Like most industries, hospitality took a hit during the economic downturn, but the Arizona travel industry started to recover in 2010 and pumped $18.3 billion in direct travel spending into Arizona’s economy in 2011.

Helping fuel that economic engine is the Arizona chapter of the the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Az Business is profiling some of those HSMAI members who are driving Arizona’s economy.

Tiffany Nelson
Senior business development director
TPC Scottsdale/PGA Tour

What attracted you to the hospitality industry? “Golf is my passion and to be able to do what you love every day, I don’t ever feel like it’s work.  My office is a golf course — it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Biggest challenge: “The economy. When the economy is down, people don’t travel, which hurts our industry,but when it’s up, the industry thrives.  It’s a double edge sword being tied so directly to the economy.”

Greatest accomplishment: “Being selected amongst my peers as the hospitality sales and marketing person of the year.”