ROM HENDLER – Founder & CEO

Rom Hendler is a 25 year veteran of the industry, former Chief Administration, Chief Marketing, and Chief Information Officer for Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the world’s largest integrated resorts company. Rom joined Las Vegas Sands in 2000.Through several promotions, Rom eventually held three C-level corporate positions in the company.

The depth of his knowledge, as well as the his cutting-edge initiatives, place him as a worldwide expert in the operation and management of various hospitality elements in integrated mega-resorts, including hotels, entertainment venues, and gaming.
At Las Vegas Sands, he worked relentlessly on process enhancement and efficiencies, and developed corporate best practices for marketing analytics, distribution strategies, CRM, revenue management, e-commerce, loyalty programs, direct marketing, casino floor optimization, and marketing systems.

Rom holds an MBA specializing in Hospitality Management from IMHI – Institut de Management Hotelier Internationale (a joint Cornell-Essec program), Paris, and a B.Sc. in Hotel and Food and Beverage Management and Nutrition from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. rom@innoveltraveltech.com

CHEN AMISHAY – COO

Chen Amishay is a 19 year veteran of the online startup industry of which 14 were specifically in online travel.
Chen is a pioneer in the online travel industry, Founder and former CEO of TraveList, the most successful price comparison Meta-Search engine in the Israeli market.

Chen’s executive positions in various startups and organizations gained him a deep understanding of startup challenges,                  management     of complex operations and the need to be creative on the frustrating way to success.

Chen is a graduate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation management from Swinburne University of Technology, and a B.A in  economics and management from Tel Aviv University. chen@innoveltraveltech.com

FLAVIA HENDLER, Ph.D. – Director of Communications

Flavia Hendler has worked in marketing and consumer research for 20 years. She started at a small casino in South America, and went on to pursue a master’s degree in hospitality in Las Vegas. After working in database marketing for the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino, she obtained a Ph.D. in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is currently on the editorial board of Cornell Hospitality Quarterly.  Flavia holds a production engineering degree for the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paolo. Flavia speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and she is working on learning Hebrew and Arabic. flavia@innoveltraveltech.com

MICHAEL FRENKEL

Michael Frenkel is a NYC-based marketing, communications industry relations and business development innovator with more than 20 years of experience in travel and hospitality. Michael is Marketing Partner at Thayer Ventures, the only Venture Capital firm focused exclusively on travel technology, and founder of leading strategic communications firm MFC PR. MFC PR counts among its clients many of the most exciting travel technology companies in the space, including Duetto, ADARA, Fornova, and Local Measure – and well-know industry brands such as Hyatt, Forbes Travel Guide and La Quinta.Michael has helped launch successful start-ups, served as a consultant to venture capital and private equity organizations, and helped architect the new field of Revenue Strategy for hotels. He has represented most of the major brands in the space, and serves as an advisor to industry-leading organizations such as The Cornell School of Hospitality Administration (SHA), the Harrah School for Hospitality Administration at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association (HSMAI). Michael has a BA and MA from the University of Chicago, and a JD from the Boston University School of Law.

HENRY HARTEVELDT, Advisor

Henry Harteveldt is one of the travel industry’s most well-known and respected industry analysts and advisors. After nearly 12 years as Forrester Research’s travel industry analyst, Henry founded Atmosphere Research in September 2011 to provide objective and trustworthy research on emerging marketing, digital commerce, and distribution trends in the global travel industry. As an analyst, Henry has written more than 140 research reports on eCommerce, mobile, personalization, and other topics. Before becoming an analyst, Henry spent more than 15 years in marketing, planning, and distribution roles at top travel firms such as TWA, Continental Airlines, Fairmont Hotel Management Company, and GetThere. Henry is regularly quoted in media such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY, and appears on CBS, CNBC, Bloomberg, and CNN. Henry lives in San Francisco and is a graduate of the Tulane University School of Business. He actively shares his industry perspectives on Twitter (@hharteveldt).

Stowe Shoemaker, Ph.D.

Advisory board – Dr. Stowe Shoemaker is the Dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration and a Lincy Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with extensive research and consulting experience.

With a background in services marketing, pricing, revenue management, and customer loyalty programs, he has worked with leading hospitality companies such as Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, British Airways, and others, as well as with game developers. He also had a joint appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and still works with healthcare professionals to help with patient satisfaction. Dean Shoemaker has won numerous research awards and published two marketing textbooks.

Dr. Shoemaker holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.

Yasmin Lukatz

Yasmin is the Executive Director of ICON – Israel Collaboration Network, a non- profit with the mission of creating a community in SV of those who are passionate about Israeli tech and innovation and harnessing the strength of this community to support Israeli startups.

Prior to joining ICON, Yasmin was the COO of Evoz, a consumer electronics startup as well as the Special Assistant to the Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, a casino and hotel company headquartered in Las Vegas with operations in the US and Asia. Yasmin founded and served for six years as the Chairman of the Board of Israel Hayom, Israel’s leading national daily newspaper.

Yasmin holds an MBA from Stanford University and an Accounting, Economics and Law degree from Tel Aviv University.