Speaker Bios

Heather Bolton

Executive Vice President, Tishman Hotel Corporation

Heather Bolton is Executive Vice President of Tishman Hotel Corporation in Chicago, where she has been part of the organization since 2002. She brings extensive experience in hotel operations, process improvement, brand conversion, and organizational leadership. Before joining Tishman, Heather held operational management positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton Corporation and worked in Six Sigma process management and franchise brand conversion. She serves on the boards of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and Cityfront Center East Maintenance Association, is a member of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, and serves on the American Hotel & Lodging Association Owners Committee. Heather earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Michael Dominguez

President & CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)

Michael Dominguez is President and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), a global sales organization serving the luxury hospitality market. A longtime hospitality executive, he previously held senior sales leadership roles with MGM Resorts International and other hotel organizations. Michael is widely recognized for his leadership, industry influence, and ability to translate complex economic and business trends into practical insights for hospitality and meetings professionals. He is a frequent speaker on topics including the economy, disruption, leadership, and the changing travel landscape, and has held leadership roles across numerous travel and meetings industry organizations. His honors include the MeetingsNet Lifetime Achievement Award, HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Award in Sales, recognition as an ASAE Fellow, and induction into the Event Industry Council Hall of Leaders. The attached session description similarly positions him as an industry veteran focused on economic and hotel-industry trends.

Glenn Hollister

Vice President, Sales Strategy & Effectiveness, United Airlines

Glenn Hollister is Vice President of Sales Strategy and Effectiveness at United Airlines, where he leads the strategy, products, pricing, marketing, distribution, channel programs, service, and systems supporting United’s business-to-business sales capabilities. His work focuses on strengthening relationships with corporate travel departments, travel agencies, global distribution systems, technology partners, and other business customers. Before joining United, Glenn was a founding partner of the travel and transportation practice at ZS Associates, advising organizations across airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruise lines, and other travel sectors on commercial strategy. Earlier in his career, he worked in the offshore oil industry and served as a Military Intelligence officer in the United States Army.

Michael Jacobson

President & CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

Michael Jacobson is President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA), where he leads the statewide organization’s advocacy, education, member engagement, and industry advancement efforts. He joined IHLA in 2018 after eight years with the U.S. Travel Association, where he led grassroots advocacy, political engagement, and industry relations initiatives and helped advance major national travel policy campaigns. Michael brings more than 15 years of experience in advocacy and nonprofit fundraising and is known for building connections between hospitality leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders. He was named Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under 40 class in 2020 and was recognized by Axios in 2023 as one of Chicago’s 15 most powerful leaders. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University.

Mark Wagner

General Manager, Hyatt Regency Chicago

Mark Wagner is General Manager of Hyatt Regency Chicago and a veteran hospitality executive with nearly three decades of experience. He has led some of Hyatt’s largest and most complex convention hotels, including Hyatt Regency Chicago and Hyatt Regency O’Hare, with responsibility spanning revenue performance, renovations, labor relations, guest experience, and employee engagement. Mark previously served as Regional Vice President for Hyatt’s full-service franchise and Hyatt Centric brands, where he helped expand the franchise portfolio and support the global rollout of Hyatt Centric. His career also includes senior leadership roles at Grand Hyatt New York and Hyatt 48 Lex. Mark is active in Chicago’s hospitality and tourism community and serves in leadership and membership roles with several industry organizations.

Brit McKinney

General Manager, Hampton Inn Decatur/Mt. Zion

Brit McKinney is General Manager of the Hampton Inn Decatur/Mt. Zion, where he has led the property since 2017. Under his leadership, the hotel has earned Hilton’s Award of Excellence twice while maintaining strong Quality Assurance scores and operating performance. In 2025, Brit was named the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Hotelier of the Year in recognition of his commitment to hotel operations, guest service, and leadership. He is passionate about developing high-performing teams, creating exceptional guest experiences, and building strong community partnerships. Beyond hospitality, Brit serves as a Firefighter and EMT in Macon County and co-founded Decatur’s Memorial Stair Climb, an annual event honoring those lost on September 11 while supporting first responders and community service.

Dr. Romie Mushtaq

Chief Wellness Officer, Great Wolf Resorts

Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a triple board-certified physician, award-winning speaker, and nationally recognized expert in leadership, workplace culture, and wellness. As Chief Wellness Officer for Great Wolf Resorts, she leads initiatives designed to strengthen employee well-being and build a wellness-focused culture across the organization. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in healthcare and hospitality, Dr. Romie uses brain science-based strategies to help leaders and teams move from pressure to performance. Her insights have been featured by TED, NBC, CBS, FOX, Forbes, and NPR. She is also the author of The Busy Brain Cure, a USA Today and Amazon bestseller focused on improving focus, reducing anxiety, and restoring sleep.