Hyatt Promotes Briggs to Lead Consumer Insights

In Chicago, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has promoted Heather Briggs to the newly created position of Vice President of Consumer Insights and Market Research; and has announced three other VP appointments in branding and digital roles.

Briggs (pictured) joined the hotel group in 2011 from United Airlines where she served as Director, Customer Insights. Prior to this she was a Consultant with Marakon Associates, and she worked for retailer Target for more than three years.

In her new position, she manages a global team using guest feedback to drive increases in satisfaction scores. In addition to overseeing all aspects of consumer research, she is responsible for the hotel group's online guest community, text analytics for social media channels, and traditional ad hoc research. She is also overseeing an overhaul of Hyatt's Guest and Meeting Planner surveys.

Hyatt has also named Katherine Melchior-Ray as VP, Luxury Brands; Karen Dawson as VP of Digital Strategy, and Chris Walker as VP, Brand Experience, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House.

John Wallis, Chief Marketing Officer, comments: 'We've put together a dynamic, balanced team of outside industry brand experts and hospitality professionals to help us reach our goal of becoming the most preferred brand. These four individuals are great additions to the strong team that serves our passionate hoteliers by providing them with the consumer insights and brand frameworks that will help them deliver compelling and exciting new guest experiences.'

Web site: www.hyatt.com .