Accomplished Hospitality Marketing Communications Executive

Kathryn Potter has been active in the lodging industry for more than 30 years, including spearheading some of the top marketing and communications initiatives for the industry during her tenure at the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

As SVP of marketing/communications at AH&LA, her responsibilities included creating and implementing public relations campaigns on behalf of the industry, internal and external communications, media outreach, marketing and social media strategies, and crisis communications.

Among her accomplishments, Kathryn redeveloped AH&LA’s crisis communications program for member hotels and hotel companies. She also created AH&LA’s award-winning Traveler Safety Tips for guests. In addition, Kathryn worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to adapt its See Something, Say Something campaign for the hotel industry and a program to educate hotel operators about human trafficking.

She launched the first women’s lodging forum for hospitality professionals to connect and gain career momentum. In addition, she led an industry sustainability initiative that included creating guidelines, return on investment metrics, best practices, and a partnership with TripAdvisor.

Travel Communications Executive With 30 Years at Major Brands

David Trumble began his career in hospitality and travel three decades ago and held executive corporate communications positions with Hilton, Doubletree and Best Western International as well as the country’s largest regional airline. Additionally, he served as principal of his own independent agency, providing public relations, branding and crisis communications counseling to a number of high-profile hotel, travel and restaurant brands.

While at Hilton, David built and led regional teams at more than 400 hotels and resorts throughout the Americas, responsible for developing and implementing enterprise-to-property-level communications, including brand launches, public relations protocols for hotel general managers, national and international media relations, executive coaching and crisis recovery efforts. Under his direction, Hilton won a Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Adrian Award for best hotel brand multichannel public relations campaign in 2018. 

At Best Western, David oversaw public relations for more than 5,000 independent hotels globally, launched a premier European brand and executed national media campaigns in conjunction with brand marketing partners, NASCAR and Harley Davidson.  

Most recently, he partnered with other highly regarded and experienced public relations executives to create Travel Factor Communications, a national communications and marketing services agency that develops strategies and programming for hotel companies and individual properties.

Communications Executive with High-Profile, Luxury Brand Experience

Denise Seomin brings 35 years of communications experience to the agency, working with hospitality brands including Princess Cruises, Uniworld, Best Western and Marriott International.  Most recently, she served 16 years as Director of Public Relations and Marketing Communications for The Phoenician, a AAA Five Diamond luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Denise’s diverse background also encompasses promotions, professional writing, event planning and execution, as well as serving as a media spokesperson.  During her tenure at The Phoenician, she and her team received several Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association awards for special projects and programs.  She also led the resort’s transition from a traditional to a digital hotel compendium, providing a seamless, up-to-the-minute method of guest communication.  

In addition to hospitality, Denise has worked within the sports industry, holding roles at Iowa State University and FOX Sports Net.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Fiesta Bowl and is past-chair of the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission.

Communications Veteran with Major Brand and News Experience

Rich Roberts is a 45-year communications veteran grounded in the fast pace and deadline culture of the news industry. His career includes eight years as reporter and editor for a daily newspaper, more than two decades in lodging and hotel franchising at Choice, Cendant and Wyndham and 18 years supporting agency clients.

During his corporate career, he served as a communications consultant to Fortune 100 CEOs and their senior leadership teams. His specializations include strategic planning, media relations, crisis management, destination marketing, speech writing, employee communications, community relations, photography, videography and social media.

Rich served on the communications committees of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Travel Industry Association of America (now U.S. Travel) and the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.