Dr. Eric T. Brey

“With recipients including major hotel and resort companies to CEO’s of marketing organizations, this is the highest honor that I could receive as an educator for my work within hospitality marketing,” said Brey. “As an industry award given by executives to professionals, this validates a persevering focus on providing industry support through practitioner directed research, an applied teaching focus and service in support of industry organizations.”

The seventh annual list recognizes the “best of the best” in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. The recipients were honored during a private ceremony preceding the Adrian Awards Gala on Feb. 1 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

“As director of the Kemmons Wilson School, I am pleased to see Dr. Brey receive this honor in recognition of his research contributions in the area of hospitality marketing,” said Dr. W. Terry Umbreit, who holds the IHG Chair of Excellence at the U of M. “He is beginning to be recognized as one of the field’s rising academic stars, and one to watch in the future. His research efforts being acknowledged by a professional association are significant and one in which we can take pride at the University of Memphis.”

The Top 25 is a “hot list” that celebrates the sales and marketing leaders and innovators of our industry, according to Robert A. Gilbert, president and CEO of HSMAI.

“The creative strategies, passionate dedication and sharp intelligence of these professionals have not only made a difference within their organizations, but have also truly raised the bar for the hospitality industry as a whole.”

The 2009 “Top 25” recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.

Brey is director of the Center for Resort and Hospitality Business and assistant professor in the Wilson School. His career continues to focus on understanding consumer experiences and their impact on hotels and resorts. For his work, he has received multiple research excellence awards, been recognized for teaching innovation and quoted by more than 125 international publication and media outlets including Forbes, Business Week, USA Today, The New York Post, Washington Post and CBS News.

Brey has also presented internationally to industry conferences, including the Caribbean Sales & Marketing Strategy Conference, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Small Hotels Retreat and Women’s Foodservice Forum. He received his PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University, with a MS and BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Wisconsin- Stout.

HSMAI is an international organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization with more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region.