Posts by: Heather Kelly

Heather joined the ATTA in December 2019. She brings many years of tourism and data experience to her role as Senior Manager of Research. Heather grew up in Ithaca, NY and still resides nearby, which is a great home base for exploring the world.

After working for a hospitality research firm and in a hotel sales office, Heather went on to spend 3.5 years as Marketing Manager for the Aruba Convention Bureau for North America, and one year as a consultant with Discover the Palm Beaches, Florida. The Caribbean is still one of her favorite places to visit, and she has been to 15 islands and counting. A PADI-certified diver and boat lover, Heather's favorite adventure activities involve the water (although she is horrible at windsurfing).

Heather also spent 7 years with Hotel Link Solutions, part of the WHL Group, working with small hotels in developing tourism economies to build their online presence. Her biggest projects were in the South Pacific islands. She has worked on consulting projects with the European Travel Commission, the Discover England Fund, and others. She also spent a summer teaching in Germany and has traveled solo through parts of Europe and Asia.

A true lover of learning, Heather has earned a BS in Communications from Ithaca College, an MBA in Marketing from Suffolk University, and an MS from The Hotel School at Cornell University. She has taught undergraduate and graduate-level marketing at four universities. Her new role with the ATTA gives her plenty of opportunities to continue incorporating her love of knowledge with her passion for the tourism industry.