitality-forward perspective, consistently bridging operational excellence with human-centered service design.
Peggy Roe has helped reimagine the modern guest journey at scale, championing loyalty and experience innovation at Marriott International, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies while keeping a relentless focus on emotional connection and brand trust.
A pioneer in the intersection of medicine, neuroscience and leadership, Great Wolf Resorts’ Dr. Romie Mushtaq brings a vital perspective on burnout, resilience and wellbeing — reframing how leaders show up for themselves and their teams in high-performance environments.
Tori Forbes-Roberts continues to elevate conversations around equity, leadership development and organizational culture, helping Brightline Trains translate values into action in ways that are both measurable and meaningful.
And Yahnny Adolfo San Luis-Wallgren brings a globally informed lens to leadership and hospitality at Nomado, championing inclusive growth and cross-cultural understanding that reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of travel today.
Together — alongside many other AAPI women across our industry — they are not only contributing to progress, but actively shaping the standards by which progress is measured.
At Women Leading Travel, we are honored to spotlight their impact this month. More importantly, we remain committed to ensuring their voices are consistently present in the rooms where ideas are shaped, decisions are made and the future of travel is written.
Because representation is not a theme for May — it is an ongoing commitment to who we elevate, and why.
– Elisabeth Segura
Strategic Content Senior Manager
EDITOR’S PICKS
Last Chance to Join Our May Corporate Member Workshop: The Culture SPIN Method™
Corporate Members, register for our May workshop: Culture SPIN Method™ — an interactive session designed to help global leaders strengthen cultural judgment and improve decision-making under pressure. Invite your colleagues to join us!
LEADER SPOTLIGHT
JOB OF THE WEEK
Vice President Marketing, MGM Resorts International
This Detroit-based leadership opportunity oversees a broad, multi-channel marketing portfolio spanning special events, VIP services, database marketing, PR and brand strategy within a dynamic hospitality and casino environment. This role sits on the executive committee and plays a pivotal part in shaping both short- and long-term strategy, ensuring all marketing efforts align with business objectives, guest experience standards and overall growth goals.
BECOME A MEMBER
Women Leading Travel provides executive women in the travel and hospitality industry a place where they can unite, educate and inspire one another — a trusted community of like-minded executive professional women.an empowering experience that left me energized and motivated.
The vibe of the [Women Leading Travel Forum] conference felt different than any other industry event I had been to… if I joined a table of strangers, it felt immediately inclusive, because I was welcomed — and I made sure to do the same.
