Our Staff

Jena Gardner - jena@jgblackbook.com
President and CEO
Entrepreneur, travel industry icon and marketing expert Jena Gardner turned a lifelong passion for travel into a thriving enterprise. She founded JG Black Book of Travel in 2002, and has built it into a highly successful consulting firm that provides expert marketing, promotion and sales services to the world’s finest travel providers.

Jena credits her own life-changing journeys as the inspiration for her company as well as her altruistic efforts. She sponsors eight children globally and has co-founded the The Bodhi Tree Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting environmental and humanitarian efforts related to travel and tourism sustainability.

Her innovative approach to business has garnered her several accolades and awards, including a 2009 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s Adrian Award for being one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing”, 2009 Enterprising Women of the Year Award and Diversity Business’ “Top 100 Women Owned Businesses in the State of New York.”

She is also a sought-after industry consultant and speaker at prestigious conferences and events and a member of numerous associations including the Global Business Coalition, Women Presidents' Organization, National Association of Women Business Owners, Enterprising Women Advisory Board, Virtuoso Hotel Committee, Women Impacting Public Policy (Energy and Environmental Committee), National Center for Policy Analysis (Family Policy Center Advisory Board), Luxury Marketing Council, Cambridge Who’s Who and HSMAI.

A licensed CPA with an extensive background in luxury hotel management, Ms. Gardner spearheaded sales and marketing efforts for Ritz-Carlton and Montana’s Triple Creek Ranch before founding JG Black Book of Travel. She graduated with honors from the University of Montana's School of Business Administration.

Ed Donaldson - ed@jgblackbook.com
Executive Vice President
Ed Donaldson joined JG Black Book of Travel with more than 25 years of experience in the travel industry, having been at the helm of sales, marketing and business development divisions for a number of prestigious companies including Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, London's St. James' Club, and Ian Schrager's The Royalton hotel in New York.  Most recently, Ed served as Director of Leisure Operations for Altour International, where he was charged with repositioning and marketing the organization's leisure travel capabilities.

As Executive Vice President, Ed is responsible for continuing to build the JG Black Book of Travel Collection as well as the firm's new electronic distribution channel, which enables participating partners to easily and cost-effectively manage inventory, rates, seasonablity and revenue streams as it applies to the electronic channels.  

Cathy Courtney - cathy@jgblackbook.com
Vice President, Communications and Branding
Cathy Courtney brought years of marketing and branding experience from a successful career in magazine publishing to JG Black Book of Travel. Most recently, Cathy served as the Promotion Director at American Express Publishing’s Travel + Leisure magazine where she was responsible for the publication’s brand messaging and key marketing initiatives. Prior to American Express, Cathy worked for G+J USA Publishing in the marketing and promotions departments of several national publications including Inc., Fast Company, and Family Circle magazines.

Cathy is responsible for all communications and branding for the JG Black Book of Travel Collection including the award-winning Annual Directory, extensive email blast program, website, calendar and all collateral, presentations and advertising.

Allisson Griesedieck - allisson@jgblackbook.com
Vice President, Marketing and Media Relations
Allisson joined JG Black Book of Travel with years of sales and marketing experience from a successful career in magazine publishing. At Departures, the leading luxury lifestyle magazine, she was a senior account manager. Allisson served in the same capacity at Travel + Leisure magazine, where she represented T+L, T+L Family, Travel + Romance, and six international editions of T+L. Allisson is a member of HSMAI, the Luxury Marketing Council and Women in Communications.

Allisson manages media relations for the JG Black Book of Travel brand and collection. In addition, Allisson develops partnerships and strategic alliances that support and enhance the marketing strategies of JG Black Book and its collection members.

Amy Mencl - amy@jgblackbook.com
Director of Industry Relations
Following her highly successful stint as the Director of the VIP Desk, Amy Mencl was tapped to serve as a Director of Industry Relations.

