Board of Directors

Hilton

Jon Muñoz is Vice President of global diversity and inclusion for Hilton. Muñoz leads Hilton’s diversity management strategies focused on culture, talent and marketplace. Muñoz is responsible for leading external engagement with diverse strategic non-profit partners, consulting with internal diversity stakeholders, launching and executing team member resource groups strategies and developing diversity training initiatives.

Prior to joining Hilton, Muñoz served in diversity roles for Sprint and marketing roles for Nextel Communications, Bank One Corporation (now JPMorgan Chase) and NationsBank (now Bank of America).

Muñoz actively serves in numerous leadership positions of diverse non-profit organizations, including Friends of the American Latino Museum (FALM), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Corporate Alliance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) ACT-SO Advisory Council, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Corporate Advisory Council and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Senior Executive Corporate Advisory Board.

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Colombian LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce

Felipe is the Co-Founder & CEO of the Colombian LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce where he leads the board & operations for 160+ members and 15+ corporate partners in Colombia. He represents the organization internationally and ensures the consolidation of its portfolio geared at membership, partnerships, events, and certifications. Felipe has more than 10 years of experience leading high performance teams, both in physical and virtual environments at the local, national and international level. He is also an advisor to different entities in Latin America and Europe about growth, organizational development and foreign trade. He is an entrepreneur interested in senior management, business development & LGBTQ+ initiatives. He speaks three languages and was recognized with an IGLTA Honor - leadership in Networking - at the 2015 Annual Global Convention in Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Don Skeoch is Chief Marketing Officer for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the organization responsible for marketing and promoting Los Angeles as a top global destination for leisure and business travel. In 2016, Los Angeles welcomed a record 47.4 million visitors, making it one of the most visited destinations in the world. Los Angeles is projected to have another record year in 2017, with approximately 49 million visitors.

Renowned both nationally and internationally as a global brand marketer and strategist, Skeoch leads L.A. Tourism's global brand strategy, market-growth and innovation initiatives, as well as the global marketing and communications functions. He oversees offices and representation in 12 countries including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, China, Japan, S. Korea, India, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Gulf/Middle East, Scandanvia, and Canada.

Skeoch is a member of the U.S. Tourism Marketing Advisory Board (BrandUSA), the California Tourism Marketing Advisory Board as well as a former Executive Board member of the San Francisco Travel Association. He also is an Executive Board member of LA's largest non-profit law firm, Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center, which provides legal services to the working poor.

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American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

Dan Melesurgo is the Vice President, Strategic Partnerships for ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership.  As part of the leadership team, he is responsible for the management and strategic direction of the Alliance Partnership Program.  This program was created to provide the industry partner community with opportunities to align itself with ASAE through customized marketing platforms.  These comprehensive bundled packages are designed to assist industry partners in building and maintaining year round relationships with our 20,000 plus members in 50 countries.

He also works closely with the Global Development Team at ASAE as the organization seeks to be the leader in developing/tailoring and delivering products and services to different markets around the world.

Prior to joining ASAE, Mr. Melesurgo was the founder and principal of Plural Solutions, which provided marketing solutions to destination marketing organizations and the association community.  He has also held executive leadership positions with the Canadian Tourism Commission and the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.  Earlier in his career he was part of the opening team at the Hotel InterContinental Los Angeles and held senior positions with Sheraton and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Mr. Melesurgo currently sits on the board of directors for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and is part of the executive committee currently serving as Past Chair.  As an active member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), he has served in a variety of committee leadership and task force capacities.

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Center for Black Equity (CBE)

Earl is the President/CEO of the Center for Black Equity (CBE). The CBE membership is comprised of indigenous Black LGBTQ+ Pride and other Community Based Organizations in nearly 40 U.S. cities and eight countries around the globe. Over 250,000 men and women attend Black Prides domestically each year. CBE was started as the International Federation of Black Prides in 1999 to organize Black Gay Pride events around the world. The IFBP became the CBE in 2012 to broaden the scope of its work in the Black LGBTQ+ community. Earl previously worked in the hospitality industry for fifteen years as a hotel manager for the Westin, Novotel and Sheraton Chains. His experience in hospitality, event planning and destination travel has provided a unique lens to view the travel industry, especially from the perspective of a person of color.

