Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International has launched the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy, a new honor celebrating leaders whose careers have shaped the future of hospitality sales, marketing and revenue strategy. Named in tribute to Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert, who was HSMAI’s president and CEO from 1995 to 2024, the Gilbert Award recognizes “enduring leadership, innovation and advocacy across the commercial disciplines of hospitality,” according to a statement from the Association. Nominations for the 2026 recognition are open now through December 15.
“The Gilbert Award honors the visionary leaders who, like Bob himself, have transformed how our industry approaches commercial strategy,” Brian Hicks, president & CEO of HSMAI, said in the statement. “This award celebrates individuals whose influence extends beyond business success, recognizing those who have elevated people, ideas, and practices that shape the future of hospitality.”
The award is open to hoteliers, industry partners and educators. Nominees may represent a single commercial discipline or demonstrate cross-functional impact through their leadership and achievements. Recipients will be honored during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration and at HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference.
As part of this transition, HSMAI Americas has retired its four legacy career achievement awards—the Albert E. Koehl Award, Winthrop W. Grice Award, Vanguard Award and the HSMAI Award for Career Achievement in Sales—while inducting all past honorees into the HSMAI Hall of Fame, established in 1968. This change is meant to unite all past honorees under one global recognition that reflects the interconnected nature of today’s commercial strategy disciplines, the Association said.
Submit a nomination for the Robert A. “Bob” Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy here.