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GBTA Foundation Reveals WINiT Top 50 Recipients for 2023

Gala and awards event on October 26th in Brooklyn, NY, will celebrate the individuals, companies and allies who elevate women in travel-related industries

The GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association and global leader in community, education, research and advocacy – has announced the 2023 WINiT Top 50, which recognizes outstanding women professionals from across the globe who were nominated by their industry peers and colleagues for their contributions. 

This year’s winners hold positions ranging from entry level to the C-Suite across 32 companies and are based all over the world including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Ukraine, Australia, Singapore, India and Uruguay.

The GBTA Foundation received award nominations from June 1 through August 31, 2023, which were then reviewed by the Foundation’s Selection Committee. The WINiT Top 50 for 2023 are listed below in alphabetical order by last name along with their affiliated companies and the categories and criteria for their recognition: 

  • Women Innovating the Way We Travel – honoring the visionaries and those who inspire others to join their efforts:
    • Janine Alsalam, Cvent
    • Penny Clauson, American Express Global Business Travel
    • Kate Gebo, United Airlines
    • Robyn Grassanovits, Cirium
    • Gail Grimmett, Delta Air Lines
    • Pauline Houston, SilverDoor Serviced Apartments
    • Katerina Kulikova, HRS Group
    • Charlotte Manthe, Thrust Carbon
    • Nora Lovell Marchant, American Express Global Business Travel
    • Kathy Morgan, Sabre Corporation
    • Denise Naguib, Marriott International
    • Nikki Ping, Flight Centre Travel Group
    • Tammy Presutti, Avis Budget Group
    • Hansini Sharma, Acquis Consulting
    • Albena Taseva
    • Katie Virtue, Festive Road

  • Global Leaders with Global Impact, recognizing a leader who has made a significant impact on a global scale:
    • Alessandra Alonso, Women In Travel CIC
    • Lauren Aste, CWT
    • Stephanie Bundick, Sabre Corporation
    • Suzanne Horner, Gray Dawes Travel
    • Jo Lloyd, FCM Travel
    • Jessica Muench, United Airlines
    • Laura Ruffles, Corporate Travel Management (CTM)
    • Dominique Swales, United Airlines

  • Rising Female Leaders, celebrating early career professionals who are high-performing future leaders:
    • Danielle Bilbao, Accor
    • Pamela Blakely, Fragomen/Nomadic
    • Gabrielle Carr, TAG
    • Hillary Dallas, Amazon
    • Ericka Dombroski, Enterprise Holdings
    • Ashley DuBois, United Airlines
    • Katharine Farrell, Delta Air Lines
    • Sathya Ganesan, American Express Global Business Travel
    • Vanessa Gonzalez, Sabre Corporation
    • Jade Lynch, Corporate Traveler
    • Marina Olson, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
    • Nikki Parsons, Arcadis
    • Mimi Shen, SAP Concur
    • Alexandria Prejean Smith, BCD Travel
    • Sarah Whiting, Thrust Carbon
    • Cari Wurzbacher, United Airlines

  • FollowHer: Legends and Mentors, recognizing an exemplary leader who is committed to advancing women in the industry:
    • Hui Wan Chua, Travelport
    • Aileen McCormack, CarTrawler
    • Caitlin Gomez, Staples 
    • Nicole Jones, Delta Air Lines
    • Sonja Klasen, HRS Group
    • Kate McMahon, FCM Meetings & Events Americas
    • Teri Miller, BCD Travel
    • Lauri Reishus, Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC)
    • Mary Ruberry, The Parking Spot
    • Julia Lo Bue-Said, The Advantage Travel Partnership

WINiT is an organization dedicated to helping women move forward in their careers in the travel industry by offering programming geared toward their advancement.

An additional 12 Pinnacle and Leadership Awards will also be announced at the GBTA WINiT Gala on Thursday, October 26, 2023, 6:30-9:30 p.m. EST, at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Gala follows the WINiT Summit, which brings together professionals to positively change the careers and lives of women in travel-related industries.

“Our theme for the WINiT Summit and Gala this year is ‘Bold Women, Bold Voices,’ making Brooklyn a perfect setting as the hometown to so many history-making women,” said Delphine Millot, Managing Director of the GBTA Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating the women who have made outstanding contributions to our industry through their leadership, innovation and determination.” 

For more information and to register for the WINiT Awards Ceremony and Gala, go to https://www.gbta.org/gbta-winit-gala-2023/.  

To learn more about the WINiT Summit, visit https://www.gbta.org/gbta-winit-summit-2023/.