Yamel Henriksen
Yamel Henriksen is an international hospitality executive, educator, and workforce development leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing hospitality education, professional development, and industry excellence across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, an MBA in Marketing and International Business, and is currently a PhD candidate in Economics, Management, and Tourism. Her doctoral research focuses on perceived employability in the hotel industry, with particular emphasis on microcredentials, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
She holds several internationally recognized professional certifications, including Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT), Certified Hotel Manager (CHM), Certified Hotel Industry Analyst (CHIA), and Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP). These
credentials reflect her commitment to excellence in hospitality education, leadership, and professional standards.
She has held leadership positions, including Human Resources Manager at Le Méridien Dallas and A. Director of Sales and Events at Marriott Copenhagen. Her career combines executive leadership in luxury hospitality with more than two decades of higher education experience, having taught and collaborated with leading private universities and hospitality institutions across Europe, North America, and Latin America, including SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Universidad Anáhuac–Le Cordon Bleu, Alain Ducasse Formation in Paris, and The International School of Hospitality (TISOH) in Las Vegas.
She currently serves as Regional Manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) education and training arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA).
She leads strategic academic partnerships, workforce development initiatives, and professional certification programs. She works closely with governments, higher education institutions, tourism organizations, hotel associations, restaurant associations, and employers to strengthen hospitality
talent development across the region.
Her unique combination of executive leadership, academic expertise, and international experience
enables her to bridge industry and education, supporting organizations in preparing the next generation of hospitality professionals through innovation, lifelong learning, and globally recognized professional development.
