The Skift Team on stage at Skift Global Forum 2023

Leadership

Rafat Ali

Rafat Ali

Founder and CEO

See Bio

Rafat Ali

Founder and CEO

Indo-Brit-American. New Yorker. Global Soul. My life is at the intersection of travel, media, building meaningful business cultures and parenthood. Previously founded paidContent, sold to Guardian in 2008.

Email
Jason Clampet

Jason Clampet

Chief Product Officer

See Bio

Jason Clampet

Chief Product Officer

Jason Clampet started Skift in 2012 with Rafat Ali and Dennis Schaal. He’s a reluctant writer, a constant tinkerer, and an enthusiastic cook. He loves exploring cities and the country on foot with his wife and daughter. After years bouncing between Philly and New York he now lives in London.

Email
Carolyn Kremins

Carolyn Kremins

President

See Bio

Carolyn Kremins

President

Carolyn has led world-class brands (Conde Nast Traveler, Brides, Epicurious, Elle) and launched start-ups (Maxim, Cookie, The Week) to great success. Her wanderlust has taken her to all seven continents. As President of Skift she has found the perfect home, combining her love for building brands with her twin passions for media and travel. But her shining success, above all else, is her family.

Email
Michael Cunniff

Michael Cunniff

CFO

See Bio

Michael Cunniff

CFO

Michael is a 25-year finance executive who hails from NY but now calls California home. Outside of work you can find him spending time with family, traveling, volunteering or sipping a glass of cabernet.

Email
Dennis Schaal

Dennis Schaal

Executive Editor/Founding Editor

See Bio

Dennis Schaal

Executive Editor/Founding Editor

Skift employee #1, after the founder and co-founder, Executive Editor/Founding Editor Dennis Schaal helps lead news coverage and analyzes online travel in his reporting. He likes receiving sensitive documents in the mail and breaking news. Dennis has written for many publications, such as USA Today.

Email
Anne Duffy

Anne Duffy

Chief of Staff

See Bio

Anne Duffy

Chief of Staff

After leading Skift's Subscription team for several years, Anne transitioned into a more strategic role and is now supporting the executive team as Chief of Staff. Otherwise, you'll likely find her at the dog park in Astoria, on the water paddle-boarding or sailing, or lounging in a beach chair with a good book.

Email

Editorial

Sarah Kopit

Sarah Kopit

Editor in Chief

See Bio

Sarah Kopit

Editor in Chief

Sarah is editor-in-chief at Skift where she oversees all editorial content. Previously, Kopit was editor-in-chief at the digital asset publication, The Block, and is a 14-year veteran of Bloomberg News. At Bloomberg, Kopit had several roles, including heading Bloomberg’s breaking news operations in the Americas and as the newsroom's global social media czar, specializing in gathering market-moving news and intelligence.

Email
Lex Haris

Lex Haris

Managing Editor

See Bio

Lex Haris

Managing Editor

Lex has been a news editor for more than 20 years and loves talking to reporters and editors about stories they’re excited about. He was born and raised in New York City where he still lives in his childhood home with his wife, Helen, and two cats. He’s a first-generation Greek-American and spent early summers visiting family in Athens. He thinks a lot about poker, softball and menswear.

Email
Alan Woinski

Alan Woinski

Editor, Daily Lodging Report

See Bio

Alan Woinski

Editor, Daily Lodging Report

Alan is the founder of the Daily Lodging Report, now owned by Skift, and remains editor. He also founded the Gaming Industry Daily Report and Gaming Industry Weekly Report which remains under the ownership of Gaming USA Corporation, owned by Alan and his wife Kim. Alan and Kim recently moved from Bergen County, NJ to Southwest, Florida and are loving the SWFL lifestyle. Both Alan and Kim recently became grandparents for the first time to a beautiful baby girl.

Email
Bulbul Dhawan

Bulbul Dhawan

Travel Reporter, India

See Bio

Bulbul Dhawan

Travel Reporter, India

Bulbul has five years of experience across leading Indian news publications. With a widespread portfolio, she covered several beats before she found comfort in the travel and hospitality sectors when she joined BW Hotelier as the Editorial Lead. An avid singer and reader, she has about as many books in her TBR pile as she has songs on her list that she wishes to record covers of – none of which is going to be completed in this lifetime.

Email
Dawit Habtemariam

Dawit Habtemariam

Global Tourism Reporter

See Bio

Dawit Habtemariam

Global Tourism Reporter

Dawit is Skift's global tourism reporter. He's energetically on the hunt to write the best stories in the industry. Before joining Skift, Dawit covered corporate travel at Business Travel News. He loves performing improv comedy, baking and cooking. He resides in New York City.

Email
Gordon Smith

Gordon Smith

Airlines Editor & Reporter

See Bio

Gordon Smith

Airlines Editor & Reporter

Gordon is Skift’s Airlines Editor. He has enjoyed a front-row seat for some of the aviation industry’s biggest stories and interviewed many of its biggest names. Before joining Skift, he was the editor of Airliner World magazine in the UK and a TV producer at BBC News headquarters. Born in Scotland, he now lives in Lisbon and can often be found exploring lesser-known stretches of Portuguese coastline.

Email
Jay Shabat

Jay Shabat

Senior Analyst, Airline Weekly

See Bio

Jay Shabat

Senior Analyst, Airline Weekly

Jay co-founded Airline Weekly in 2004 and returned to Skift in 2022. Before writing about airlines, he worked for US Airways and Air France. Before that, he studied business and international affairs with a focus on economics. His college experience also included internships at both the White House and Congress, as well as study abroad semesters in Monte Carlo and Paris. Jay is a certified IATA instructor who’s taught airline courses around the world, from Miami to Mongolia.

Email
Jesse Chase-Lubitz

Jesse Chase-Lubitz

Travel Experiences Reporter

See Bio

Jesse Chase-Lubitz

Travel Experiences Reporter

Jesse has several years of experience covering climate change, environmental issues, and foreign policy. She comes to Skift with a sharp eye for sustainability news and an excitement to follow global travel experiences trends. Originally from the United States, Jesse has lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Japan, and now London.

Email
Josh Corder

Josh Corder

Middle East Reporter

See Bio

Josh Corder

Middle East Reporter

Born in the United Arab Emirates to British parents, Josh is Skift's Middle East Reporter. He has lived in Dubai for the last five years, covering hospitality, tourism, and, more recently, casinos. He likes being the first to know things and loves being the first to publish big stories.

Email
Justin Dawes

Justin Dawes

Travel Tech Reporter

See Bio

Justin Dawes

Travel Tech Reporter

Justin is the tech reporter for Skift, covering the way to the future of global travel industry. Prior, he was a tech reporter for American City Business Journals in Albany. A Michigan native, Justin is living as a digital nomad for now. Work aside, Justin has a passion for travel, writing, arts, food, and culture.

Email
Kim Woinski

Kim Woinski

Writer, Daily Lodging Report

See Bio

Kim Woinski

Writer, Daily Lodging Report

Kim is Vice President of Gaming USA Corporation, the previous owner of the Daily Lodging Report, now owned by Skift. Kim is the primary writer of the Daily Lodging Report – North America. Kim moved to Southwest Florida in July of 2020 and recently became a first time grandmother to baby Susie.

Email
Meghna Maharishi

Meghna Maharishi

Airline Reporter

See Bio

Meghna Maharishi

Airline Reporter

Meghna is an airline reporter at Skift based in New York. She hopes she can make stories about the airline industry approachable and compelling. Before joining Skift, Meghna first covered airlines for The Points Guy and has enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of the industry ever since. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking and exploring the city.

Email
Peden Doma Bhutia

Peden Doma Bhutia

Asia Editor

See Bio

Peden Doma Bhutia

Asia Editor

This Darjeeling girl’s job has taken her places — five continents so far — and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She enjoys exploring new places and keeping abreast of things, and took to travel journalism like a cartophile to an atlas. Her career with leading Indian media houses saw her setting up ET TravelWorld in her most recent role. She has tons of stories to share, but first, get her a flat white.

Email
Rashaad Jorden

Rashaad Jorden

Associate Editor/Archivist

See Bio

Rashaad Jorden

Associate Editor/Archivist

Rashaad covered tour operators and travel advisors at Skift before moving into his current role. Before finding his way to Skift, he bounced around the U.S., France, Japan and UK. He greatly misses the all-you-can-eat Vegetarian curry at his favorite restaurant in Japan. He is also adept at running half-marathons and, despite living in New Jersey, rues the fact he doesn't spend enough time on the Jersey Shore.

Email
Sean O'Neill

Sean O'Neill

Senior Hospitality Editor

See Bio

Sean O'Neill

Senior Hospitality Editor

Sean covers hotels for Skift, from big brands to boutiques. Before, Sean covered travel tech for a decade, starting in London. He and his husband live in Washington, D.C., and like to volunteer and throw needlessly elaborate dinner parties.

Email
Srividya Kalyanaraman

Srividya Kalyanaraman

Short-Term Rental Reporter

See Bio

Srividya Kalyanaraman

Short-Term Rental Reporter

Srividya was born and raised in Bombay, India and currently lives in Belgrade. She has covered tech and startups and in her last role she was the editor of BostInno, a sister publication of Boston Business Journal. When she isn't working she can be found running, cooking and growing her own food.

Email

Skift Research

Seth Borko

Seth Borko

Head of Research

See Bio

Seth Borko

Head of Research

Seth is a Director in Skift’s Research department where he serves as an industry expert covering online travel, hotels, and travel economics with extensive public speaking experience. He is currently working on building new data products to serve the travel industry. A true data nerd, he loves nothing more than pouring a cup of coffee and digging into an excel file. Seth loves to travel and has been to all seven continents.

Email
Ashab Rizvi

Ashab Rizvi

Research Analyst

See Bio

Ashab Rizvi

Research Analyst

Ashab has been a management consultant all his professional life helping internal and external clients with data management, financial advisory, and product management. Outside of work, he has an unhealthy obsession with tea (or chai, as they call it in India), running his own football club or writing about football, the NBA, the NFL, and the UFC.

Email
Pranavi Agarwal

Pranavi Agarwal

Senior Research Analyst

See Bio

Pranavi Agarwal

Senior Research Analyst

Prior to Skift, Pranavi worked in equity research, in the Global Hotels & Leisure team at Bernstein. She is based in London but is currently traveling and working as a digital nomad. She enjoys photography, painting, cooking and playing racket sports.

Email
Robin Gilbert-Jones

Robin Gilbert-Jones

Research Analyst

See Bio

Robin Gilbert-Jones

Research Analyst

Robin is a Research Analyst based in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to joining Skift he worked as a freelance consultant specializing in the intersection of travel and sustainability as well as developing analytical tools for environmental, social, and governance research. In his spare time, he enjoys being in nature whether walking in the mountains, kayaking, fishing, and other outdoor activities as well as being a passionate foodie and amateur cook.

Email
Saniya Zanpure

Saniya Zanpure

Research Analyst

See Bio

Saniya Zanpure

Research Analyst

Saniya is a hospitality graduate, Her education and recent experience have fueled her admiration for travel and exploring new cities. She is an Excel geek and enjoys number crunching. Outside of work, you can find her reading a book, sipping on a cup of coffee or cooking a delicious chicken curry.

Email
Varsha Arora

Varsha Arora

Senior Research Analyst

See Bio

Varsha Arora

Senior Research Analyst

Varsha is s a Research Analyst based in Mumbai. She spent the first five years of her career working in the strategic division of the top airlines in India after which she went on to join an aviation consulting firm.Since joining Skift she has published reports on sustainability in tourism, online travel companies, mobile commerce, short-term rentals, destination management organizations, and the global accommodation market.

Email
Aaditya Ugale

Aaditya Ugale

Research Intern

See Bio

Aaditya Ugale

Research Intern

Aaditya has worked in the hospitality industry in Bangkok throughout his life, from restaurants to hotels to Online Travel Agencies. His commitment to understanding the intricacies of the Travel & Tourism industry aims to contribute to an industry that holds endless possibilities for innovation by implementing sustainable and positive impacts. Aaditya loves learning about cultures from around the world and volunteering to help facilitate the growth of local SMEs everywhere he goes.

Email

Sales

Pamela Firestone

Pamela Firestone

SVP, Head of Sales

See Bio

Pamela Firestone

SVP, Head of Sales

NJ native, NYC careerist, and ongoing relocation fantasist. Enjoys a business challenge and leading teams to success. Prior to Skift worked for legacy brands In Style, WWD, and Departures.

Email
Farheem Aziz

Farheem Aziz

Subscription Sales Manager

See Bio

Farheem Aziz

Subscription Sales Manager

Farheem is a born and raised New Yorker. She loves visiting new restaurants and trying different cuisines for her food account on Instagram. She has an appreciation for diverse forms of creativity and culture and is a huge dog lover who enjoys traveling, and watching true crime shows.

Email
Alex MacDonald

Alex MacDonald

Subscription Sales Associate

See Bio

Alex MacDonald

Subscription Sales Associate

Born and raised in Gloucester, MA, Alex came to Skift with a background in travel, planning for study abroad students and also servicing customers in the micro-mobility industry. Outside of the office you can typically find him on a long run, attending concerts, or rooting for the Boston Celtics.

Email
Amy Crawley

Amy Crawley

Account Director

See Bio

Amy Crawley

Account Director

East Coast Skifter that’s passionate about connecting brands to the most influential audience in travel. Amy has spent the majority of her career in B2B media, helping clients achieve meaningful results. Lover of live music, pugs, anything with truffle and travel deals.

Email
Antonia Alomar

Antonia Alomar

Sales Coordinator, EMEA

See Bio

Antonia Alomar

Sales Coordinator, EMEA

Born and raised in Mallorca, Antonia graduated from London School of Economics with a double major in history and international relations and a Master´s degree in comparative politics. Prior to joining Skift, she has worked as chief of staff for the Spanish Tourism Ministry. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She has recently started studying Arabic and hopes one day to be able to speak it fluently.

