PTG CONSULTING - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Vice President, Marketing Communications
• Vice President, Marketing Communications / Education

With more than 15 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industries, Ashley Norman leads PTG Consulting's North American public relations and digital marketing team, developing strategies, implementing creative ideas, cultivating traditional media and social influencer relationships, and ensuring that all deliverables are achieved - and often exceeded. Her wide-reaching, global experience includes overseeing accounts for tourism boards and destination marketing organizations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, Central America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, driving multi-faceted success for tourism brands through traditional public relations tactics, partnerships, targeted social campaigns, paid digital programs, website marketing, and more, while ensuring the highest ROI possible is achieved. Ashley is passionate about helping lesser-known destinations enter new markets, and her insightful, hands-on approach has landed impactful editorial features for PTG Consulting's clients in some of the top travel and lifestyle media outlets across the United States and Canada. Prior to joining PTG Consulting in 2016, Ashley held leadership roles at top travel marketing firms in New York City and Miami. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University. Among her favorite travel experiences are whale watching in Puerto Vallarta, wandering the blue agave fields in Tequila, and off-roading in the Chihuahua Desert outside of Ciudad Juárez.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Operations & Administration
• Vice President, Operations & Administration / Education

With more than 40 years of experience in the global tourism industry, Jennifer Johnston is Vice President of Operations & Administration for PTG Consulting. In her role, Jennifer focuses on management of complex projects, providing structure, overseeing timeline development, and interfacing with in-market teams to ensure that contracted deliverables are understood and executed on time and in budget. Australia-born and Chicago-based, Jennifer is a lifelong traveler who has worked both in client-facing and supporting roles for companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. She has traveled to 50 countries and five continents and still has Antarctica, Alaska, and Vietnam on her bucket list. Jennifer attended Mt. St. Benedict College in Sydney.

Job Titles:

• Senior Vice President - Hospitality / Education
• Senior Vice President of Hospitality

Kathleen Cullen is Senior Vice President of Hospitality for PTG Consulting, bringing more than 25 years of diverse experience in the hospitality industry to her position. In this role, Kathleen leverages her astute ability to understand individuals' strengths and line them up with hotels' needs, as well as when and how to respond quickly to changes needed to guarantee a hotel's success. Prior to joining PTG Consulting in 2019, Kathleen held strategic senior leadership positions in the corporate offices of global hotel companies, launched her own consulting firm, authored professional publications, and worked in operational departments on the property level. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President of Revenue & Distribution for Two Roads Hospitality, responsible for overall revenue strategies and increasing hotel market share for a portfolio of more than 75 hotels, as well as optimizing the company's revenue management foundation for all brands. Kathleen is active in many industry organizations, having served as Vice President of the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association from 2000-2002 and Chair of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Revenue Management Advisory Board in 2014 and 2015. She is also the author of the best-selling industry revenue management publications including "Defining Revenue Management: Top Line to Bottom Line" and three editions of "Evolving Dynamics of Revenue Management," which serve as the official study guide for the industry recognized-revenue management certification offered by HSMAI and are used in curriculum at universities including Cornell University, New York University, and Michigan State University. In 2014, she was named one of HSMAI's Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing and Revenue. Kathleen attended Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts and holds certificates in Hotel Yield Management from Horand Vogel and Associates and E-Business Strategy from the University of Chicago. A mother of three, she resides in the San Francisco Bay area and fondly recalls past trips with her family, including the Swiss Alps where they enjoyed daily hikes, picnics, and plenty of pizza and gelato.

Job Titles:

• Board Member of the Association of the Promotion of Tourism
• Director, Public Relations
• Director, Public Relations / Education

Katie Rees brings a decade of public relations and integrated marketing experience in luxury travel and destination representation to PTG Consulting. Her ability to strategize effective campaigns, orchestrate brand partnerships, and maintain strong media relationships has earned clients prestigious print and digital placements and recognition on numerous "World's Best" lists for top media outlets including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and Bloomberg Pursuits. In addition to national coverage, her dedicated approach to promoting niche segments of the travel industry has effectively leveraged clients' key messaging to target audiences specializing in the LGBTQ+, adventure, and MICE markets. Katie has significant experience working with international governments, particularly across Latin America and Africa, where she has led accounts for the tourism boards of Jalisco, Guadalajara, Uganda, Kenya, and others. She has also represented notable hotel collections, lodges, and villas around the world. Based in New York City, Katie serves as board member of the Association of the Promotion of Tourism to Africa's (APTA) Northeast chapter. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from The College of William & Mary. Over the years, her favorite travel experiences have included summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro at sunrise, witnessing a wild scarlet macaw release in Honduras, and hiking past the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Operating Officer / Education
• Chief Operating Officer for Preferred Travel Group

