More than 70 senior executives convened at Cameo Beverly Hills on October 7 for Hozpitality Group's inaugural Women Leadership Forum in Los Angeles, a half-day event drawing decision-makers from hotels, airlines, sports mega-events, performing arts, and the culinary industry under one roof.
The forum centered on the theme "Breaking Barriers & Building Success: How Women Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Hospitality & Tourism," with a panel moderated by Jackie Filla, President & CEO of the Hotel Association of Los Angeles. Five panelists represented a cross-section of the broader hospitality economy: Heather Allison, Vice President of Luxury Sales for Marriott International's Western Region; chef and restaurateur Susan Feniger of Mundo Hospitality Group; Brandy Thigpen, former Host City Director for FIFA World Cup 2026 – Los Angeles; Dana Debel, Managing Director of State and Local Government Affairs at Delta Air Lines; and Rachel S. Moore, President & CEO of The Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.
What the Panelists Addressed
Conversations ranged from individual leadership journeys and mentorship to the evolving Los Angeles tourism landscape and the economic ripple effects of marquee international events. Operators and hoteliers in the room heard firsthand how collaboration across hospitality, aviation, entertainment, and sports venues is becoming essential for workforce pipeline development — a challenge that cuts across every segment of the restaurant and hospitality industry. The interactive Q&A format allowed attendees to engage directly with panelists, making the session particularly valuable for mid-career professionals and department heads looking to move into senior roles.
Sponsors and What's Next
The event drew meaningful industry backing. RokketMed, a women-owned healthcare fintech firm focused on helping hospitality employers improve employee benefits and retention, served as Platinum Sponsor — a pairing that signals how workforce retention concerns are driving cross-sector partnerships. másLabor, a workforce solutions company specializing in seasonal staffing programs, joined as Gold Sponsor. Cameo Beverly Hills served as venue partner, while NEFT Vodka hosted a beverage-sampling experience during the networking reception — a nod to the beverage programming that has become a standard feature of premium hospitality networking events.
Organizing partners included Alliance Women in Hospitality Leadership, Los Angeles Tourism, and The Women's Hospitality Collective.
"Our vision has always been to connect people, create opportunities and bring the hospitality community closer together," said Raj Bhatt, Founder & CEO of Hozpitality Group. Vandana (Vee) Bhatt, Co-Founder & Managing Director, framed the forum as a replicable model: "We hope to continue growing this initiative and encouraging more women to pursue leadership opportunities."
The Los Angeles forum follows Hozpitality Group's Best GM Powerlist California 2026 event earlier this year, which recognized leading hotel General Managers and attracted more than 60 hospitality executives. The organization is already developing a Sales & Marketing Leaders Powerlist California 2027, signaling an intent to build a recurring events calendar in the U.S. market. For operators tracking where senior talent and industry influence are coalescing, Hozpitality's expanding U.S. footprint is worth watching — the platform claims a global community of more than 1.3 million members across its flagship site and affiliated properties.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