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Apoorva Gandhi is Vice President for Multicultural Affairs for Marriott International, and a dedicated and proud straight ally to the LGBTQ+ community. At Marriott, he shapes and executes an externally focused global strategy to build loyalty and preference from all diverse customers for the Marriott portfolio—including all of their diverse LGBTQ+ guests, families and friends.

His responsibilities bridge most of Marriott’s business units and he often engages with the company’s public affairs stances and their steady support for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion. Marriott’s consistently earns a 100% perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, a signal of its strong global policies. This year, significantly, Marriott was among the first companies—and the first global hotel leader—to endorse the historic United Nations LGBTQ+ Standards of Conduct for Business, aimed to tackle discrimination globally against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Intersex People. Apoorva recently served on the board of directors for PFLAG—advocating for the families, friends and co-workers of LGBTQ+ people everywhere and twice was named the co-chair for the annual PFLAG Straight for Equality Gala held in New York City

Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Moved to the United States from London in 1982, and after a successful career in Investment Banking on Wall Street in 1991. He changed careers and entered the world of LGBTQ+ travel, opening The Royal Palms Resort in Fort Lauderdale. The Royal Palms became the global standard bearer for gay accommodations and took gay lodging to the luxe level.

In 2012 he was appointed Managing Director for the LGBTQ+ market at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. The only CVB in the US with a full time designated employee whose sole responsibility is the LGBTQ+ market and with a budget that exceeds $1 million. This position was a natural succession for me as in 1996 I created the GFL CVB’s LGBTQ+ marketing initiative, and became their LGBTQ+ liaison.

He joined IGLTA in 1991 and in 1993 and was elected to the IGLTA Board for four consecutive terms and served on the Executive Board as Vice President and Treasurer. In 1997 he received the President’s Award and in 2001 was inducted into the IGLTA Hall of Fame.

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Hotel Granvia Kyoto

Ms. Shiho Ikeuchi, Director of Overseas Marketing at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto, Japan, has over 20 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry, with an extensive and diverse management background in hotel and restaurant operations, sales, and marketing. Over the past few years, Ms. Ikeuchi has been aggressively involved in the development of LGBTQ+ tourism in Japan, and steadfastly works to increase the number of national IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association) members. 

In coordination with her team at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto , Ms. Ikeuchi was instrumental in creating the ‘Same-Sex Wedding Package’ in March 2014. At present, same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Japan, and the number of wedding venues that accept ceremonial same-sex couples is very limited. As the direct result of Ms. Ikeuchi’s keen insight and continuous efforts, Hotel Granvia Kyoto was the very first hotel in Japan to officially announce the acceptance of same-sex weddings – a true feather in the cap of the hotel that has been highlighted by numerous international and domestic media outlets. This exclusive three-night package offers LGBTQ+ couples from around the world a rare opportunity to experience an authentic traditional Japanese wedding, and it  attracts not only international travelers but also domestic couples in Japan.

In her role as the Director of Overseas Marketing, Ms. Ikeuchi’s unwavering focus towards attracting and satisfying the special needs of LGBTQ+ travelers, as well as her tireless efforts towards organizing the involvement of local communities and governments – are talents that are truly deserving of exceptional applause.

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OutThere Publishing

Uwern is the Editor-in-Chief for OutThere Publishing. He has  guided the OutThere brand from its inception to what it is today, a leading luxury and experiential travel journal and portal for the high-end gay traveller segment driving audience figures to what is now over 250,000 people in 20 markets across the globe. In addition, Uwern has exponentially grown the brand commercially and OutThere is now the flagship title within the portfolio of five publications. An avid traveller, Uwern's reach extends across the globe, and is particularly engaged in Southeast Asis in his capacity as Luxury and LGBTQ+ Travel Ambassador for the Kingdom of Thailand.

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Pride World/The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands

Richard is the President for Pride World/The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands located in New York, NY. With a background spanning more than 20 years in the travel industry, Richard has had a broad range of experience. His early career was spent as a retail Travel Advisor in New York City. From there, he moved into agency management and relocated to South Florida. During these years he opened PrideWorld, an LGBTQ+ tour operator/travel agency. Post September 11, he also did consulting and management work focusing on agencies that were looking to evaluate their position in the market and expand, merge, sell or close. In 2008 he was asked by the owner of The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands to move back to New York to work with him on expanding into new markets and destinations as well as placing a fresh focus on PrideWorld. In 2013 he took on the leadership role as company president, overseeing all aspects of the portfolio and its five hallmark brands. 