Ken Mastrandrea is Chief Operating Officer for Preferred Travel Group - the family-owned company that manages and operates global travel and hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel. He is responsible for overseeing all corporate operations and brand development, in addition to driving the strategy behind PTG Consulting. Ken brings extensive experience in international and North American hospitality management, including franchise branding and asset preservation, as well as professional qualifications in deluxe residential destination development with sales, client relations, design, and building operations. Prior to joining the company in 2007, Ken spent more than 25 years in executive-level positions overseeing multi-brand hotel management services, directing leisure, tour, and corporate travel management efforts for companies across North America. He served as CEO of a major company operating domestic and international tours and as senior vice president of a corporate travel agency that serviced North America's Fortune 100. Ken's influence in the industry extends to serving on travel related association boards and advisory councils, including Sabre Hospitality's Executive Advisory Board. He is also a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) by the American Hotel and Lodging Institute. Ken is based out of the company's corporate headquarters in Newport Beach, California.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Revenue Management Services
• Vice President, Revenue Management Services / Education

Michael J. Sherwood is Vice President of Revenue Management Services for PTG Consulting, responsible for all revenue-related consulting services including revenue for hire, revenue management training workshops, and more. Michael has devoted the majority of his 35-year career in hospitality to the revenue management discipline. Prior to joining the company in 2012, Michael spent almost 10 years with Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants as Vice President of Revenue Management for 23 hotels on the west coast of the United States, which encompassed three independent hotel brands. Michael also spent several years of his career working as a development analyst for Bristol Hotels and Resorts where he was responsible for completing market studies and development pro formas for new hotel acquisitions. In 2010, Michael received his Revenue Management Certification through Cornell University and has been a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) through HSAMI since 2013. Among his favorite travel memories are wine and food tastings in Tuscany, exploring Paris with family, and cave rappelling near Cancun. He is based in Sacramento, California.

Job Titles:

• PTG Consulting‘S Vice President of Hospitality Sales
• Vice President of Hospitality Sales
• Vice President of Hospitality Sales / Education

Natalie Payne serves as PTG Consulting‘s Vice President of Hospitality Sales, leading the company's sales representation services division that offers clients custom-tailored, targeted sales efforts to the U.S. luxury leisure market. She brings more than 21 years of sales, marketing, travel, and event planning experience to her role, and, most recently, she spent 17 years as Director of Leisure Sales & Special Events at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Charleston, South Carolina. In that role, she managed off-season events, as well as domestic and international leisure sales for the five-star resort and its sister properties - The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee; Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina; The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia; and Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia - all luxury, independent properties that are members of PTG Consulting's sister brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Previously, Natalie worked with Orient Express Hotels (now Belmond) for three years in sales and marketing roles and with the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has also served as a television reporter for local NBC and ABC affiliates in South Carolina. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of South Carolina. One of her favorite travel experiences was a trip to Honduras after Hurricane Mitch, where she had the personally rewarding experience of covering the devastation and recovery efforts as a journalist and helped with clean-up efforts.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Sustainability for Beyond Green Travel
• Vice President, Sustainability
• Vice President, Sustainability / Education

Nina Boys is Vice President of Sustainability for Beyond Green Travel and PTG Consulting. In this role, she conducts hotel sustainability audits, oversees sustainable tourism development and destination stewardship projects, and works with clients to create strategic plans and craft messaging that embraces sustainability best practices and ensures impact in action. She also serves as an advisor on brand standards for Beyond Green, a global portfolio of curated hotels, lodges and resorts that represent sustainable tourism leadership. With a background in hospitality management, a bachelor's degree in Media, Culture & Communications, and a master's degree in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management, Nina has helped travel companies, hotels, and destinations around the world establish best practices in conservation, community engagement, and environmentally friendly practices. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Nina has also held roles as General Manager and F&B Director for top luxury properties in Latin America where she worked to improve and integrate sustainable tourism practices into the guest experience. Nina is also an accomplished travel writer and photographer with a keen interest in food culture who has been published in publications including National Geographic, Virtuoso Traveler, and The Huffington Post.

