DCI Promotes Vanessa Gonzalez-Hernandez to Director of Travel Trade

Development Counsellors International (DCI) is proud to share the news that Vanessa Gonzalez-Hernandez has been promoted to the role of Director of Travel Trade.

She will lead the agency’s travel trade division as it expands beyond the United States and Canada to Mexico, and further into the hospitality space.

For those who don’t know her already, Vanessa joined DCI in November 2021 as an account manager, rising to the role of account director in 2023. She has been a fixture at travel trade events like Virtuoso and ILTM Americas. 

Vanessa joined DCI in November 2021 as an account manager, rising to the role of account director in 2023. She has been instrumental in developing strategic trade marketing programs, forging B2B partnerships with industry leaders from various OTAs, airlines, consortia, tour operators, travel agencies, and GDSs, such as Virtuoso, Internova, Hopper, Northstar, and United Airlines. Vanessa has been a prominent presence at key travel trade events, including ILTM, GTM, Signature Conference, Virtuoso Travel Week, and WTM.

Her expertise in designing trade programs that include specialist program development, training series, trade show representation, roadshows, and sales missions has significantly benefited clients like Madrid Turismo, Sernatur Chile, VISIT FLORIDA, and Visit Monaco. Vanessa’s efforts have led to increased distribution partnerships with tour operators, host agencies, and OTAs. Her innovative B2B2C campaigns with major platforms like Delta Vacations have driven direct bookings, showcasing her ability to deliver impactful results.

Vanessa’s dedication to innovating DCI’s approach to travel trade marketing has propelled her to the role of director where she will continue creating strategies that benefit destinations and their partners. As a native Spanish speaker, she is growing DCI’s presence by expanding travel trade services in Mexico to represent the agency’s international clients in this market alongside existing efforts in Canada and the U.S.

As director, she will also lead DCI’s efforts to expand further into the hospitality sector, providing trade representation services for hotels, tour operators, and DMCs. 

Born in Lima, Peru, Vanessa grew up in the tourism industry and applied her entrepreneurial mindset to DCI’s client list. She is passionate about ensuring tourism has positive impacts on local communities and is committed to continuing that as the travel trade division’s director.

“I am excited to step into this new position and to face new challenges, but I’m also honored because my appointment helps to increase representation of Latinas in leadership roles. As both a Latina and an immigrant in the United States, I am proud to represent people like me in the travel industry,” Vanessa said.

DCI’s President of Tourism, Karyl Leigh Barnes, said, “Vanessa has proven time and again what it means to be a leader. She prioritizes her clients needs but always meets those of her colleagues too. I am confident in her vision and eager to see what she will do next for DCI’s travel trade marketing division.”

Interested in learning more about DCI’s travel trade division? Get in touch with Vanessa Gonzalez-Hernandez at vanessa.gonzalez-hernandez@aboutdci.com to connect with the agency’s new Director of Travel Trade to see how we can work together.