introducing Karima zaki

about Karima Zaki

Karima Zaki, CHA, was an original recipient of the Women in Tourism & Hospitality (WITH) recognition and has spent more than three decades building a career defined by leadership, innovation, and results.

Today, as COO of the Hotel Division for Town & Desert Hospitality, Karima leads a growing portfolio of independent boutique hotels in Palm Springs, overseeing operations, revenue strategy, acquisitions, owner relations, branding, technology, and strategic growth.

Her career has spanned major hotels, resorts, pre-openings, development projects, and entrepreneurial ventures. She has managed portfolios of more than 20 hotels, led operations for properties as large as 2,000 rooms, directed the development and opening of the $350 million Hilton San Diego Bayfront, and held senior leadership roles through acquisitions, turnarounds, and major labor negotiations.

Now focused on the boutique and independent hotel sector, Karima combines the disciplines of large-scale hospitality with the individuality and personal experience that define great small hotels. She is also deeply engaged in the Palm Springs hospitality community, including service on the boards of Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels, PS Resorts and the Tourism Business Improvement District.

Ten years after receiving this recognition as one of WITH's original honorees, Karima remains passionate about an industry that continues to evolve—and about the women who continue to lead.