introducing Karima zaki

about Karima Zaki, CHA, VP of Operations

Karima Zaki is currently serving as Vice President of Town and Desert Hospitality, operating a collection of 8 historic and noteworthy hotels in Palm Springs, California.

Karima is a trailblazing hotelier whose career reflects both global perspective and pioneering leadership. Born in Cairo, Egypt, to an Egyptian father and German mother, she grew up between Europe and the Middle East before immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager.

After earning degrees in International Political Science and German Language Arts, Karima began her hospitality career with Hyatt as a Management Trainee. She soon became the first female General Manager at Red Lion Hotels, leading to senior roles through multiple brand mergers, ultimately becoming Hilton Hotels’ first female Area Vice President. Among her career milestones: managing the 2,000-room Hilton San Francisco, negotiating a landmark union contract, and spearheading the design and construction of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

An entrepreneur at heart, Karima co-founded ABOVE thirty thousand feet, guiding hotels through several times of financial crisis, and launched sanctuate!, the first tech-based spa of its kind, later evolving into ZenZone by sanctuate! for workplace wellness.

Throughout her career, Karima has held leadership roles in the hospitality community, including Chair of the Hotel Motel Association and the San Diego Tourism Authority, the San Francisco Hotel Association, and numerous civic and economic boards. She currently serves on the Boards of Small Preferred Hotels of Palm Springs, the Tourism Business Improvement District, and PS Resorts.