CHRIS GABALDON

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

In his role at the positioning helm of the iconic luxury hotel company, Chris Gabaldon is guiding the brand through a period of unprecedented growth and evolution.

The Ritz-Carlton is branching out on all fronts with significant expansion across Asia and the Middle East, changing aesthetics of hotel design and dynamic initiatives in the realms of digital marketing, new media and communication trends to name a few. Entrusted with continuing to grow the elevated status of one of the most recognizable names in luxury today, Chris is based at the company headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

He plays a critical role as a strategic business advisor to President and Chief Operations Officer Herve Humler at the award-winning luxury hotel company, which currently has 75 properties around the world. Chris’ many responsibilities include sales and marketing, revenue management and e-commerce.

He began his hospitality career as a bar back/room service waiter with Marriott International, moving through a series of increasingly strategic executive roles in sales and marketing at both companies.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University and earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from George Mason University.

He continues to work with his alma mater as a Board Member for the Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Board at James Madison University. He is also on the Global Board of Trustees for the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation.