Deborah Burns

Emily Dailey

Janet Eason
Deborah Burns is the Executive Director of New England Inns and Resorts Association (NEIRA).  Deborah has over 20 years’ experience in the tourism industry having served the association as  Technology Manager and Marketing Director prior to her current role. Deb is motivated by seeing her team produce amazing results and experience their own growth and accomplishments. Hospitality is a business of taking care of people and she leads by example encouraging flexibility in the workplace and the ability to balance the needs of home life with the needs of the job. She is passionate about gender equality and believes there is tremendous potential for woman to grow in the hospitality industry.
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Emily Dailey is the Founder & CEO of PenDailey Consulting, which specializes in branding, marketing, and sustainability for hospitality, tourism, and wellness businesses. She also owns Green Thread Circle, which offers classes and ceremonies in the wellness space. Her career began in hotel operations nearly two decades ago. She holds a BS in Business Administration and numerous professional certifications. She believes we should leave things better than we found them and is focused on developing diverse leaders and creating more sustainable operations. Emily is an avid solo and international traveler who calls Florida home.

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​Janet Eason is the Founding Partern of Eason Branding. She is an experienced brand strategist who is passionate about finding the DNA of a great boutique hotel.  She loves travel, cooking, good books, and hanging out with her family, including her rescue dog, Augie.  She is a Southerner at heart, but has spent many years working with hotels and inns in the Northeast. She has worked on both the agency and client side in the hospitality and lifestyle industries - from destinations, to airlines, to hotels, to restaurants - she brings an innovative perspective to problem solving, and building connections between consumers and brands.  

Victoria Feldman de Falco

Jackie Kosiba

Nancy Mendelson
​Named one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales & Marketing by HSMAI, Vickie’s roots in tourism PR and marketing run deep and span every possible hospitality industry segment. Her advice has been featured in leading business media from Entrepreneur magazine to Crain’s New York Business, and numerous travel industry media.
  
Throughout her career, she’s led programs for major brands and destinations such as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Best Western International, Visa USA, the Finnish Tourist Board, Loews Hotels, Tropicana Resort & Casino Atlantic City, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Swissotel Hotels & Resorts, Air Jamaica, The Broadmoor, Perillo Tours, Royal Caribbean International, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and many more.
​Jackie Kosiba is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Delamar Hotels. With over 25 years of experience with in the hospitality industry and 11 years with Delamar hotels, a collection of boutique luxury hotels, she is motivated by leading her teams and celebrating in their successes as well as assists in the growth and expansion of the Delamar brand throughout Connecticut.  As proud mother of two daughters and wife, and she enjoys traveling, yoga, and the beach.  She brings a passion to help others around her in her personal and professional life and knowledge to the Accelerate Board to encourage women in the travel industry to feel inspired and to love what they do.
​Nancy started NEM Global in 2012, a consultancy specializing in the revitalization and transformation of organizations, destinations and individuals, helping clients define, articulate, and communicate their unique voice. In addition, she serves as an advisor and  contributor to hertelier, an online media platform that enlightens and inspires women in hospitality to pursue, navigate and nurture their careers at every stage. A career communicator, Nancy has held key positions in hospitality, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, event and media production, working with major corporations and global brands. A member of the Writers Guild of America, she is an award-winning producer/director/interviewer,  a ghostwriter, speechwriter and has had numerous articles published in trade and mainstream media. She served as Executive Producer for the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference for 12 years and taught a graduate course in the Marketing of Destinations at NYU for 5 years.

Sarah Morris

Sarah Morris is a Fifth Generation Host at Basin Harbor, a seasonal resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. She holds management experience in resorts, private clubs, and restaurants, with specific experience in resource management in seasonal business, guest service, sales and marketing, and food and beverage management. She currently serves on several boards, including the New England Inns and Resorts Association, Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont Lodging Association, National Bank of Middlebury, and the Lodging Council for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. She believes collaboration with others builds a foundation for shared success in the future. Sarah holds a B.S. in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. Sarah and her husband live in New Haven, VT. Her interests include travel, gastronomy, and the great outdoors.
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Tricia Tompkins

​Tricia is currently the Area Manager and Director of New Business and Client Relations for Migis Hotel Group, based out of Groton, MA. Tricia oversees the management of two hotels in Central MA and Southern Vermont, in addition to securing new management contracts for MHG.
Tricia has worked in hotel management for the last 30 years including Marriott and Hilton, her experience focused in sales/event management and food and beverage. These skills led to a General Management role where her passion of leading a team and delivering great customer service prepared her for her role of Area Manager, supporting General Managers.
Tricia is active in her local Rotary chapter. She served as President for the 2022-2023 term and continues to volunteer her time working on service projects and giving back to her community.
When Tricia isn’t working, you can find her on the golf course or pickleball court, traveling and spending time with her 13-year-old son and husband.

Rachel Vandenberg
​Rachel Vandenberg owns and operates the Sun & Ski Inn and Suites, Stowe Bowl and Stowe Golf Park with her husband and family in Stowe, Vermont. In addition to leading her hospitality business, Rachel is a leadership coach for professionals in travel with her business The Travel Leader Coach. Rachel  also serves on the Board of Trustees of her local destination marketing organization. She holds a certificate in hospitality management from Ecornell and is a graduate of Coach U, a leading training institute for coaches.  Rachel is an avid reader, community advocate, proud wife and mother of three and loves to mountain bike and nordic ski in the woods of Vermont. ​