Hospitality body HSMAI has announced the 2026 Robert A. Gilbert Award recipients, naming Mary Casey, Jeff Doane and André Fournier for lifetime contributions to commercial strategy.
Summary: HSMAI has selected Mary Casey, Jeff Doane and André Fournier as the 2026 recipients of the Robert A. Gilbert Award, recognising their long-term leadership and influence in hospitality commercial strategy.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has named Mary Casey, Jeff Doane and André Fournier as the 2026 recipients of the Robert A. Gilbert Award, recognising their career-long contributions to commercial strategy in the hospitality sector. The Robert A. Gilbert Award highlights leaders whose work has shaped sales, marketing, distribution and revenue optimisation across the industry.
HSMAI honours leaders who shaped commercial strategy
HSMAI issued the announcement from McLean, VA, noting the award recognises leaders whose careers have advanced commercial disciplines through sustained leadership and innovation. The prize commemorates Robert A. "Bob" Gilbert, who served as HSMAI’s President and CEO from 1995 to 2024, and is given to professionals whose influence extends beyond metrics to strengthen the profession.
Commercial strategy today is more connected than ever, and these honorees reflect the very best of that evolution.
The 2026 honourees
- Mary Casey
- Jeff Doane
- André Fournier
Mary Casey brings more than 35 years of experience across hotels, events and corporate travel. She recently retired as Chief Client Officer at Maritz, where she led enterprise sales, growth marketing and client strategies serving corporate, association and live-events clients.
Earlier in her career Casey spent nearly three decades at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, advancing to Senior Vice President of Sales and Field Marketing for North America. In that role she led more than 1,500 sales professionals supporting over 400 hotels and played a leadership part in integrating Starwood’s global sales organisation into Marriott during the merger process.
Jeff Doane serves as Chief Commercial Officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts, directing integrated commercial strategy across the company’s U.S. and Canada properties. His remit covers brand and tactical marketing, public relations, partnerships, digital platforms, sales, revenue management, loyalty, distribution and customer service. Doane previously held senior commercial roles at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and Accor North America.
André Fournier is Chief Commercial Officer at CoralTree Hospitality, where he leads sales, marketing and revenue strategy. Fournier began his hospitality career while studying at Arizona State University and advanced through resort, regional and corporate commercial leadership roles. He has held senior positions at Destination Hotels & Resorts and Two Roads Hospitality and helped launch CoralTree Hospitality in 2018.
About the Robert A. Gilbert Award
The award, named in tribute to Robert A. "Bob" Gilbert, recognises career achievement in commercial strategy and celebrates professionals whose leadership has influenced sales, marketing and revenue disciplines across the hospitality sector. HSMAI gives the honour to individuals whose work advances the profession and helps set future standards.
Recognition and events
The 2026 honourees will be recognised at HSMAI’s Adrian Awards Celebration and at the HSMAI Americas Commercial Strategy Conference, annual gatherings that showcase excellence and innovation in hospitality commercial disciplines.
Why this matters for the industry
Honouring leaders like Casey, Doane and Fournier highlights the evolving and increasingly interconnected nature of commercial strategy in hospitality. For industry professionals, these awards spotlight career paths, best practices and leadership that influence how hotels and event organisers sell, market and manage revenue. For travellers, stronger commercial strategies can translate into improved loyalty programmes, better distribution choices and more consistent guest experiences as organisations adopt the approaches recognised by HSMAI.
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