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Delta Air Lines

Steven has more than 20 years in the travel industry spanning retail, wholesale and airline. He currently serves as the Director of Sales, Canada for Delta Air Lines. He oversees the leisure and corporate segments of the market as well as acting as the brand 'voice and face' for the brand via sponsorship, partnership and community outreach. Steven is a former co-owner and founder of OUT Adventures, a proud member of IGLTA that ahas run successful LGBTQ+ tours worldwide since 2008. He also previously let Intrepid Travel Canada, a small group adventure tour operator specializing in Asia, Africa and Europe; served as Vice President Global Sales of G Adventures, the world's largest independent small group tour operator, and held senior sales roles with Virgin Atlantic Airways and Singapore Airlines.

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Moovz

Oriol Pamies is a Spanish entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ activist and LGBTQ+ tourism expert. In 2014, he attended his first IGLTA Annual Global Convention in Madrid just as he was beginning his online startup, an LGBTQ+ social network that he wanted to connect to the LGBTQ+ tourism industry. IGLTA connections were an integral part of his new company’s success and now Moovz has more than 3 million LGBTQ+ users.

Pamies also develops innovative marketing strategies for tourism destinations around the world, particularly in Latin America and spends his time expanding Moovz globally, speaking at conferences and consulting on LGBTQ+ tourism. He wants to focus on IGLTA’s Latin American expansion, connecting the organization and its members to the latest online marketing trends and reinforcing the association’s B2C value.

The Godfrey Hotel Chicago

Sandi Robinson serves as Director of Sales at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, overseeing the events and the sales team at the property, as well as day-to-day operations. Robinson joined the hotel team prior to the property’s opening in 2014 as the Senior Events Manager and was then promoted into her current role. In 2017, Robinson was awarded HSMAI’s Director of Sales and Marketing of the Year, which recognizes excellence, creativity, and leadership in hotel sales. With more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, Robinson has mastered the craft of executing successful events and finds the most joy in her work when her clients are happy with their celebrations and meetings. 

Before joining The Godfrey team, Robinson served as the executive events manager for the Dana Hotel and Spa. In her four years at that property, Sandi focused on corporate events for Vertigo Sky Lounge, where she increased sales by 60 percent during her first year. Prior to the Dana Hotel, she worked in event sales for several brands, including the Four Points by Sheraton Chicago, Holiday Inn Hillside, and Spirit of Chicago. 

Robinson prides herself on being an integral part of the Chicago community in hospitality and beyond. She is a Board Member Emeritus for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Chamber of Commerce, serves as a Choose Chicago Ambassador, and is a Co-Chair of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association Lights Festival Committee.

Monaco Goverment Tourist Office

Maria G. Tuttocuore is the Senior Executive of Sales & Marketing for the Monaco Government Tourist Office. Originally from Sicily in Italy, she arrived in the United States as a foreign student at Mount Holyoke College in 1997. After graduating from college, she started working in the travel industry in Italy and never looked back. Tourism became such a passion that she returned to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in Tourism and Travel Management at New York University. She gained further experience with the Leading Hotels of the World and the New York State Department of Tourism. She did some consulting for NYU and PhoCusWright before finally joining the Monaco Government Tourist Office where she covered a range of positions before landing her current role. 

Maria conceives, plans and implements marketing efforts for the Principality of Monaco in North America, working closely with the travel advisor community, agencies, suppliers and business partners to deliver an effective message across business-to-consumers and business-to-business channels. Her strong digital background and analytical skills have played a significant role in developing the online presence of the Principality of Monaco. She has also been a strong advocate for Monaco to join IGLTA and pursue an LGBTQ+ marketing strategy to position the Principality as an open and welcoming destination for all.  

When she is not at work, she enjoys the company of her wife Laura Fantini, contemporary art, travel, tennis, bike spinning and olive oil. Her family back in Italy produces EVOO and she has recently pursued the Olive Oil Sommelier Certificate Level 1 at the International Culinary Center in New York.

IGLTA

Email John Tanzella