The Hotel Marketing Association (HMA) has appointed Petra Clayton as its next chair, succeeding Ed Purnell and Julian Ebbutt.
Ed Purnell, Director Client Services, Marriott Digital Services Europe and Julian Ebbutt, former MD of Best Loved Hotels, co-chaired the HMA for the last two years – helping to grow the HMA awards, build membership and develop a content rich events programme for hotel marketing professionals across the UK.
Petra Clayton, who is CEO and Founder of hospitality marketing agency Custard Communications, was formally appointed on 1 June 2020 and will continue to champion the importance of hotel marketing professionals collaborating and continuing to develop.
Petra said: “This has to be one of the most intense and pivotal years for hotel marketing, and I’m acutely aware of the role the HMA must play to bring our marketing professionals and specialists together. There has never been a more critical time to push insight and knowledge out to our members and to bring marketers from across the regions and of every size of property together to share their experiences and their challenges.”
Petra added: “My focus for the year ahead will be to grow membership and drive debate and solutions for the hotel industry. We want to reach out to every single hotel marketing professional, whether they are in an hotel operation or a consultancy, to ensure the HMA combines expertise from across the industry.”
Both outgoing chairs will remain on the committee of the leading professional body for hotel marketers.
Julian said: “For the last two years, it has been a privilege to serve as co-chair of the HMA working closely with industry colleagues to educate, inspire, reward and entertain all hospitality marketers. I am confident that in Petra’s very capable hands the association will continue to develop and inspire the next generation of marketers, especially during this very challenging time for the industry.”
For more information, visit the HMA website: https://hotelmarketingassociation.com/
