Dear Hotel Community,
As the voice of the hotel industry at the Federal, Provincial and Community level, the BCHA is acknowledged as the champion of hotel related issues, including matters of taxation, tourism, marketing, corporate relations, labour, and consumer services. We work with the government and regulatory authorities to ensure a positive operating environment for the hotel industry to thrive in, particularly during economically challenging times.
The BCHA would like to introduce the team behind the advocacy, communications, media and government relations, and everything in between, continuously working on behalf of accomodators across the province.
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Ingrid Jarrett - President & CEO
Ingrid is an industry powerhouse whose impressive resume spans leadership work and volunteer roles at leading organizations like Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Watermark Beach Resort and Destination British Columbia TMC. Now, as President and CEO of the BC Hotel Association, Ingrid channels her extensive knowledge and acute insights into supporting, and advocating for members of the hotel industry province-wide.
Ingrid started in management at Quilchena Hotel, then joined the Fairmont family spending several years moving across properties in increasingly senior roles that included assistant F&B director at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, director of rooms and marketing at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton and director of operations at Fairmont Empress in Victoria. Though she has demonstrated success in larger luxury organizations, Ingrid has also established a reputation for exceptional leadership in boutique hotels and resorts like Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, Blackrock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet, and L’Hermitage in Vancouver.
For many years, Ingrid served as general manager of Watermark Beach Resort. In 2017, she earned the BCHA’s Hotelier of the Year Award, which honours outstanding management, leadership and communication skills, as well as commitment to employees, community and the wider tourism industry. In 2018, Ingrid was awarded WXM’s prestigious Top 100 most powerful women in Canada.
Ingrid holds distinction as one of the first female presidents of the BC Hotel Association, and continues to lend her seasoned expertise to the organization.
During her free time, Ingrid enjoys skiing, hiking, golfing, and travelling.
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Mike Macleod - Director of Members and Business Development
Mike is the newest member of the BCHA team. Born and raised in North Vancouver, Mike has worked in hospitality in one form or another since taking a summer job at Capilano Suspension Bridge when he was 17.
After studying business and marketing communications at Capilano University and BCIT, he has enjoyed an 18 year hotel career, breaking in with Westin and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2002. Mike's time at Starwood took him from Vancouver to Southern California over a 10 year period. From there, independent hotels in California and Colorado became his focus before eventually returning to BC in 2018. Mike has been leading teams in Sales and Marketing since 2006, most recently at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel and Conference Centre. His widely varied hotel career will bring unique insight into the needs of members.
Outside of work, Mike is a proud father, avid golfer, and dog lover and is excited to once again be residing in North Vancouver working with the BCHA team and it's members.
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Karissa Bourgeault - Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Born and raised in beautiful Qualicum Beach, Karissa has worked in hospitality for the past 14 years at various properties on Vancouver Island, across Australia, and in Vancouver, anywhere near the water.
Karissa brings a diverse hospitality and hotel background, working in F&B management positions at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver as well as a wealth of spa experience from her time at the Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville and most recently, in her spa management role at CHI, The Spa at The Shangri-la Hotel Vancouver.
Exploring new food & wine, enjoying the sun, and travelling to exciting new destinations are just a few of the ways she likes to unwind and enjoy the amazing industry we work in.
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Samantha Glennie - Office Coordinator
Proudly born and raised in Metro Vancouver, Samantha graduated from Capilano University with her bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management as well as completed a Hospitality and Tourism Management Certificate at University of California, Riverside.
Samantha brings to the BC Hotel Association almost 10 years of experience with a diverse set of skills and knowledge in the tourism and hospitality industry; domestic and international. Her experience stems from a variety of small- and large-scale establishments such as OPUS Vancouver, Starwood Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and Walt Disney World Resorts.
She has a huge passion for traveling, and even though she has had the opportunity to work abroad and has seen many beautiful places around the world, she always finds her way back home.
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Kelsey Millman - Beattie Tartan - BCHA Media & Communications
As an Account Manager at leading Canadian integrated communications agency, Beattie Tartan, Kelsey brings a wealth of experience in media relations, digital strategy and communications to BCHA.
Upon completing a degree in cultural studies at UBC and the public relations program at BCIT, Kelsey dove enthusiastically into hospitality and tourism PR, representing clients such as JW Marriott Parq Vancouver; the DOUGLAS, an Autograph Collection Hotel; Pacific Sands Beach Resort; Watermark Beach Resort; The Josie Hotel; Pan Pacific Whistler; The Adventure Group; and Inn at Laurel Point, among others. With a deep-rooted fascination with the media industry and a passion for tourism, Kelsey has become a go-to source for both media and her clients.
In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys exploring her Kitsilano neighbourhood via her cruiser bike and travelling to destinations across the globe.
Through her work with BCHA, she is inspired to facilitate positive change that will support the hospitality industry and the people that are so integral to its success.
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Sam Geer - Beattie Tartan - Director of Pacific Northwest
Samantha Geer brings an unmatched level of knowledge, expertise and relationships earned from her twenty-five years in key public relations, media and marketing roles within Canada’s lifestyle, travel and hospitality industries. Sam – as she’s best known – specializes in media and public relations, communications strategy, special events, digital marketing and social media.
Known for her unmistakable laugh, enthusiasm and joyful approach, Geer joins Beattie Tartan from her most recent role as co-founder and Partner of Avenue PR. Established in 2010, the business grew into one of Vancouver’s leading tourism, travel, hospitality and lifestyle marketing communications agencies. Prior to Avenue PR, Geer was director of public relations for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in Jasper and Victoria and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Toronto, Vancouver and Whistler. Throughout her career, Geer has built a strong reputation for generating out-of-the-box ideas, developing irresistible story angles, forging long-lasting relationships with media, influencers and industry members and driving business development. Her natural ability to fuel her team and clients with infectious energy and vibrancy are evidence of her deep-rooted passion for marketing communications. She is thrilled to bring this energy to her work with the BCHA
Spending time with her husband and 10 year old son, road biking, and skiing are a few of Sam's favourite things. She has also recently utilized her extra time at home to take up baking.
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Dylan Tomlin - Energy Analyst
Dylan was born and raised in the Interior of BC. He is an Energy Conservation Professional with a Certified Energy Manager designation, and 16 years of experience in the industry.
His first role in the energy conservation business was in 2003 with BC Hydro as a Power Smart Outreach representative handing out free compact fluorescent light bulbs, this eventually led to a role within the Key Account Management group at BC Hydro. After leaving BC Hydro, Dylan spent 8 years with CLEAResult, an energy conservation consulting firm, working on a variety of contracts with other utility companies and government agencies. This took him to Toronto for work with the Independent Electricity System Operator and their Save-ON-Energy program, to Calgary to work with Energy Efficiency Alberta as a Senior Account Manager, and back to BC to deliver a program on behalf of FortisBC.
Recently he started working with GreenStep Solutions focusing his attention towards the accommodation sector. This focus provided the perfect fit for Dylan to join the BCHA as our Energy Analyst.
Dylan is a father to two young daughters and enjoys escaping to the trails and lakes on the weekends, enjoying all that BC has to offer.
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Shaping the future of Hospitality. We advocate, communicate, and educate. |
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