“We are thrilled to be partnering with CJ Media Solutions on this new initiative and meaningful benefit for our participating organizations,” said Rachel Humphrey, WHLA’s founder and chair. “Our media training sessions will be a differentiator for the alliance, providing a learning environment where member organizations can build practical skills for all types of media engagement and gain insights from industry-leading professionals, allowing them to better showcase their expertise, insights, and achievements to peers, partners and stakeholders.”
The partnership began through conversations between the two organizations about increasing women’s visibility in the hospitality industry, the statement said. Both identified ongoing media engagement as a driver of visibility and saw media training as an opportunity for collaboration. The result is a program that helps alliance member organizations develop the skills to engage with media and share their voices in the industry.
CJ Arlotta, founder and managing member of CJ Media Solutions, said media engagement can elevate a leader’s presence, but doing so effectively requires training and practice.
“We’re honored to help the alliance and its member organizations develop the skills they need to engage effectively in media interviews and discussions,” she said.
The sessions will help participants become spokespersons and communicate their work with clarity, the statement said. The initiative also extends WHLA’s ongoing efforts to support women in hospitality, including its speaker directory of more than 1,300 senior-level women with expertise across the global hospitality industry.
“This partnership with CJ Media Solutions creates new pathways to increase women’s visibility and influence throughout the hospitality sector,” said Lan Elliott, principal, Acacia Hospitality LLC, and one of the WHLA members behind the speaker directory. “As more member organizations engage with media outlets, their teams’ voices and perspectives help shape industry conversations and create opportunities for women in hospitality.”
In August, WHLA launched an interactive speaker directory featuring more than 700 senior-level women, allowing organizers to filter by role, company type, location, and other criteria to create tailored speaker shortlists.
