Gizem Kilic, PhD, leads research and data analytics at the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), where she oversees projects that inform policy, advocacy, and strategy for the hotel industry. Her work covers economic impact, industry performance, tax policy, workforce , sustainability, and travel trends.
She earned her PhD from Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, where she specialized in food policy and hotel administration. Before graduate school, she was a Corporate Leadership Trainee with Hyatt EMEA and held supervisory roles in food and beverage. She also worked with leading hospitality brands including W Hotels, Four Seasons, and Kempinski in Istanbul.