The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is proud to announce that former president and CEO, Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert, has been selected as a 2025 inductee into the Events Industry Council (EIC) Hall of Leaders. This prestigious honor recognizes Gilbert’s transformative impact on the global meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and travel industry. He will be celebrated posthumously at the EIC Global Awards Celebration on October 6, 2025, in Las Vegas.
Bob Gilbert’s visionary leadership fundamentally reshaped both HSMAI and the broader hospitality and MICE sectors. Under his guidance, HSMAI evolved from a primarily U.S.-focused organization into a global association. Today, it unites professionals across sales, marketing, and revenue management worldwide. In 2002, Gilbert established HSMAI Global, expanding the association’s footprint across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. This expansion fostered a vibrant international community dedicated to elevating professional standards and commercial excellence.
In nominating Gilbert for this honor, Michael Innocentin, chief marketing officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts and member of the HSMAI Global Board, stated, “Bob was more than a leader. He was a visionary who transformed our industry by championing the intersection of hospitality, innovation, and community. Over nearly 30 years as president and CEO of HSMAI, Bob not only redefined the association’s global role—he redefined what leadership in our industry could look like: empathetic, inclusive, forward-thinking, and always grounded in humanity.”
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Gilbert’s foresight in embracing emerging digital trends and integrating revenue management, marketing, and group sales into a unified commercial strategy set new industry standards. He launched pioneering conferences that remain premier forums for commercial strategy professionals worldwide, providing practical tools to navigate digital transformation and maximize group revenue performance. His leadership helped countless hotel companies and venues become more data-driven, customer-centric, and digitally fluent.
What set Bob apart was not just his understanding of industry trends, but his foresight in translating those into action. He recognized early on that the future of hospitality would be defined by commercial strategy—and that future depended on having a steady, diverse pipeline of skilled professionals. Through the HSMAI Foundation, Bob elevated this challenge to a global stage, creating tools, partnerships, and programs that helped hotel companies invest in their people more effectively and sustainably. Michelle Woodley, president of Preferred Travel Group and immediate past chair of the HSMAI Foundation
From developing globally recognized certifications and launching digital-first education platforms to guiding the industry through crises including 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilbert’s leadership was both strategic and deeply human. Industry leaders consistently highlight his dedication to talent development and his empathetic leadership style.
Gilbert’s legacy lives on through the professionals he inspired, the programs he built, and the standard of excellence he set. His induction into the Hall of Leaders affirms a lifetime of leadership, innovation, and service to the global events and hospitality community.
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