As a long-time supporter of WYSE Travel Confederation, I have special interest in standing for election at this time in the organization’s history, and will appreciate your consideration of my candidacy.
In my professional life, I serve as CEO of Hostelling International USA with a network of 50+ hostels in the United States. While my training is in finance, my recent experience is in organizational change. Since 2011 HI USA has embarked on its own restructuring that has left it stronger and more agile. My experience is that the legal vote was just the beginning. For HI USA, building a new team from the 27 separate entities that merged into a single national organization five years ago has been an ongoing and important one.
I would look forward to working with our Director General David Chapman and our membership to build an even stronger WYSE Travel Confederation following its own restructuring. I understand the importance of communication and teamwork. I considered service on an Advisory Panel, but am confident I can be more helpful on a Management Board that builds strong linkages among our cultural exchange, youth travel accommodations, and language, travel and study abroad sectors. To my mind, this is our unique strength as an organization, and I would be honored for the opportunity to help build it.
My career reflects my passion for cultural exchange and travel. I was introduced to backpack travel late compared to most. I had already completed graduate study and was early in my finance career at the time when I went to England on an academic sabbatical. I decided to add on several months for independent travel. So I sold my car, bought a backpack, and traveled Europe. It was there I discovered hostels and the learning that can come from travel. Still today, those travels are the most important experience in my life.
When I returned to the United States, I wanted to help bring a youth hostel to Washington DC. (We didn’t have one at the time.) I volunteered for the local HI USA chapter and eventually quit my finance job to become chapter executive director. We were understaffed and underfunded at the time, but surrounded daily by travelers from around the world. They were amazing, unforgettable years. And we opened the HI Washington DC hostel.
My training in finance was helpful as I moved up in the organization. I was named CEO of HI USA in 2000, after spending four years as the chief operating officer. I have been through September 11th and the 2008 financial market crash, and understand the need for good data, solid people and a motivating vision during times of trial.
My first WYSTC conference was in Thailand in 1999 where I was taken by the energy and commitment in the room . I am quite interested in market research, so I have since then had many dives into WYSE Travel Confederation research work. My engagement grew with the San Diego WYSTC, when my role as a speaker led to a series of off-podium conversations that were consistently extraordinary.
While HI USA operates hostels, we see ourselves firstly as a cultural education organization. We are a nonprofit that promotes travel for experiential learning and our programs are held in well regard. In December 2014, we partnered with the White House for their Study Abroad and Global Citizenship Summit. Our hostel staff deliver cultural exchange programs to more than 100,000 guests annually as part of their hostel stay. And our volunteers donate over 30,000 hours of their personal time each year to helping to deliver our mission programs. To learn more, visit my blog at http://blog.hiusa.org/.
Yet HI USA also must operate as a successful business. As a hostel network, over 90 percent of HI USA’s revenues come from fees of guests who make their own choice to stay with us. We are idealists but must satisfy our guests and our bankers to stay healthy.
If elected, I would bring both business experience and cross-cultural commitment to my Board service. I believe in the purposes of the WYSE Travel Confederation and it would be an honor to serve you.