Job Titles:

• Director of Development
• Director of Development - Latin America
• Director of Development - Latin America / Education

Omar Macedo García is Director of Development, Latin America, for PTG Consulting. In this role, Omar identifies new business opportunities in Latin America and coordinates efforts among a team spanning Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The creative strategies he develops and directs within the main Latin American markets for PTG Consulting's clients build off the strong relationships he holds within the travel industry. With clients' best interests in mind, Omar's expert guidance across sales and promotions bring destinations and travel markets, companies and businessmen, and the world's travelers closer together. Prior to joining PTG Consulting in 2018, Omar led promotional efforts for the Tourism Promotion Council of Mexico as a director in its offices across Colombia and Spain and was a representative for the Pacific Alliance. He has extensive media experience after serving as the Director of Information for Mexico City-based television station Televisa Toluca and host of the newscast Así Sucede of Grupo Acir. Based in Bogota, Omar holds a degree in Social Communication from the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México and completed doctoral studies in Journalism at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Among his favorite travel experiences are touring the wineries of Colchagua Valley in Chile and La Rioja in Spain, enjoying the natural wonders of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, and meeting the incredible Huichol people in northern Mexico.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Development & Marketing
• Vice President, Development & Marketing
• Vice President, Development & Marketing / Education

Santiago González Abreu is Vice President of Development & Marketing for PTG Consulting, responsible for overseeing the company's destination-specific new business development, client management, and related marketing programs. Since joining PTG Consulting in 2015, Santiago has developed and managed successful campaigns for destinations such as Jalisco, the Mexican Caribbean, Saudi Arabia, The Cayman Islands, and Honduras, among others - driving strong client retention for PTG Consulting by helping clients meet and exceed their business goals while continuously collaborating with them on mapping out seamless routes for future successes. Prior to joining PTG Consulting, Santiago worked as Undersecretary of Tourism Promotion for the Ministry of Tourism of Yucatán where he created a new brand identity for the destination and developed new products and promotional strategies, considerably increasing tourism to the region. Under Santiago's direction, the Ministry of Tourism of Yucatán responded to emerging trends with innovative tactics and long-term successful partnerships. Notable accomplishments during his tenure there included expanding North American and international markets with increased flights in and out of Mérida from existing cities, new flight routes, and the opening of a historic non-stop flight from Milan. Santiago brings a wide range of experiences in international sales and marketing to PTG Consulting. After beginning his career in Mexico City with RE Consulting, a company that specializes in public image, political marketing, and strategic planning, he joined the Mexico Tourism Board, where he managed national cooperative marketing partnerships for 16 states and 21 diverse destinations while directing many successful international campaigns. Later, as General Director of Promotion at the San Luis Potosí Tourism Board, he led creative design, marketing, and social media campaign development, placing a strong emphasis on media trade relations. Throughout his career, Santiago has led the efforts of cities, states, and government tourism boards to build visibility and develop as major global destinations. Santiago's passion for travel is equal to his passion for gastronomy and unique culinary dishes with the belief that food is a fantastic way to understand local culture.

Job Titles:

• Director of Accounts
• Director, Accounts / Education

Sharon Jin is Director of Accounts for PTG Consulting, bringing more than a decade of experience in the travel and tourism industry with an emphasis on strategic planning, travel trade outreach, event management, and marketing communications to the role. As a destination marketing specialist, Sharon has grown awareness within the China market for PTG Consulting's destination clients including Qatar, El Salvador, Reno Tahoe, and Uganda, while helping stimulate visitation and increase visitor spend. In addition to managing outbound tourism programs, Sharon is skilled in cross-cultural communications and works hand-in-hand with PTG Consulting's U.S.-based team members to ensure the successful execution of inbound trade strategies. Based in Beijing, Sharon previously spent six years working at properties across the Renaissance, Crowne Plaza, and Howard Johnson brands prior to joining PTG Consulting in 2015. She holds a master's degree in International Communication from The Hague University in The Netherlands. Among her favorite travel experiences are scuba diving in Semporna, kayaking in Lake Tahoe, soaking in the hot springs of Japan's Arima Onsen, and watching ballet in Milan's La Scala opera house.

Job Titles:

• Director, Public Relations - Greater China
• Director, Public Relations - Greater China / Education

Silvia Meng is Director of Public Relations, Greater China, for Preferred Travel Group, bringing 14 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry to her role. Silvia leads the company's public relations and social media efforts in China, providing extensive strategic public relations and social media support to its global travel and hospitality brands including PTG Consulting, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and Beyond Green. Silvia demonstrates her expert capability for strategy development, media relations, creative digital campaign, event planning and execution, and client servicing by delivering strong results for PTG Consulting's clients, which have included the tourism boards of Reno Tahoe, Suzhou, El Salvador, and Uganda, among others. Prior to joining the company, Silvia conducted in-house public relations and marketing efforts for Swire Hotels, and also worked on the agency side at GHC Asia, where she supported tourism and hospitality clients including Canadian Tourism Committee, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (New Zealand Wine), Universal Studio Singapore, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Beijing, and others. Among her travel memories are spending time in the presence of wild horses in Reno and spectacular views of Salzburg and the Danube River with music in the air. Silvia holds a master's degree in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey and is based in Beijing.