Email
Carly Peterson

Carly Peterson

Sales Operations Associate

See Bio

Carly Peterson

Sales Operations Associate

Currently based in the Pittsburgh area, Carly is a dog mom, puzzle lover, and travel enthusiast. In her free time, she is typically attempting to keep her two energetic dogs busy, finding new places to eat in the city, or planning her next trip. Whether it be traveling across the state, country, or world, she is always craving an adventure.

Email
Deborah Knudsen

Deborah Knudsen

Executive Director, Sales

See Bio

Deborah Knudsen

Executive Director, Sales

Deborah is a Jersey girl through and through. She loves rock&roll, NJ, the shore and to travel with her family. Her favorite time of day is walking her best friend Scout and discussing their day together. She has worked for The Week, Condé Nast Traveler, Lucky and Bon Appetit. You can find her at concerts, Marie Kondo’ing her house and hanging out with friends.

Email
Elsa Verzijl

Elsa Verzijl

Client Growth Manager, EMEA

See Bio

Elsa Verzijl

Client Growth Manager, EMEA

Born and raised in Manchester, UK. Elsa adores hiking, visiting to new cities and looking after her exceedingly out-of-control indoor plant collection. When she's not stalking Skyscanner for flight deals, you can find her either drinking a Guinness in her local beer garden or exploring with her adorable dog Albie.

Email
Emily Truxel

Emily Truxel

Global Accounts Director

See Bio

Emily Truxel

Global Accounts Director

Emily joined Skift in 2023 but is no stranger to the travel industry, with over 11 years of experience helping travel brands build their digital footprint and capture demand. When she’s not running after a very active toddler, you can find Emily planning their next getaway, exploring new restaurants, or wandering through a museum.

Email
Jeunesse Jackson

Jeunesse Jackson

Account Executive, Sponsorship Sales

See Bio

Jeunesse Jackson

Account Executive, Sponsorship Sales

Jeunesse is Bronx born and raised, with a passion for travel, fashion and entertainment. She enjoys exploring the world from shopping in Japan, sipping champagne in France, to tanning on hot sand beaches in the tropics. Being a social butterfly and a lover of music, when not traveling, Jeunesse enjoys the nightlife in NYC. Jeunesse is Chair of Skift's DEI Council.

Email
Kate Irwin

Kate Irwin

Managing Director - EMEA

See Bio

Kate Irwin

Managing Director - EMEA

London based Skifter, driving revenue and growth outside of the US. She is easily captivated by true crime podcasts and be found recharging by the sea. Exploring the world one destination at a time with her family in tow.

Email
Matthew Ferguson

Matthew Ferguson

Customer Success Manager

See Bio

Matthew Ferguson

Customer Success Manager

Matthew is a big foodie, coffee lover and sports fan from the bay area of California. During his free time, he enjoys being active and can be found going for long hikes with friends or playing basketball.

Email
Monique Agaliotis

Monique Agaliotis

Sales Director, Skift Meetings

See Bio

Monique Agaliotis

Sales Director, Skift Meetings

Monique has spent over three decades collaborating with travel suppliers on their marketing efforts at meetings and trade industry media brands. A native New Yorker, she spends her time at the beach and outdoors, loves spin cycling and enjoys cooking and gardening, and is working on improving her paddle boarding skills.

Email

SkiftX

Jeremy Kressmann

Jeremy Kressmann

Head of Studio, SkiftX

See Bio

Jeremy Kressmann

Head of Studio, SkiftX

As SkiftX’s Head of Studio, Jeremy leads all aspects of the company’s sponsored content agency. Born and raised in Chicago, Jeremy has also lived in various locales across the US, including Ann Arbor, Michigan, New York City, and Duluth, Minnesota, and now resides in Los Angeles. He spends his free time sampling LA’s food trucks and restaurants and designing neon signs.

Email
Alison McCarthy

Alison McCarthy

Content Director

See Bio

Alison McCarthy

Content Director

Alison helps oversee Skift's sponsored content production and has over 10 years of experience working in digital media and marketing. A native New Yorker, she loves exploring the city's restaurants, museums, book and record stores, as well new playgrounds with her toddler — though she stays sane by escaping the city into nature whenever she can.

Email
Anna Zawislak

Anna Zawislak

Content & Event Producer, SkiftX

See Bio

Anna Zawislak

Content & Event Producer, SkiftX

Anna was born and raised in Connecticut with a passion for travel. She loves cooking and creating new recipes but most of all her dog.

