Robert Rauch, CHA, is a nationally recognized hotelier and CEO of RAR Hospitality, a leading hospitality management and consulting firm. Rauch has 40 years of hospitality management experience in all facets of the industry. Widely recognized as the 'Hotel Guru', Rauch writes a blog called Hospitality Innsights where he expounds upon trends in the hospitality industry at HotelGuru.com.

Rauch has held nearly every position in the hotel business including General Manager of full-service Four-Diamond hotels for Hilton and Embassy Suites. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Western International University and a master’s degree in Tourism Administration from Arizona State University, "where he teaches Entrepreneurship". He is a Certified Hotel Administrator and has served as chairman of numerous tourism organizations nationally and in the Western U.S. 

RAR Hospitality sold its management company to Hostmark Hospitality in February of 2020. RAR owns and operates several hotels in San Diego County and is developing more.

As a consistent supporter and advocate for professional women in the industry throughout his 40-year career, Bob has always paid women the same as men - long before there were laws about it.  As General Manager back in 1980s, he had an almost all-women executive committee consisting of Director of Sales, Executive Housekeeper, Front Office Manager, Catering Manager, Director of Human Resources and Executive Assistant Manager. He has served as a mentor to numerous women and knows his place with a wife and two daughters.

Lucy Burni is an accomplished businesswoman, devout mother, and serves on multiple community organizations. In her professional life, she is a seasoned commercial real estate and hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience, ranging from property management, leasing, financing, and acquisition to development and renovation. Ms. Burni’s experience has been applied to a number of commercial properties including, The Four Points Sheraton, a 225-room full-service hotel since 2006 to present; Churchill Hotel, a 125-room hotel from 1996-2012; Ramada Inn, a 210 room hotel from 2001-2007 and multiple multi-tenant commercials, restaurant, entertainment and residential properties in prime San Diego markets.

In addition to her tremendous work in the property and management realm, Ms. Burni has supported various organizations she believes align with her values of community, service, and justice. She has received several awards for her involvement in the community; in 2015 she was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the “Women Who Mean Business in San Diego”, 2015 she also received the “Excellence in Business and Leadership Award”, and 2016 she was honored by MCCSN for “Women Leading the Way in Hospitality and Tourism”.  Additionally, in 2019 she has been invited to serve on the Advisory Board for the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN).  She currently serves as a Commissioner for the San Diego County Crime Commission, which assists and supports our Peace Officers and youth programs, and Law Enforcement. Further, she is part of the “Master Minds Group,” which is a group of successful entrepreneurs that support each other’s business and share their success with the community by helping our city’s young entrepreneurs pursue new business ventures.

As of today, Ms. Burni employs over 150 people in her businesses. She has always attempted to use her success and resources to serve her community.

Carolyn Johnson is founder and CEO of Goodman, Johnson and Associates. She provides consulting, advice, and training to leaders at all levels regarding a company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and change management Initiatives. These initiatives and strategies include identifying high performing women and people of color for developmental opportunities. She also provides coaching and counseling to staff at all levels on their responsibility to create and maintain a workplace environment free of harassment and discrimination. She is a sought-after subject matter expert on Sexual Harassment Prevention and conducting sexual harassment and discrimination investigations.

Carolyn is a San Diego State University alum with a Liberal Arts Degree in Education. She is certified to provide training and development in the following subjects: Managing for Productivity, Kepner Trego: Decision Making & Problem Solving, Situational Leadership; Coaching for Improved Work Performance, Managing & Valuing Diversity in the Workplace, and Managing Organizational & Personal Change. 

Carolyn’s accomplishments during her 20-year corporate career include leading efforts that contributed to her company’s consistent ranking in Diversity Inc. as one of the Top 50 places for women and people of color to work in the US. This ranking reflects one of Carolyn’s guiding core values:  to act with integrity, treat people honestly, fairly, and with dignity and respect.

Carolyn serves her community as an Advisory Board member to the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN) and Women in Tourism and Hospitality (WITH), where she is actively involved with overseeing the program content for the annual WITH Conference. She belongs to a line dance group that brings together individuals of diverse backgrounds who enjoy the social and health benefits from line dancing.

In Carolyn’s spare time, she loves traveling, dancing for fun and spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Claudia Ludlow’s heart beats in sync with the vibrant rhythm of San Diego. Growing up in this small town—often hailed as “America’s Finest City”—has left an indelible mark on her life. Claudia has enjoyed a life of diversity spanning Barrio Logan (where she spent part of her time) and Coronado (where she pursued her education). And let’s not forget her stints in Imperial Beach and South San Diego—affectionately known as “South Town.”

Currently, Claudia is the General Manager at Glorietta Bay Inn, a historic boutique hotel nestled in the heart of Coronado. Remarkably, this marks her third historic property within the beloved city. Her journey began at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, and from there, she made her mark at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. With an impressive 32 years in the industry, Claudia has become a seasoned advocate, tirelessly selling the allure of San Diego.

Claudia is certified in HR Management by the San Diego Employers Association, holds a non-profit management certification from USD, and proudly wears the badge of Certified Hotel Revenue Management bestowed by the California Lodging Association. Her involvement in San Diego’s tourism scene and the 2019 Latino Success Leadership Program with MANA de San Diego reflects her dedication to community growth.

