The chairman of Forbes Travel Guide is digital media pioneer Jeff Arnold, who is the visionary behind Forbes Travel Guide and the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sharecare, a digital health company he founded with Dr. Mehmet Oz that helps people manage all their health in one place.
In 2005, Arnold purchased the rights to Mobil Travel Guide, a well-known series of regional guidebooks that Mobil Oil had published since 1958. The guides provided independent ratings of hotels, motels and restaurants in North America. Arnold had the vision to transform the collection into a digital guide and globalize the Star Rating system, with a focus on luxury hospitality. By 2009, he evolved Mobil Travel Guide to Forbes Travel Guide, in partnership with Forbes Media LLC.
Prior to founding Sharecare and Forbes Travel Guide, Arnold was chairman and CEO of HowStuffWorks.com, an award-winning online resource used by millions of people each month, which he sold to Discovery Communications, where he served as chief digital strategy officer, as well as chief architect of The Curiosity Project until December 2011.
In 1998, he founded and served as CEO of WebMD, the first healthcare company to harness the power of the Internet to create a unified destination for consumers, healthcare institutions and physicians to find trustworthy medical information. Prior to WebMD, Jeff founded Quality Diagnostic Services (QDS), a cardiac arrhythmia monitoring company, one of the first companies to use the concept of telemedicine over 25 years ago.
Arnold has been honored for his innovative contributions to media, technology and healthcare, including the 2016 Blumenthal Award by Johns Hopkins University which recognized his exceptional ability to bridge business and technology. Additionally, he was inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, as an Honorary Member for his superior achievements and contributions to the advancement of nursing and health care on both a national and global level. Arnold also has been honored by the World Economic Forum; inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia; named Entrepreneur of the Year, Southeast Region by Ernst & Young; and received the prestigious Phoenix Award, which recognizes companies and individuals who embody strength, tenacity and leadership in Georgia’s healthcare information technology industry.
Currently also chairman of Endeavor Atlanta, Arnold also has served on numerous boards for public, private and charitable organizations over the years.
During this time, Inzerillo has developed, positioned and operated some of the world’s most famous and successful lifestyle brands in tourism and entertainment.
In June 2018, Inzerillo was appointed by HRH The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be the first CEO of the newly created Diriyah Gate Development Authority. This authority is empowered to master plan the 67-kilometer UNESCO site of the first Saudi state into one of the great gathering places in the world.
As CEO of Forbes Travel Guide from 2014 to 2018, he was successful in the globalization from the company’s North American origins to more than 100 countries worldwide. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award is universally accepted as the Olympic gold medal of hospitality.
Inzerillo was president and CEO of IMG Artists, the global leader in artist management, performing arts and lifestyle events planning from 2012 to 2014. At IMG Artists, he directed global strategies for music, events, festivals, government consulting and artist and facility management businesses.
A luxury hospitality career spanning more than three decades has led Forbes Travel Guide CEO Filip Boyen everywhere from Bora Bora to Moscow to Peru.
Before joining Forbes Travel Guide in 2018, Boyen served as CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, where he oversaw a portfolio of more than 520 exceptional independent hotels in 80 countries.
Prior to that post, the Belgium native spent 18 years with Orient-Express, the famed precursor to the Belmond brand. First joining the hospitality company as general manager of Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in Tahiti, he rose through the ranks to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of Orient-Express. In between, his various roles included Group Vice President Operations; Regional Vice President, Africa, Australia & Latin America; and Managing Director, Hotels & Trains.
Boyen began his hospitality career as a commis chef and stayed in the food and beverage side of the business for 10 years, working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium, France and England. He even did a stint under French master chef Joël Robuchon.
His extensive background in food and beverage, experience managing complex operations—including trains and ships—and luxury hospitality expertise all harmoniously combine at Forbes Travel Guide.
“It’s a dream job to be at Forbes Travel Guide,” the London-based Boyen said. “Quality has always been a passion of mine. We obviously verify luxury, but we also support people who have a passion for service. We train them and make them better.”
Partner Services
Fradin joined Preferred Hotel Group in 2006, tasked with driving the organization's EMEA marketing programs. From 2009 to 2013, he headed up the London office as regional director. His broader commercial role focused on the overall relationship with member hotels, together with developing new business opportunities for Preferred Hotel Group. Joining Forbes Travel Guide in early 2015, Fradin established the European operation. Forbes Travel Guide’s coverage of Europe has grown to 30 destinations, across more than 15 countries and continues to develop. Fradin lives in London.
Prior to joining Forbes Travel Guide, Lodge founded and owned The Professional Guest, a performance evaluation company that specialized in building repeat hotel business through an enhanced guest experience. She also previously worked for Marriott, where she helped open new properties throughout Southern California and Arizona. Lodge was nationally recognized as Marriott's Sales Person of the Year.
She earned her degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Michigan State University's school of business and traces her passion for the industry back more than 40 years, when she worked as a room attendant at a property along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Her background includes significant international exposure serving in a variety of senior management positions. Initially working with Best Western Australia in the role of National and International Sales and Marketing Manager, she later joined Accor and moved through the ranks from Director of Sales and Marketing, to Executive Assistant Manager, and ultimately General Manager. From there, Demeis resided in Korea and China while serving as Director of Business Development and Executive Assistant Manager for the Hilton Group.
Prior to Forbes Travel Guide, Hainlin held various leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Denihan Hospitality Group. In the latter part of her 14-year tenure with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, she launched the Starwood Resort Collection, Caribbean & South Florida. Most recently, she oversaw the expansion of The James brand in Miami and the launch of The James Royal Palm Miami-South Beach, after a $50 million renovation and reflag of this historic property.
