Susan Black

Current

Senior Advisor at Bentley Associates
Management Consultant at Susan Black Associates, Inc. (Black & Wright Group)

Past

Senior Advisor - Travel Industry at Chimney Rock Capital Partners, LLC
Interim Senior Vice President (Consultant) at Women's Healthcare Forum
Chief Marketing Officer at CheapCaribbean.com

Executive Vice President, Marketing at Liberty Travel
Chairman/Founder at TravelCom (Travel Commerce Conference and Expo)
Chairman and General Manager, eTravelWorld at eMarketWorld
Group Publisher/General Manager, Official Tour Directory/Vacationpackager.com at Thomas Publishing Company
Associate Publisher/Corporate Travel Magazine at Gralla Publications

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Education

University College London, U. of London
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

Recommended

67 people have recommended Susan

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Leisure, Travel & Tourism

Websites

Susan Black’s Summary

Susan Black heads up the 8-year old strategy firm, Susan Black Associates (The Black & Wright Group). Clients include leading online travel brands, traditional travel distributors, suppliers and publishers, and travel industry start-ups. Susan is also Senior Advisor at NYC-based Bentley Associates Investment Bank. She serves on several corporate advisory boards, and was elected to ATME's 2009 Executive Committee (Association of Travel Marketing Executives) and US Travel Association's 2009 eCommerce Committee (formerly Travel Industry Association of America).

She recently served as CMO of CheapCaribbean.com, a top ranked website dedicated to Caribbean and Mexico vacations. Her previous posts include Executive Vice President, Marketing for $2 billion Liberty Travel/GOGO Worldwide Vacations; Founder, TravelCom Conference & Expo; Founder of the Travel Industry's Executive Women's Forum; Chairman of eTravelWorld; GM and Publisher of Thomas Publishing's Travel Group; and Associate Publisher of Corporate Travel Magazine.

Susan Black’s Specialties:

Identifying and Implementing Strategic Partnerships
Travel Industry M&A Advisor
Strategic Evaluations
Marketing Plan Creation
Business Start-up Strategy
Interim Senior Management
Business Development
Co-op Marketing Planning and Negotiation
Product Development/Implementation
Competitive Situation Assessment
Sales and Marketing Training
Moderator and Speaker

Susan Black’s Experience

Senior Advisor

Bentley Associates

(Privately Held; Investment Banking industry)

April 2009 — Present (4 months)

Bentley Associates' Travel & Leisure Advisory Practice knows the travel industry whether it's transactions, financing, M&A or the business end; the group is experienced and successful in executing transactions and financing as well as providing best of breed strategic advisory services. The newly combined group, including Mims Wright and Frank Sena, has a recent history of more than 35 travel industry transactions, and 62 travel sector strategic advisory engagements;

The Bentley investment banking capabilities are comparable to any major Wall Street firm, with one exception – Wall Street’s higher overhead costs restrict them to large, clients and transactions. Because of this key difference, smaller and mid-sized companies can expect superior results from Bentley.

I am focused on buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions as well as strategic advisory services. Bentley Associates is comprised of senior level investment bankers providing a full array of services to middle market and growth companies. Founded in 1990, these senior level investment bankers joined Bentley Associates over the years from major Wall Street firms. The firm's current 25 senior level investment bankers, typically with 15-25 years of experience, have executed a wide variety of transactions.
Management Consultant

Susan Black Associates, Inc. (Black & Wright Group)

(Partnership; 1-10 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

July 2001 — Present (8 years 1 month)

Strategic Consulting, including business/marketing plan & sales strategy development.
Senior Advisor - Travel Industry

Chimney Rock Capital Partners, LLC

(Investment Banking industry)

November 2007 — April 2009 (1 year 6 months)

Chimney Rock is a value added investment banking group, offering complete financial and business advisory services to middle market travel companies. My role includes:

Providing Business Advisory services to travel industry clients during strategic transactions;
Supplying Business Advisory services to private equity clients and management teams;
Supporting companies throughout mergers and acquisitions, which can include strategic company advice, identifying and introducing potential strategic partners, building the business case for mergers, identifying untapped/underdeveloped revenue streams to add value, and/or support of the post-deal integration;
Providing clients with current industry transaction intelligence through "market-watch" activity.
Interim Senior Vice President (Consultant)

Women's Healthcare Forum

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)

September 2006 — April 2008 (1 year 8 months)

Led sales and marketing strategy for Women's Healthcare Forum, a multi-million dollar start-up division of 24-year old Foundation for Better Healthcare, dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes for women.

• Developed and launched four annual live events – in less than six months -- which attracted more than 5,000 physicians for a four-city, 2-day, 36-topic CME event, including more than 100 exhibitors and sponsors.
• Generated more than $3 million in top line revenues within the first eight months of operation.
• Directed website development for www.womenshf.com, and all print and online marketing collateral material.
• Developed “look and feel” of Women’s Healthcare Forum (WHF) branding.
• Implemented business strategy, marketing plan, and website design specifications, with the aid of physician focus groups, for the December 2007 launch of www.womenshealthcareforum.com – a WHF branded Web 2.0 consumer portal.
Chief Marketing Officer

CheapCaribbean.com

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

December 2005 — April 2007 (1 year 5 months)

Led marketing strategy for a $100 million, online retail and wholesale vacation package company.

