The HSMAI British Columbia Team

Originally from Goa and now a proud Canadian, India Aakash made Vancouver home in 2021 having moved here from Calgary. Aakash began his career in Revenue Management straight out of University, and has been with Marriott International since. At The Westin Bayshore Vancouver, Marriott International's largest outpost in Western Canada, he leads Revenue Strategy and as a Senior Leader is part of the hotel’s Executive Committee.

Responsible for re-aligning the hotel’s strategic priorities and pivoting the hotel’s growth trajectory, his is role centered around leading topline revenue generation and commercial strategy of the hotel. He holds a B.A. (Hons.) degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Huddersfield, UK and most recently completed an Executive Education program at the Florida Atlantic University.

Off work, Aakash enjoys spending time outdoors in BC, biking and exploring the local food scene in Vancouver.

Anthony Woo was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in both Marketing and Human Resources from the University of British Columbia. Prior to working in Hospitality, Anthony has served as a supplier to the hospitality industry in Media, Software, Business Intelligence and Web Solutions for over ten years. Anthony is very excited to be on the board of the BC Chapter of the HSMAI.

Brandi Lasanen grew up in Burnaby, BC, and holds a Tourism Marketing Management Diploma from BCIT, as well as her Bachelor of Tourism Management from Thompson Rivers University. Brandi is currently the Director of Revenue Management at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver and recently celebrated her 19^th anniversary with Hyatt! Brandi is proud to be one of the founding members of the HSMAI British Columbia Chapter. 

Emily Morrey-Jones is a passionate hospitality and travel professional with extensive experience in partnerships and advertising sales. Now part of Travelzoo’s hotel partnerships team, Emily collaborates closely with industry leaders to craft unique, value-driven promotions that connect travelers to exceptional experiences. She enjoys helping those in the hospitality industry expand their reach and attract new customers. Outside of work, Emily loves exploring the outdoors with her husband and their dog, always ready for the next adventure.

Glenn Widmer was raised on the prairie in Alberta and worked for the phone company in Calgary. Glenn moved to Vancouver where he started in the hotel business with various positions including front office, reservations, switchboard and night audit. Glenn worked in the regional sales office of Ramada where the love for sales was born. Right from the beginnings of Revenue Management in hospitality, Glenn worked for several hotels in a Revenue Management role. After moving away to Toronto to pursue an executive role with Starwood, Glenn moved back to Vancouver in 2007. Glenn joined Sabre Hospitality Solutions in February 2013 and oversees Canada in an account management capacity. Glenn enjoys his duties as treasurer on the board for HSMAI BC chapter.

Kevin grew up in Edmonton where he gained his diploma in Hospitality Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He moved to Vancouver in 2015 working in group sales, then in membership at Destination Vancouver before joining Expedia Group. He is now the Hotel Account Manager for Hotwire. In the past, Kevin also served on the board of directors for Hosteling International – Pacific Mountain Region. When he is not working, you can find him exploring the mountains or hunting for new craft beers.

Kristian is born and raised in Vancouver, punctuated by tonnes of travel abroad! He brings a great history of Hotel Operations experience to the table, as well as a track record of positive vendor and community engagement. Kristian has also attained several strategic certifications and educational cornerstones to augment his natural passion for hospitality. He is no stranger to boardrooms, having served on both National, and International, Food and Beverage Boards in the past, and we are excited for the unique perspective he will bring to the team. When he is not optimizing operations, you’ll probably find him burning calories somehow, because the only thing he loves doing more than burning calories is putting them back on with family and friends afterwards.

Rie Kobori was born and raised in Vancouver. Starting her hospitality career at the front desk of the Sandman Hotel Group in 2007, she has grown into various roles such as Sales, Reservations, Marketing, and eventually Revenue Management. Her experience led her to the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa in 2015 and is presently the Regional Revenue & Marketing Manager for the Listel Hospitality Group, handling both the Vancouver and Whistler markets. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, experiencing local restaurants.