Email
Dan Marcec

Dan Marcec

Research Editor, SkiftX

See Bio

Dan Marcec

Research Editor, SkiftX

Based in Atlanta, Dan has spent the majority of his career in B2B media, mostly covering travel and hospitality as a writer and editor (in addition to a couple PR stints and a strongly ill-advised corporate marketing role). Outside of work, you'll find Dan writing and recording music, tasting a new beer, or outdoors somewhere with his wife and three wildly energetic children — an elementary school-aged boy, a German Shorthaired Pointer mix, and an Australian Cattle Dog.

Email
Darren Frei

Darren Frei

Branded Content Editor

See Bio

Darren Frei

Branded Content Editor

Based in New York, Darren has been helping travel brands tell their stories for over a decade. He finds creative inspiration hiking in the great outdoors, reading about popular science and technology, listening to all kinds of music, and keeping up with all things Marvel.

Email
Diana Nay

Diana Nay

Project Manager

See Bio

Diana Nay

Project Manager

Born and bred in Paris, France, Diana is always on the lookout for an adventure. You can typically find her looking up flights, studying (drinking) wine for her next sommelier certification, hiking with her 90-pound Doberman Frank, and playing piano.

Email
Gianna Greco

Gianna Greco

Associate Director, Operations & Events

See Bio

Gianna Greco

Associate Director, Operations & Events

Gianna is a master multitasker and process innovator. She leads the SkiftX operations team and branded event activations globally. When she’s not traveling, this New Jersey native can be found cooking, walking while listening to true crime podcasts, and singing karaoke with friends.

Email
Kate Anderson

Kate Anderson

Creative Content Strategist

See Bio

Kate Anderson

Creative Content Strategist

A people-pleaser at heart, this Washington, DC based Skifter loves delivering exceptional client experiences. When not planning her next travel destination, you'll find Kate hiking & skiing.

Email
Sania Lali

Sania Lali

Branded Content Editor

See Bio

Sania Lali

Branded Content Editor

Based in London, Sania is a brand storyteller with 8 years of experience across the EMEA and APAC regions. She loves crafting messages that speak to, connect with, and motivate people. In her free time, she loves to read and travel.

Email

Skift Meetings

Miguel Neves

Miguel Neves

Editor-in-Chief, Skift Meetings

See Bio

Miguel Neves

Editor-in-Chief, Skift Meetings

Miguel leads the editorial team at Skift Meetings. He has worked with business events for almost 20 years and is passionate about telling the incredible stories that meetings provide. Miguel is a Portuguese soul who built a career in the UK and is now raising a young family in southern Denmark. His favorite place in the world is a Portuguese beach on sunny summer day.

Email
Andrea Doyle

Andrea Doyle

Executive Editor, Skift Meetings

See Bio

Andrea Doyle

Executive Editor, Skift Meetings

An award-winning journalist who got her start in the newspaper industry, Andrea now enjoys covering the multi-dimensional world of meetings and business events. An NYU grad, home is across the river in New Jersey. She kicks off every summer by participating in the Spring Lake Five Mile run and spends many weekends enjoying Asbury Park’s dynamic music scene. Her biggest joy, though, are her two daughters.

Email
Angela Tupper

Angela Tupper

Branded Content Editor, Skift Meetings

See Bio

Angela Tupper

Branded Content Editor, Skift Meetings

Angela Tupper is the Branded Content Editor for Skift Meetings. She has been reporting on event industry news, destinations, and event technology for over four years. Angela’s background includes a combination of writing, editing, marketing, and teaching roles, as well as hands-on experience with association and not-for-profit events. With an apartment facing Mount Royal and the world’s cutest cat as a roommate, she currently calls Montreal her home.

Email
Colette Edenborough

Colette Edenborough

Skift Meetings Project Manager

See Bio

Colette Edenborough

Skift Meetings Project Manager

Colette lives in Glasgow, Scotland with her rather rambunctious Romanian rescue Otis. She’s all about lists and organization, which comes in handy at work! Outside of work you’ll most likely find her with her nose in a book (if you need a recommendation, she’s your gal!), listening to a podcast, watching some form of sport, creating some kind of disaster in the kitchen, or spending time with her family and all their dogs.

Email

Advisory

Joe Naaman

Joe Naaman

Managing Director

See Bio

Joe Naaman

Managing Director

Travel and tourism strategist passionate about working with destination and organization leaders to uncover and act on their competitive advantage while respecting local values, culture, and environments. Worked in over 50 countries and lived in the US, Saudi Arabia, France, Egypt, China, the UAE, and Qatar. Global citizen, New Yorker at heart. Previously ran Twenty31 Consulting, acquired by Skift in 2023.