• Member of 9- person Management Team, reporting directly to the company’s owner/founder.
• Developed co-op strategy which led to the procurement of several million dollars in co-op marketing funds from hotels, tourism boards, and outside travel sources in order to build sustaining partnerships and increased marketing funds.
• Developed the tag line “Luxury for Less”, thereby establishing a brand promise for both consumers and suppliers.
• Developed "Caribbean Jim" persona to brand and differentiate CheapCaribbean.com -- added blog, and web 2.0 intitiatives to site.
• Developed CRM strategy, aimed at leveraging CheapCaribbean.com’s 52% repeat customer base.
• Developed a public relations strategy which utilized heavy “buzz”/viral marketing strategies and tactics.
Executive Vice President, Marketing

Liberty Travel

(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

May 2004 — August 2005 (1 year 4 months)

Led marketing for a $2 billion, 54-year old retail and wholesale vacation package company - Liberty Travel and GOGO Worldwide Vacations brands (LibGo Travel).

• Responsible for a $22 million advertising/marketing budget.
• Member of LibGo’s six person Executive Committee, reporting directly to the company’s owners.
• Managed 17 direct reports (vice president and director level), and oversaw an 85-person marketing department.
• Reorganized the marketing department into an integrated, cohesive group, adding four new departments: Multi-channel marketing (to facilitate implementation of marketing plans); eMarketing; Public Relations; and Business Intelligence.
• Developed and implemented strategies to integrate traditional and online distribution.
• Member of the executive development team, responsible for identifying and coordinating key contractors for Liberty Travel’s consumer site. Participated in all stages of website information architecture and creative strategy.
Chairman/Founder

TravelCom (Travel Commerce Conference and Expo)

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

June 2001 — May 2004 (3 years)

Directed the growth of TravelCom, www.travelcomexpo.com (Travel Commerce Conference and Expo) into a multi-million dollar conference/tradeshow, culminating in an August 2005 sale to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA).

• Launched and co-chaired (together with Vice President, Forrester Research) TravelCom, which attracted 1,300 attendees by providing timely and unbiased information on travel marketing and distribution strategies. Annual sponsorship/exhibitor revenue and attendee growth exceeded 20% each year.
• Created and co-chaired TravelCom’s 25-member Advisory Board comprised of senior executives from companies including: Expedia, Travelocity, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, JetBlue Airways, AOL, Southwest Airlines, Cendant Corp, Hotels.com, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Sabre, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
• Created the Travel Industry's Executive Women's Forum - an invitation-only forum for 75 SVP and "C" level executives.
Chairman and General Manager, eTravelWorld

eMarketWorld

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

November 1999 — July 2001 (1 year 9 months)

Launched and managed a profitable biannual b-to-b conference and tradeshow that explored the Internet's impact on business and leisure travel.

• Produced three eTravelWorld conferences, which each attracted 1,000 key executive attendees. Conference resulted in a 32 percent profit, 15 months after initial launch.
• Spearheaded monthly topical online education forums for 450 senior executives.
• Developed all content for conferences, including four tracks, 6 keynoters, 100 speakers and 42 sessions at each conference. Moderated 8 General and Track sessions at each eTravelWorld, on Internet/travel industry issues.
• Managed and trained a 14-person conference staff based in Richmond Va., remotely, from offices located in Park Ridge, New Jersey.
Group Publisher/General Manager, Official Tour Directory/Vacationpackager.com

Thomas Publishing Company

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Publishing industry)

January 1990 — November 1999 (9 years 11 months)

Full P&L responsibilities of a profitable publishing group.

• 1995 – 2000 Launched Vacationpackager.com, a travel content licensing service and advertising-based consumer travel web site. Developed product (four versions over five years); business model and online strategies; and sales and marketing of a tour and vacation product website.
• 1990 – 2000 Launched Official Tour Directory, a biannual business-to-business travel industry print directory. Grew revenue by an average of 15 % each year, attracted more than 200 advertisers each year, and realized an annual 40% net profit margin.
• Managed a 12-person staff, including sales, marketing, editorial and production.
• Developed, presented and implemented a business plan and budget each year to Thomas Publishing’s CEO and Board of Directors.
Associate Publisher/Corporate Travel Magazine

Gralla Publications

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Publishing industry)

March 1982 — December 1989 (7 years 10 months)

Launched monthly publication serving the business travel market. (Later sold to VNU)

Susan Black’s Education

University College London, U. of London

M.Phil , Urban Planning, Architecture , 1979 — 1981
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

1975 — 1979

Additional Information

Susan Black’s Websites:

Susan Black’s Groups:

Executive Board Member, ATME (Association of Travel Marketing Executives) www.atme.org
2009 eCommerce Committee Member, TIA (Travel Industry Association of America) www.tia.org
2009 Executive Women's Forum Chairman/Facilitator at TravelCom www.travelcomexpo.com
2009 Conference Chair/Moderator, Eye for Travel's Social Media Strategies for Travel/USA.
Executive Advisor - Travel Career Connexxions www.travelcareerconnexxions.com
Executive Advisor - iSeatz.com
Associate Member - USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association)
Member - HSMAI (Hotel Sales and Marketing Association)

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Group
Rutgers Alumni
Ancillary Revenue Travel Professionals
CXO (CEO, COO, CKO, CFO, CMO, CAO, CVO, CDO, CRO, CLO, CSO & CTO) Community
University College London Alumni
Travel 2.0: Interactive Travel Industry Professionals
Tourism 2.0
Tweeple
TravelCom
Travel & Tourism Industry Professionals Worldwide
Travel Industry Executive Womens Network
Hotel Revenue Management, General Manager, Professionals, OTA, Online Travel Agents, Travel Portals
Social Media in Travel
Friends of LinkedIn
Association of Travel Marketing Executives
Medical Tourism & Medical Travel & Global Health - Global Healthcare
PhoCusWright
Gralla Publications Network