JWU

Catherine F Davin (she/her)

Associate Professor, College Chair College of Hospitality & Business Department of Hospitality Providence

Katie.Davin@jwu.edu

Media Request

Biography

Katie Davin fell in love with hospitality when she was very young, helping her parents entertain guests. After getting some real experience working for a caterer when she was a teenager, Davin decided to pursue a B.S. in Hotel Administration. During her college years, she was a pastry chef at the on-campus hotel, and she worked in private club management during the summers.

After graduating from Cornell University, Davin worked for Marriott International in catering services and then group sales.

While helping to train several new colleagues, she realized that she had a skill for training and education, so she returned to Cornell and earned a master of science degree so that she would be qualified to teach. It was the right decision, as Davin loves helping students master their skills and knowledge.

Davin stays connected to the hospitality industry through her service on the Sales Advisory Board for Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

Education

MS, Cornell University
Hotel Administration

BS, Cornell University
Hotel Administration

Certified in Hospitality Business Acumen
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International

Certified Digital Marketing Professional
American Marketing Association and Digital Marketing Institute

Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA)
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

Certified Hotel Sales Leader
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International

Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE)
American Hotel & Lodging Association

Game Changer
Johnson & Wales University Athletics

Sales Educator of the Year
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International – Americas

“Google can’t do everything. This Cleveland concierge is proving why..” Davin, C. (August 11, 2026)
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/08/google-cant-do-everything-this-cleveland-concierge-is-proving-why.html

“”We can keep a secret out here’: What would it take for Taylor Swift’s wedding to happen in Rhode Island?”.” Davin, C. (September 8, 2025)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/

“Checking In with Katie Davin.” Davin, C. (October 3, 2024)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hwp-hospitable-w-nick-dean-s4-e3-checking-in-w-katie-davin/id1625789114?i=1000671689768

“Consumer Alert: Help with Travel Refunds.” Davin, C. (July 17, 2020)
https://turnto10.com/news/local/consumer-alert-help-with-travel-refunds

“Hotel university leaders talk massive change since COVID 19 shutdown.” Davin, C. (April 29, 2020)
https://novacancynews.com/

“When your home is the home for the holidays.” Davin, C. (December 2, 2017)
https://www.997wpro.com/

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International

Davin, C. & Muety, S. (May 5, 2026). Building a commercial glossary GMs will actually use. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
HSMAI Insights.
https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/building-a-commercial-glossary-gms-will-actually-use/

Davin, C. (January (1st Quarter/Winter) 13, 2025). “What do you mean I have to share a bed with my wife?”: Managing an angry group of hotel guests. (Case).
Sage Business Cases.
https://sk-sagepub-com.jwupvdz.idm.oclc.org/cases/what-do-you-mean-have-share-bed-wife-managing-group-hotel-guests

Davin, C. (2024). The Hotel Sales Leadership Playbook: Winning Strategies for Success. (Textbook).
HSMAI Academy, 1.

Davin, C. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 2, 2024). How are you engaging your sales team?. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
HSMAI Insights, Republished on Hotel News 7-8-2024 https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article132235.html.
https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/how-are-you-engaging-your-sales-team/

Davin, C. (January (1st Quarter/Winter), 2024). You Ruined My Daughter’s Wedding”: Post-purchase Dissatisfaction with an Intangible Product. (Case).
Sage Business Cases.
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsk.sagepub.com%2Fcases%2Fyou-ruined-daughters-wedding-purchase-dissatisfaction-product&data=05%7C02%7CKatie.Davin%40jwu.edu%7C917599b0dacf466171fb08dc265fca68%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C638427440497226308%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGNCkY0w7GzKy9jB77M0yDF9wcyXMhpfk%2B8KM3g9BtM%3D&reserved=0

Davin, C. (November 15, 2023). Hospitality Icon Roger Dow Offers Advice to Students. (Newsletter).
Johnson & Wales University News.
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2023/11/2023-hospitality-summit.html

Davin, C. (February 17, 2023). Seven Ways to Improve Sales Efficiency. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Insights.
https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/seven-ways-to-improve-sales-efficiency/

Davin, C. (January (1st Quarter/Winter) 12, 2023). What will travel look like in 2023?. (Newsletter).
JWU News.
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2023/01/travel-predictions-2023.html

Davin, C. (May 27, 2022). How to communicate with customers in a changing environment. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Insights.
https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/how-to-communicate-with-customers-in-a-changing-environment/

Davin, C. (April (2nd Quarter/Spring), 2022). Flexibility, Choice, & Control: What Options Are You Giving Your Guests?. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Hotel Business Review.
https://www.hotelexecutive.com/business_review/7236/flexibility-choice-control-what-options-are-you-giving-your-guests

Davin, C. (December 10, 2021). Innovation and Optimism at the 2021 Hospitality Summit. (Newsletter).
JWU News.
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2021/12/2021-hospitality-summit.html

Davin, C. & Zacchilli, P. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 28, 2021). Best Personality Types for the Hospitality Industry. (Newsletter).
JWU News.
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2021/07/best-personality-hospitality.html

Davin, C. (May 4, 2021). Higher Expectations Await Hotel Managers. (Newspaper Article).
GoLocalProv.
https://www.golocalprov.com/business/higher-expectations-await-hotel-managers-davin

Davin, C. (April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 25, 2021). Guest Service in the 2020s and Beyond: The New Moments of Truth. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Hotel Executive.
https://www.hotelexecutive.com/feature_focus/6940/guest-service-in-the-2020s-and-beyond-the-new-moments-of-truth

Davin, C. (March 29, 2021). 6 Reasons to Pursue a Career in the Hospitality Industry. (Newsletter).
JWU News.
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2021/03/why-hospitality-careers.html

Davin, C. (February, 2021). How to attract future hospitality talent. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
HSMAI Insights.
https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/how-to-attract-future-hospitality-talent/

Post-Commencement Faculty Programming, “Interpreting and Implementing JWU’s Scholarship Standard,” Johnson & Wales University. (May 13, 2025).

University Scholarship & Best Practices Expo, “Interpreting and implementing JWU’s New Scholarship Standard,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (February 14, 2025).

Hospitality Summit, “Leveraging the Power of AI to Enhance Careers and the Guest Experience,” Johnson & Wales University College of Hospitality Management, Providence, RI. (October 9, 2024).

University Scholarship and Best Practices Expo, ““You Ruined My Daughter’s Wedding”: Post-purchase Dissatisfaction Case Study,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April 12, 2024).

National Fall Leadership Conference, “Pitch Perfect: Making the Sale in Hospitality,” Future Business Leaders of America, Providence, RI, United States. (November 10, 2023).

National Fall Leadership Conference, “Pitch Perfect: Making the Sale in Hospitality,” Future Business Leaders of America, Providence, RI, United States. (November 10, 2023).

HSMAI Recovery Connections, “Leverage STRENGTHS, Not Skills, to Drive Results from Your Team,” Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. (October 14, 2020).

Expertise

convention sales and services; hospitality marketing; hospitality trends; hotel trends; travel trends