Email
Lisa Weier Parilla

Lisa Weier Parilla

Managing Director

See Bio

Lisa Weier Parilla

Managing Director

Lisa Parilla is Director of Business Development for Skift and Managing Director of Skift Advisory. Parilla has held management and senior sales roles at many media brands including Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes, The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. Parilla is a passionate traveler, a tennis, hiking and yoga enthusiast and a lover of wine, art and most things outdoorsy. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children, Natasha and Roman

Email
Greg Klassen

Greg Klassen

Senior Director, Strategy

See Bio

Greg Klassen

Senior Director, Strategy

Greg has been in the business of tourism for…well a very long time. Prior to this and for over 13 years he was CMO, SVP of Strategy and then CEO of Destination Canada. Greg is dedicated to helping tourism operators and destinations achieve their own unique competitive advantage by leveraging strategies that drive their business forward. In this free time he can be found traveling but his favorite place to be is his Island cottage.

Email
Oliver Martin

Oliver Martin

Senior Director, Innovation

See Bio

Oliver Martin

Senior Director, Innovation

Oliver co-founded Twenty31 Consulting, acquired by Skift in 2023. He’s passionate about the intersection of destinations, business, and society and how we can develop a more sustainable license to operate. He started his career in the research and planning team at Destination Canada and has been a board member for a number of social-justice organizations. While Canada is home he lives with his wife and son in Berlin.

Email
Jennifer Starrett

Jennifer Starrett

Director, Strategy & Operations

See Bio

Jennifer Starrett

Director, Strategy & Operations

Jennifer was born and raised in Alberta, Canada and currently lives in the Netherlands with her husband and 2 boys. Her professional background includes more than 17 years in the travel and tourism industry. When she's not working, you can find her on a bike, a hike, or just about anything that involves outdoor exploring - and perhaps a winery or two!

Email
Michelle Gounden

Michelle Gounden

Director, Insights

See Bio

Michelle Gounden

Director, Insights

Michelle is a seasoned marketing expert and corporate strategist who brings over a decade of experience to the Skift Advisory team. She is deeply passionate about the intersection of wanderlust, culture, and the preservation of communities and the environment within the travel and tourism industry.

Email
Aleix Rodriguez-Brunsoms

Aleix Rodriguez-Brunsoms

Director, Strategy

See Bio

Aleix Rodriguez-Brunsoms

Director, Strategy

From Barcelona, Aleix is a travel and tourism strategist with a deep passion for helping businesses and organizations discover bold new approaches to elevate their thinking and vision, always maximizing the impact of tourism as a force for good. He previously worked at the global tour operator TUI and lived in Norway, Thailand, the UK, Sweden, Cyprus, and Mexico before setting his base in Spain again – he’s also a nature lover, foodie, and drummer at a rock band.

Email
Amanda Reiser

Amanda Reiser

Senior Associate

See Bio

Amanda Reiser

Senior Associate

Amanda is a Senior Associate with Twenty31 Consulting acquired by Skift in 2023, she collaborates on creative solutions on how tourism can best work for unique communities, and advance sustainable initiatives globally. She holds a major in Business Administration with a focus on Hospitality and Event Management major and a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Destination Development.

Email
Maria Serova

Maria Serova

Senior Associate

See Bio

Maria Serova

Senior Associate

With over 6 years of experience in management consulting, Maria’s passion for tourism has led her to turn it into a profession, joining Skift Advisory. Maria grew up in Moscow and has lived in Rome, Singapore, Paris, and recently Barcelona. Outside of work, she pursues her passion for travel and has visited more than 60 countries, embarking on various adventures from travelling by boat to Antarctica to trekking Patagonia, living in the jungle in Ecuador and surviving a sand storm in Mongolia.

Email
Emilie Ehrman

Emilie Ehrman

Associate

See Bio

Emilie Ehrman

Associate

Originally from Flint, Michigan, Emilie’s travels in Southeast Asia as a Peace Corps Volunteer and Eastern Europe as a Fulbright grantee solidified her passion for the tourism industry. She joined Skift Advisory shortly after completing her studies in global management. Her favorite travels are those to lesser known destinations, where she can be outside, eat, and drink to her heart’s content. Camping, hiking, and doing yoga are her favorite ways to explore and get in touch with nature.

Email
Oyku Ulubas

Oyku Ulubas

Associate

See Bio

Oyku Ulubas

Associate

Öykü is an Associate within Skift Advisory and was part of the core team at Twenty31 Consulting acquired by Skift in 2023. She is passionate about creating a positive impact in the tourism industry by delivering data-driven insights. She holds a double major in Economics and Psychology. Originally from Istanbul, she has been living in Boston for the past 6 years. In her free time, she enjoys trying out new restaurants, experimenting with recipes, and going on long walks by the Charles River.

