HSMAI Announces the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy
HSMAI Announces the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is pleased to announce the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy, a new pinnacle honor celebrating leaders whose careers have shaped the future of hospitality sales, marketing and revenue strategy. Named in tribute to Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert, who served as HSMAI’s President and CEO from 1995 to 2024, the Gilbert Award recognizes enduring leadership, innovation and advocacy across the commercial disciplines of hospitality. Nominations for the 2026 recognition are open now through December 15, 2025.
“The Gilbert Award honors the visionary leaders who, like Bob himself, have transformed how our industry approaches commercial strategy,” said Brian Hicks, President & CEO of HSMAI. “This award celebrates individuals whose influence extends beyond business success, recognizing those who have elevated people, ideas and practices that shape the future of hospitality.”
The award underscores HSMAI’s commitment to recognizing excellence across disciplines, open to hoteliers, industry partners and educators. Nominees may represent a single commercial discipline or demonstrate cross-functional impact through their leadership and achievements.
Recipients will be honored during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration and at HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference, signature annual events celebrating excellence in hospitality, where peers and leaders from around the world gather to spotlight innovation and achievement.
The Gilbert Award represents the next evolution of HSMAI’s legacy of recognition. As part of this transition, HSMAI Americas has retired its four legacy career achievement awards—the Albert E. Koehl Award, Winthrop W. Grice Award, Vanguard Award and the HSMAI Award for Career Achievement in Sales—while inducting all past honorees into the HSMAI Hall of Fame, established in 1968. This change unites decades of excellence under one global recognition that reflects the interconnected nature of today’s commercial strategy disciplines.
To submit a nomination for the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy, visit here.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry’s leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as HSMAI Digital Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, and Revenue Optimization Conference. Founded in 1927 and celebrating 90 years in 2017, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org, HSMAI Facebook, HSMAI, Twitter, and HSMAI YouTube.
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