The HSMAI British Columbia Team

Chantal Jones is a hospitality educator and industry leader with more than 20 years of experience across hotels, tourism, leadership development, and post-secondary education. Currently serving as a Hospitality Instructor at Vancouver Community College and Western Community College, Chantal combines extensive operational expertise with a passion for developing future hospitality leaders. Her career includes senior leadership roles in hotel operations, revenue management, and guest services with leading hospitality organizations throughout British Columbia. Through teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development, Chantal is dedicated to advancing hospitality education and helping professionals build the skills needed to thrive in today's evolving industry.

For Natalie Nicholls, guest experience is a lifelong obsession — one that began with her over-analyzing family hotel stays as a child and since evolved into a career dedicated to making travel better. Natalie has viewed the traveler's journey from almost every angle, having managed passenger services in aviation, led sales for a premium travel agency, and pivoted into next-generation hospitality technology.

When she isn't helping hoteliers rethink what’s possible in her role as a Senior Sales Manager at Cloudbeds, Natalie is likely planning her next vacation or endlessly catering to her incredibly spoiled cat.

Lien Chang is the Manager, Memberships & Partnerships at the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA), where he works closely with hotels, industry partners, and stakeholders to strengthen engagement, foster meaningful connections, and drive value across British Columbia's hospitality sector. With a background spanning hotel operations, reservations, guest services, and industry relations, Lien has held roles with leading hospitality organizations including Hilton and Marriott properties, and was part of the opening team at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver. A graduate of Douglas College's Hospitality Management program, Lien is passionate about supporting the growth of BC's tourism and hospitality industry while helping members navigate new opportunities and challenges.

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.

Christine Louden is a hospitality industry leader, educator, and advocate with more than 20 years of experience spanning hotel operations, revenue management, sales, marketing, and event planning. She currently serves as an Instructor in the Bachelor of Hospitality Management program at Western Community College and is the Vice President of Education for HSMAI BC. Throughout her career, Christine has held leadership roles with prominent Vancouver hotel properties, including serving as Hotel Manager at the Granville Island Hotel. Passionate about developing future hospitality leaders, she brings a unique blend of operational expertise, industry insight, and dedication to education, helping hospitality professionals navigate an evolving industry landscape.

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.

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.

Melanie Brunac is an Associate Market Manager with Expedia Group in Vancouver, where she works closely with hotel partners to maximize visibility, demand, and revenue through Expedia's global travel platform. With a strong hospitality and tourism background, Melanie is passionate about helping properties navigate industry trends and uncover new opportunities for growth.

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.