Email

Executive Recruiting

Steve Browne

Steve Browne

Director, Executive Search

See Bio

Steve Browne

Director, Executive Search

UK based, Steve joined Skift to lead its entry into Executive search, having spent the last decade recruiting for travel brands globally. His daughter Aubrey happily takes up most of his free time, but, when possible, he loves playing golf, football or any sport for that matter.

Email

Events

Brian Quinn

Brian Quinn

Head of Programming

See Bio

Brian Quinn

Head of Programming

Over the last 15 years, Brian has curated and produced hundreds of events, talks, and experiences across tech, business, and creative realms. After living in NYC for 20 years, Brian is now a 'city quitter'; exploring post-urban life in a small town with his wife and daughter. He enjoys jazz drums, cooking every night, and pretending to be outdoorsy.

Email
Regina Yuen

Regina Yuen

Senior Director of Events

See Bio

Regina Yuen

Senior Director of Events

Born and raised in the heart of NYC. Enjoys all the challenges it takes to plan a seamless event. When she’s not planning events, you’ll find her chasing her dream to run all six Abbott World Marathon Major and sipping on a nice glass of cabernet.

Email
Adam Stacey

Adam Stacey

Editorial Events Producer

See Bio

Adam Stacey

Editorial Events Producer

Born in Sydney, Australia but now based in Wales, UK, Adam is an events producer with a variety of experience in the worlds of awards, conferences and event production. An eternal sufferer of wanderlust, Adam is always planning his next get away (much to his partner’s dismay!). Beyond work and travel, Adam can be found exploring the Welsh wilderness with his two dogs whilst listening to a good true-crime podcast.

Email
Arthur (AJ) Blanchet

Arthur (AJ) Blanchet

Events Coordinator

See Bio

Arthur (AJ) Blanchet

Events Coordinator

AJ has spent over a decade planning an array of events. Outside of work he gets joy and satisfaction from tinkering in the kitchen, staying active through weight lifting, or burying his nose in a comic book. In the warmer months he can be found camping, hiking, or soaking up the sun.

Email
Becca Smith

Becca Smith

Senior Editorial Events Producer

See Bio

Becca Smith

Senior Editorial Events Producer

Becca is a sixth generation Floridian residing in Tallahassee with 15 years experience in travel and events having executed over 300 sessions with 600+ speakers from the travel and tourism industry. As a farmer's daughter, she loves growing plants, fruits and vegetables and stays sane through high-intensity cardio workouts and by visiting every playground in town with her boys.

Email
Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander

Editorial Events Producer

See Bio

Jane Alexander

Editorial Events Producer

Jane is a hummus-loving editorial events producer with a variety of experience in the worlds of media and events production. She learned a love of travel out of the need to escape the winters of her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. In her free time, she can be found running, hiking and drinking coffee by the gallon.

Email
Priya Birk

Priya Birk

Events Manager

See Bio

Priya Birk

Events Manager

London based Skifter, with a big passion for events and travel! When I’m not planning my next event I enjoy taking my dog for long walks, reading and the odd bit of cooking.

Email

Marketing

Hailey Smith

Hailey Smith

Associate Director of Marketing

See Bio

Hailey Smith

Associate Director of Marketing

A native-Baltimorean turned Gamecock, Hailey loves all things culture and travel. At work, you can find her diving into the latest marketing trends, writing up a storm, and analyzing as much data as she can get her hands on. Outside the office, she spends her time perusing record stores, catching last-minute flights and concerts, and endlessly searching for the best Chipotle-style restaurant.

Email
Alexx Mattox

Alexx Mattox

Retention Marketing Manager

See Bio

Alexx Mattox

Retention Marketing Manager

Alexx was born and raised in Southern California and currently resides in sunny San Diego. When she’s not focused on all things marketing for the Skift subscription products, she’s an avid reader, fiction writer, cat lover, and traveler.

Email
Angie Kirby

Angie Kirby

Acquisition Marketing Manager

See Bio

Angie Kirby

Acquisition Marketing Manager

Angie was born in France but resides in the UK. Formerly an accountant she now has 6+ years experience in Digital Marketing where she has found her true passion, specifically in Paid Advertising and making big wins in UX improvements. An avid traveller and adventurer, traveling from the age of 2 months old, you can usually find her out of work on her paddleboard or on adventures with her dogs and partner, or on a rainy day she likes to stay in either gaming or baking cupcakes.

Email
Nicole Meyer

Nicole Meyer

Event Marketing Manager

See Bio

Nicole Meyer

Event Marketing Manager

Residing in Nashville, TN, Nicole is passionate about travel and has 7+ years of marketing experience. In her spare time you can find Nicole brunching, researching and stalking cheap flights, taking photos of her dog, or at a winery.

