The first half of Ann’s four-decade-plus career was in the hospitality industry, where she held a variety of communications, marketing and brand development positions for two of the global leaders: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. She loved the people focus of the hotel business, not to mention the bonus of global travel.

At IHG (then Holiday Inn Worldwide), she held a variety of senior marketing positions, including heading up the company’s worldwide loyalty program and ultimately becoming global vice president of marketing for the Holiday Inn brand. For Starwood’s Sheraton Franchise Division, she led the successful launch of the company’s midscale Four Points Hotels brand.

She left the corporate world to start her own brand and communications consulting practice in 1998 and has worked with clients in the hospitality, food and beverage, retail/franchising, association, interactive marketing and manufacturing industries. She has served as a communications/brand/marketing consultant to Applebee’s, Kimberly-Clark, Delta Airlines Sky Clubs, IHG and the IHG Owners Association, among many others.

Ann believes listening closely to what is being said as well as probing for what’s underneath and perhaps not always being directly communicated are key to hitting the mark with deliverables and ensuring an impeccable client experience.