Hainlin was born in Cuba and immigrated with her family to New York at an early age. The Florida International University graduate speaks fluent Spanish and has a working knowledge of Portuguese. She resides in Miami.
She began her career at Hyatt International Hotels, and subsequently served in management positions at brands such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ian Schrager and Langham. Kane McGee was a director of sales during the opening and ramp-up of Gramercy Park Hotel and The Surrey, respectively.
Launching her career with Hyatt in 2000, Law was rapidly promoted into leadership positions within the corporate office. As Hyatt's Global Sales Director for the Asia Pacific region, she focused on increasing revenue across all segments and establishing new business, primarily for outbound opportunities in Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand markets. Law later became the Director of Corporate Business Development for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, where she acquired extensive knowledge of the mainland China market. Born in Hong Kong, Law is a native Cantonese speaker, is fluent in Mandarin and English, and has a working knowledge of Korean.
Karoul was part of the senior management team that opened the $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore and is the past President & CEO of the Ciragan Palace Casino, located in an original Ottoman Empire palace in Istanbul. As the Executive General Manager International Marketing, he was instrumental in positioning the world-famous Sun City Casino Resort in South Africa. Karoul has also held leadership and consulting positions at many well-known casinos in North America, including Foxwoods Casino Resort, the Mohegan Sun Casino, and the Greenbrier Casino Resort.
Learning & Development
Prior to his tenure at the company, he worked at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and was the dining room director at Tru. He is certified under the Court of Master Sommeliers and served as a panelist for the Cornell Hotel School's Hospitality Research Summit. Wielgopolan is an Honorary Member of Les Clefs d'Or, and was the Educational Speaker for the group's annual International Congress in 2013 and 2015.
In her current role as Vice President, Training Services, she remains passionate about empowering others and continues to foster strong relationships with such distinguished hotel partners as Dorchester Collection, Mandarin Oriental, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
After working at Starwood and Marriott properties in Singapore and the United States, Phua joined Hotel IQ where she led hotel management teams to improve their services and meet brand requirements. She later worked with LRA by Deloitte, where she was responsible for the development of QA programs for highly esteemed hotel brands including Starwood, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Accor Hotels, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, Worldhotels, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.
Torrance's passion for luxury hotels and service led to a degree in Hospitality Business and then a career starter on the food and beverage team at the Four Seasons. While working in Telluride, Colorado, she progressed onto a management path that brought her experience across every operational outlet, and included overseeing a resort-based Homeowner's Association (HOA). From there, Torrance welcomed General Manager and Residence Manager positions at Lake Placid Lodge, the Point resort, and Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort.
William Avitia’s passion for the hospitality industry led him into human resources and training early in his career. He has worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties across the United States. As Director of Human Resources at The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Avitia developed an intensive seasonal staffing and training strategy thoughtfully aligned with brand and luxury standards. Most recently, Avitia worked with IHG Hotels & Resorts developing branded and operational service solutions that scaled across 16 brands globally.
Avitia is a certified Property Service Culture Trainer, and has certified other trainers as Service Culture Champions as well as led leadership simulations in region. He holds a degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where he focused on special operations. Avitia plays an active alumnus role for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. He trains in both English and Spanish.
Samira Charbonnier has built long-standing relationships in the hospitality industry by consistently demonstrating strong influence skills and success in coaching multi-cultural teams. She spent a decade offering expertise in advisory, operations and international training efforts while serving as director of learning and development for global hospitality consulting firm Minds in Motion SA.
Charbonnier worked with international consulting and real estate investment banking firms PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Eastdil Secured as an adviser focused on hotel development, marketing and sales. Prior to that, she spent four years as food and beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the United States and Canada. Charbonnier has a deeply-rooted passion for coaching and is a certified Quality Coach for the Swiss Tourism Federation, a qualification based on Six Sigma principles.
Santos spent seven years at W Hotels leading within food and beverage and rooms divisions. He successfully oversaw several hotel department openings before eventually becoming a Service Culture Trainer. As the director of rooms for The Beverly Hilton, Santos implemented various training initiatives that served to maintain the property’s Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating. Most recently, he was the regional director of training at Loews Hotels, and a member of the hotel opening team.
Strategy & Operations
Previously having served as Microsoft’s Senior Executive for Travel & Hospitality and leading J.D. Power's Global Hospitality and Travel group, Greif partnered with many of the world's leading luxury brands. At J.D. Power, he led global strategy, business development and product development to establish new offerings that enabled companies to elevate their service delivery and customer experience. His strong background bringing innovative digital solutions to the travel industry spans his work with start-ups, prominent tech companies, top tier consultancies, VCs, and private equity.
Greif started his career at Accenture when it was still called Andersen Consulting and holds a MBA in Strategy and General Management from The Darden School at the University of Virginia. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As Executive Vice President of Finance, Tony Hounshell brings nearly 20 years of executive leadership experience to work in guiding Forbes Travel Guide's overall financial strategy. His department oversees a breadth of functions, including accounting, finance, treasury and tax; financial planning, analysis and corporate development; human resources; and investor relations.
Hounshell began his career in public accounting at a Big Four firm, later moving into advisory services at that firm and other global consultancies. His advisory experience spans forensic, transaction, risk management and performance improvement services. He regularly assisted boards of directors, audit committees, management and their legal counsel to address significant and complex matters. Hounshell has worked in more than 25 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He is a Certified Public Accountant and an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Mocklar worked in key product positions at weather.com for 10 years before joining Forbes Travel Guide. She previously contributed to CNN.com in its infancy, serving as senior editor of lifestyle sections and later as director of product for the site.