Email

Technology

Mike Linden

Mike Linden

Senior Engineering Manager

See Bio

Mike Linden

Senior Engineering Manager

A Minneapolis native, Mike is a software engineer and a professional guitarist with a degree from Berklee College of Music. In his free time he enjoys building Lego with his kids and spending time outside.

Email
Kenny Tran

Kenny Tran

Frontend Developer

See Bio

Kenny Tran

Frontend Developer

Kenny is a frontend developer based in the UK. When he's not immersed in coding, he enjoys family time, tackling the intricacies of the golf course, and drawing inspiration from travel and culinary experiences.

Email
Rachel Bronstein

Rachel Bronstein

Senior Backend Developer

See Bio

Rachel Bronstein

Senior Backend Developer

Rachel hails from Boston but calls herself a New Yorker. When not doing back-end development, she sings jazz and gospel music, scouts gluten-free eats, adds to her formidable collection of lipsticks, and pets as many dogs as possible.

Email
Reito Serizawa

Reito Serizawa

Junior Full-Stack Developer

See Bio

Reito Serizawa

Junior Full-Stack Developer

Born and raised in Japan, Reito now lives in Jersey City. Reito decided to transition his career to be a software engineer after immigration and loves coding. Outside of work, Reito enjoys watching anime, playing video games, making cocktails and traveling.

Email

Creative

Melissa Carter

Melissa Carter

Senior Manager Creative Team

See Bio

Melissa Carter

Senior Manager Creative Team

Melissa aims to empower and elevate the creative team through solid workflows, cross-team collaboration and creative exploration. Outside of work, she loves cooking, drinking a strong cup of coffee and reading.

Email
Beatrice Tagliaferri

Beatrice Tagliaferri

Design Lead

See Bio

Beatrice Tagliaferri

Design Lead

Spain-based, 100% Italian, Bea is the senior graphic designer behind Skift’s creative team. Not only a huge pizza lover but equally passionate about design in all its forms, travels, wilderness, and animals. When not at her laptop, you can find her out exploring new places, at a design expo, crafting something by hand or experimenting with analog cameras.

Email
Jose Marmolejos

Jose Marmolejos

Lead Producer, Video and Audio

See Bio

Jose Marmolejos

Lead Producer, Video and Audio

Husband, father, native New Yorker, son of immigrants, and currently based in Philadelphia, PA. Creator of videos, podcasts, motion graphics and a strong cup of tea. He doesn’t have much free time, but when he does he enjoys rock climbing, concert going, and being a plant dad.

Email
Monica Argüelles

Monica Argüelles

Jr. Video Producer

See Bio

Monica Argüelles

Jr. Video Producer

Monica was a born and raised in Panama. From a young age, she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in cinematographyy as she loved everything from music videos to shorts to documentaries. When she isn't working she can be found at a music festivals everywhere around the world.

Email
Taylor Slattery

Taylor Slattery

Graphic Designer

See Bio

Taylor Slattery

Graphic Designer

Taylor is a multi-disciplinary designer and illustrator based in Arizona. He’s constantly seeking new experiences to expand his creative toolbox and inform his work. When not pushing pixels, Taylor enjoys sewing, playing ukulele, and doing origami.

Email
Vonn Leynes

Vonn Leynes

Jr. Designer

See Bio

Vonn Leynes

Jr. Designer

Vonn is a Philippines-based graphic designer and illustrator. He likes spending his free time reading graphic novels and keeping up with local comic books while sipping his cafecito. Beyond work, he enjoys having merienda talks with loved ones, going on long walks outside, observing the sky, and plein air painting (in gouache or digital).

Email

Operations

Mariana Ruiz

Mariana Ruiz

HR Manager

See Bio

Mariana Ruiz

HR Manager

Mariana is an HR enthusiast with a broad background in hospitality and finance, focusing on  the full employee life-cycle, DEI and engagement. Originally from Peru, you can find her looking for the best Peruvian eats in NYC, running at Astoria park or adding to her plant collection.

Email
Ernest Capasso

Ernest Capasso

Accounting Manager

See Bio

Ernest Capasso

Accounting Manager

Ernest is the staff accountant at Skift based in New York. When he is not crunching numbers Ernest enjoys watching his favorite New York sports team. (Yankees, Rangers and Giants)

Email
Christy Lykans

Christy Lykans

Accounting Associate

See Bio

Christy Lykans

Accounting Associate

Christy is a recently separated service member ready to take on the world of Accounting and Finance. Outside of pursuing her Bachelor's in Accounting and chasing around a beautiful toddler, she likes to craft and get lost in the world of photography. You can find her hiking in various locations or catch her at the local brewery trying out the latest IPA's.

Email