SPEAKERS

Assistant Professor, Suzanne Markham Bagnera, Ph.D., CHA, CED, brings more than 23 years of higher education experience and more than 25 years of hands-on industry experience in the hospitality sphere to her leadership role in the #1 ranked Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. In her exciting role, Suzanne serves as an expert for the lodging curriculum, bringing her extensive knowledge to the forefront as she teaches lodging-related classes.

Suzanne is at the forefront of innovation with the creation of the first-of-its-kind executive education course at FIU, Advanced Hospitality Technology: Integrating AI and Machine Learning, co-taught with Dale Gomez, which equips industry leaders with the skills to harness cutting-edge technologies in transforming hospitality operations and guest experiences.

Additionally, Suzanne is the Program Director of Hospitality Executive Education, as she contributes to the implementation of non-credit-bearing courses and continuing education initiatives in collaboration with industry partners. She has developed educational programs for industry icons, such as Adam Tihany (Hospitality Design Expert).

With a rich background in the hotel industry, specifically with IHG brands, Suzanne is not only an academic powerhouse but also the Executive Producer and Co-Host of the hospitality industry's #1 hospitality podcast, No Vacancy News, spearheaded by the Voice of Hospitality, Glenn Haussman. In 2023, the podcast received the Industry Recognition Award by ICHRIE. The podcast continues to earn #1 placement for hospitality podcasts, by the International Hospitality Institute and #1 on FeedSpot. Suzanne serves as Director and Producer of [CLIC] Connect, a top-thirty hospitality podcast hosted by Craig Sullivan, where she leads production strategy and guest curation to expand the show’s industry impact. She also serves as the segment producer for the highly ratedtop-ten Friday Night Audit podcast, working alongside Glenn Haussman and Craig Sullivan.

Before her Florida adventure, Suzanne held the position of Undergraduate Programs Chair in the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University. There, she seamlessly coordinated faculty efforts for the undergraduate program, crafted each semester's schedule, and shared her wealth of knowledge by teaching both graduate and undergraduate classes. Suzanne has also made impactful contributions to educational institutions in the northeast, including Johnson & Wales University (Providence campus), Fisher College, Mount Ida College, Bunker Hill Community College, and Indian River State College in Florida.

In 2020, Suzanne founded the Hospitality Leadership Academy, where she serves as Managing Partner. HLA seeks to offer customized training and management services for businesses seeking to improve their customer service experience, dazzle customers, and develop talented employees.

She is the co-author of the textbook Human Resource Management in Hospitality Cases, published by Routledge. Suzanne recently authored seven chapters in the new edition of the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program textbook by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Additionally, she has co-written the Organizing Staff chapter in the Operations Management in the Hospitality Industry textbook. She has also authored numerous journal articles contributing to the gaps in COVID-19, customer service, and user-generated content.

Suzanne started in the hospitality industry working at Louie’s Shore Restaurant in New York, where on-scene filming for Meet the Parents occurred. She has held the position of General Manager at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Staybridge Suites, and Holiday Inn Express. Suzanne has worked in each of the hotel department operations positions (e.g. Guest Services, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, Revenue Management).

Suzanne earned her Ph.D. in Hospitality Management from Iowa State University, showcasing her commitment to advancing her field. Her MBA and undergraduate degrees were obtained at Johnson & Wales University, grounding her in a solid foundation of hospitality education. She has earned both her Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Certified Event Designer (CED) designations.

Between 2021 and 2026, Suzanne was consistently recognized by the International Hospitality Institute for her influence in the field, earning honors such as the 25, 30, and 50 Most Influential Educators in Hospitality, the 100 Most Powerful People in USA Hospitality (2022), Top 50 Global Social Media Influencers in Hospitality (2023–2026), Top 100 Social Media Influencers and Digital Thought Leaders (2026) and the 50 Most Inspirational People in Global Travel/Hospitality (2024).
Suzanne is a sought-after speaker who has delivered impactful presentations at prestigious industry events, including HITEC, the AHLA Hospitality Show, the Experiential Marketing Conference, [CLIC]8, IMEX, AI305, and the ICHRIE Annual Conference. Whether as a panelist, moderator, or keynote speaker, she brings expertise, insight, and a dynamic presence to each engagement, making her a valuable asset for any conference or event looking to inspire and educate audiences on the future of hospitality and innovation.

Suzanne can be reached at sbagnera@fiu.edu to explore your learning needs.