Currently, Claudia serves as the treasurer on the Board of Discover Coronado and contributes as a board member for the Coronado Chamber of Commerce. The Glorietta Bay Inn team, under her leadership, has garnered accolades from the California Hotel and Lodging Association—Best Guest Relations (2012-2013) and Outstanding General Manager. In 2014, their exceptional service even earned them the title of Best Guest Relations nationwide.

But here’s the heart of who Claudia is: She thrives on hearing people’s stories—their strives, endurance and the winding paths that led them to where they stand today.

Kim Sidoriak is the President and CEO of Visit Carlsbad and is responsible for overseeing destination marketing organization promoting Carlsbad, California as a premiere travel destination. During her three years at Visit Carlsbad, she launched a free visitor transportation program called Carlsbad Good Ride, deployed a new destination brand, and spearheaded the development of the organization’s first 3-year strategic plan.

Under Kim’s leadership, Visit Carlsbad was recently recognized as The Best Place to Work (Small Business) in the Carlsbad Business Achievement and Distinction awards. Kim’s 20-year career in marketing includes roles at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Hilton Hotels Corporation and Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles.

She serves on the California Travel Association’s Board of Directors and earned the Certified Destination Management Executive credential from Destinations International. Kim received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from University of Southern California, and her biggest passion is traveling the world to learn about different cultures.

Meet Brian Lesson, DBA, Professor of Hospitality at the San Diego Mesa College.

Brian is a San Diego-based hospitality educator and culinarian. He's the rare combination of creative thinker, numbers lover, and detail fanatic. He currently leads the hospitality department at San Diego Mesa College and was a founding faculty member at Alliant International University’s Master of Business Administration program in Hospitality Leadership.

During his career he’s worked with creative, strategic, and operational teams in hotels, restaurants, education, and talent management, instilling elevated customer service and modern atmospheres for guests and colleagues.

Brian’s academic journey includes studying Culinary Arts at Delhi College of Technology and Hospitality Management at Buffalo State University. His advanced degrees include a Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Roosevelt University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Southern University.

DeeAnne Snyder is a native San Diegan and has been with the San Diego Convention Center Corporation since 1993.  

Her rise to leadership at the San Diego Convention Center began in 2006, after being a senior event manager for 13 years DeeAnne promoted to the newly created position of Director of Convention Services. DeeAnne's goal was to create a "partnership for success" with San Diego’s hospitality industry. In March 2012, she returned to the Event Services department to lead the team. Along with her key leadership of internal teams, she has built a solid partnership with our surrounding businesses, civic agencies and regional non-profits.

During the pandemic shutdown of the Convention Center from Mar 2020 to July 2021 DeeAnne was both humbled and honored to be part of the City/County Incident Command Team on behalf of the center overseeing Operation Shelter to Home, and then transitioning to the Operation Artemis.

Over her years at the center, DeeAnne has received recognition and awards from both national and local groups. In 1994, she received the HSMAI, San Diego Chapter JV Cunningham Award for Excellence in Service. In 1997, honored as one of the YWCA TWIN Awardees and in 2002 awarded the PCMA Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the year, a national award.

As an adjunct instructor for the USD/George Washington University Event Management Continuing Education certificate program, she was named the Educator of the Year Award twice during her tenure as an instructor and last year the San Diego Business Journal named DeeAnne as one of their 2021 Women of Influence 50 over 50.

In March 2019, DeeAnne was recognized as one of W.I.T.H’s honorees of the Women in Tourism & Hospitality Change Makers Award for her years of dedicated service, leadership and mentorship.

She is a volunteer at heart for several community organizations currently as a board of trustee for the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation in support of San Diego’s “only” National Park. She has been a past member of the Balboa Park marketing committee, the Gaslamp Association, the SD High School Hospitality and Tourism conference.  She has also been a guest lecture at SDSU HTM, Mesa Community College Hospitality Program and was a 30 plus member of Toastmasters International achieving the highest designation of Distinguished Toastmaster.

If you are lucky enough to be on one of her hosted tours of the San Diego Convention Center, you will walk out of Convention Center with a sense of appreciation and a wealth of historical civic awareness.

Dania holds over twenty-eight years of Hospitality experience with Hyatt and Hilton Hotels and Resorts. Hotel management experience within 14 Four Diamond Resort and Leisure properties. Led food and beverage and innovation design process experience among first class resort properties, International destinations, working with multicultural work forces, leading teams of 400 employees, building customer service focused strategies into work groups competitive environment.

Participated in 10 new hotel opening teams; managed design concept, branding and project management completion of 6 restaurant, bar and hotel renovation projects.

In addition to Dania’s standard responsibilities as a hotel general manager, she completed a Design Thinking program through Stanford University’s Design School. In February 2012, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara became one of eight Innovation LAB Hotels within Global Hyatt and implemented this innovative management system in the hotel. As a result of Dania and her team’s efforts, in only a few short months, two of the hotel’s large impact initiatives were launched Hyatt-wide. Stanford’s innovative program focuses on methods and processes for investigating ill-defined problems, acquiring information, analyzing knowledge and positing solutions in the design and planning fields. As a style of thinking, it is generally considered the ability to combine empathy for the context of a problem, creativity of insights and solutions and rationality to analyze and fit solutions to the context. Dania participated in the Hyatt Regency New Delhi, India Lab Hotel launch in 2013.

In 2020, Dania became the president of the San Diego Hotel Lodging Association.

Specialties: Driving service results among teams while driving profit and flow through. Extensive Food and Beverage experience, branding implementation, cost containment and optimization process.