Amy's experience prior to joining JG Black Book of Travel provided her with a comprehensive knowledge of both sides of the hospitality industry, serving as a sales trainer for Hyatt Corporation and handling event management and relationship marketing for an event production company in Phoenix.

Vanessa Giovannelli - vanessa@jgblackbook.com
Director of Industry Relations
Vanessa Giovannelli brought a broad background in travel, hospitality, and luxury goods to JG Black Book of Travel. She was no stranger to developing new territories, having recently been responsible for establishing and managing a U.S. office for Lungarno Hotel’s five luxury boutique hotels and two villas. Throughout her eight years with the Salvatore Ferragamo Group she served in a variety of sales, marketing, and PR roles in the Americas and Canada and developed a strong track record for building market share.

In her time with JG Black Book of Travel Vanessa has had great success in developing the Latin American markets as the Director of Industry Relations for this region.

Julie Skrei - julie@jgblackbook.com
Director of Industry Relations
Julie Skrei brought strong marketing skills and a solid decade of experience in sales to her position as the Director of Industry Relations for JG Black Book of Travel. Julie's experience in the high-end leisure travel market included five years as director of leisure sales for Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Most recently, Julie had served as senior travel industry sales manager with Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa and Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.

Julie has successfully represented the JG Black Book of Travel Collection as the Director of Industry Relations for both the West Coast and South Central territory.

Jennifer Virgilio - jennifer@jgblackbook.com
Director, European Operations
A highly-regarded travel industry professional, Jennifer brings a wealth of hospitality and international sales experience to her position as Director of European Operations. Jennifer began her career in travel with American Airlines, where she worked in the New York sales department for ten years. Jennifer moved into hotel sales as Sales Manager, then later Associate Director of Sales, for La Samanna where she was responsible for the U.S. market as well as U.K., France and Russia. Impressed by her success at La Samanna, Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises tapped her to be their Director of National Sales. Most recently, Jennifer was with Pineapple Marketing in London, managing the opening of their U.S. office while working closely with Campbell Gray Hotels. In her current role, Jennifer will continue to develop the European market for JG Black Book of Travel and promote the JG Black Book Collection to an international audience.

Krysta Hermosillo - krysta@jgblackbook.com 
Industry Relations Support Representative
Krysta Hermosillo's background in customer service, office management and Public Relations made her a natural choice to join the Industry Relations team at JG Black Book of Travel.  Prior to joining our firm, Krysta worked at Hospice of the Valley, the largest non-profit hospice in the U.S. During her 11 years at the organization, she was responsible for running the Thrift Store, which she helped found, as well as serving as a PR/Fund Development Coordinator. As the Industry Relations Support Representative, Krysta uses her strong customer relations skills and thorough knowledge of JG Black Book of Travel's collection to provide assistance with inquiries and fulfill information requests from agents and consumers alike.

Emily Westaby - emily@jgblackbook.com
Communications and Branding Associate and Manager of Industry Relations
Emily Westaby joined the firm upon completing her International Relations degree at Grand Valley State University. During her studies, Emily built a strong background in branding, promotions and marketing while working for Clear Channel Radio, Allied Advertising, GD Pros and Encore Nationwide. Emily's passion for languages and cultures, sparked by a year-long internship in Berlin on a Congressional scholarship, makes her a natural fit for JG Black Book of Travel.

In her position as Communications and Branding Associate and Manager of Industry Relations, Emily coordinates all email marketing, is responsible for sales and marketing reports and manages the Collection's social networking efforts. In addition, she has been tapped to assist the Industry Relations team.

Support Staff

• Ceil Rapalas, Accounting – ceil@jgblackbook.com
• Andrew Martell, Associate of Special Projects & CSR – andrew@jgblackbook.com
• Greg Santulli, Sales and Industry Relations Assistant – nyc@jgblackbook.com
• Philip Churchill, Communications and Branding Assistant
• Tallin Ouzounian, Public Relations Assistant