Member Spotlight: Melissa Delbuono, Vice President of Strategy & Acquisitions, Travel Funders Network

This week’s Member Spotlight features Melissa Delbuono, vice president of strategy and acquisitions at Travel Funders Network. Based in New York City, Melissa brings more than two decades of hospitality experience spanning hotel operations, revenue strategy, asset management and wholesale distribution. She shares the leadership lessons that have shaped her career, why developing people remains her greatest measure of success and what continues to energize her about the hospitality industry.

What is the best book you have read recently?

One of the books that has stayed with me is "The Infinite Game" by Simon Sinek. It reinforced something I have believed throughout my career: Great leaders are not focused on winning today. They are focused on developing people, building organizations and creating cultures that continue to thrive long after they are gone.

That is the kind of legacy I hope to leave.

What do you love most about the industry?

What I love most is that hospitality sits at the intersection of strategy and people. One day I am analyzing market trends, revenue performance or distribution strategies. The next I am collaborating with hotel partners to solve challenges or mentoring someone on my team. Every day is different, and that is what keeps me energized.

I have spent much of my career helping hotels think differently about wholesale distribution. When it is approached strategically, it becomes so much more than another channel. It becomes a revenue strategy that creates incremental demand, protects profitability and strengthens long-term partnerships. Being part of that evolution has been incredibly rewarding.

What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?

Most people know me for revenue strategy, asset management and wholesale distribution, but what often surprises them is that I spent more than 20 years on the hotel side of the business before joining Travel Funders Network.

I have had the opportunity to experience hospitality from every angle, starting as a server early in my career and working my way through hotel operations into leadership roles, including general manager, while also leading revenue, sales and asset management. That perspective is rare on the wholesale side of our industry, and it is one of my greatest strengths.

Because I have been in the hotel’s shoes, I understand that every commercial decision affects far more than revenue. It impacts operations, staffing, guest satisfaction, ownership expectations, profitability and the team’s ability to deliver an exceptional guest experience. When I work with hotel partners, I am not just looking at a distribution strategy. I am looking at how that strategy supports the entire business and helps create long-term success.

Those experiences reinforced something I believe deeply: The best strategies are the ones that work for people. Leadership is not defined by titles or results. It is defined by how you show up when people need you most.

What is the toughest part of being in charge?

I have never believed leadership was about being in charge. It is the privilege and responsibility of helping other people rise. The hardest part is knowing that your decisions impact careers, families and futures. That is a responsibility I never take lightly.

Success is not measured by my own accomplishments. It is measured by how many people become more confident, discover their potential, earn promotions or accomplish goals they once thought were out of reach. If people leave my team stronger than when they joined it, then I have done my job.

What are your nonnegotiables when it comes to work-life balance?

My nonnegotiable when it comes to work-life balance is to be fully present wherever I am.

When I am working, my team and partners have my complete attention. When I am with family or traveling, I disconnect and enjoy those moments. I have learned that work-life balance is not about dividing every day equally. It is about being intentional with your time and giving your full attention to what matters most in that moment.

What woman inspires you right now and why?

I have been fortunate to learn from many incredible women throughout my career, but the woman who continues to inspire me every day is my mother.

She taught me that kindness and strength are not opposites. She showed me that compassion is never a weakness and that you can lead with empathy while still having lofty expectations. Her resilience, integrity and unwavering belief in treating every person with dignity shaped the leader I strive to be. Whenever I am faced with a difficult decision, I often find myself asking, “How would she manage this?” That is a lesson I will carry with me forever.

What is one industry trend you are tracking closely and why?

Artificial intelligence is the obvious answer, but what really fascinates me is how AI and predictive analytics will reshape commercial strategy. Revenue management, distribution, marketing and sales are becoming far more connected, and the companies that bring those disciplines together will have a tremendous advantage.

That said, I do not believe technology replaces hospitality. It gives us more time to do the things only people can do: build trust, solve complex problems and create memorable experiences. Technology should make us more human, not less.

What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?

One thing I look for when interviewing is curiosity. I can teach systems. I can teach processes. I cannot teach someone to genuinely want to learn. I look for people who ask thoughtful questions, embrace feedback, enjoy learning and genuinely want to understand the “why,” not just the “how.” Those are the people who continue growing long after they have mastered the job.

What is something you learned about yourself in the past year?

I have learned that I do not need to have all the answers.

Some of my best decisions have come from listening more, asking better questions and trusting the talented people around me. Leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room. It is about creating an environment where everyone can contribute their best thinking.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

The best piece of advice I have ever received is, “Always leave people better than you found them.”

It is simple advice, but it has become the way I try to live my life. You never know when one conversation, one introduction or one moment of encouragement might completely change someone’s confidence or even the direction of their career.

What values are most important to you as a leader?

Integrity comes first. After that, curiosity, accountability, compassion and humility. I want people to know they can trust me. I also want them to know I will challenge them because I believe in what they are capable of.

The best leaders do not create followers. They create more leaders.

What is the most important thing people should know about you?

The most important thing people should know about me is that I genuinely care. I care about helping people succeed, creating opportunities and doing the right thing, even when it is harder.

At the end of the day, I do not want to be remembered for my title. I want to be remembered for the people whose lives or careers were better because our paths crossed.

What is a tip you have for productively leading a hybrid team?

The No. 1 tip I have for productively leading a hybrid team is: “Don’t let communication become transactional.”

Some of the best conversations are not on the agenda. Pick up the phone. Celebrate small wins. Check in because you care, not because you need something.

People stay engaged when they feel connected, not when they are simply invited to another meeting.

Where is your favorite place you have traveled? Why?

My favorite place I have ever traveled is Italy! Yes, the food is incredible, and so is the history, but what I love most is the pace. It reminds me that life is not meant to be rushed. Some of the best memories happen when you slow down enough to enjoy where you are.

What is the top item on your bucket list?

The top item on my bucket list is to drive across the country! I have always loved road trips because unexpected moments usually become the best memories. I would love to explore places I have never been, meet new people and experience parts of the country you cannot appreciate from an airplane window.

What do you do to recharge?

Travel will always be my favorite reset button. I also love reading, spending time with family and friends and occasionally doing absolutely nothing. Ironically, my best ideas usually show up when I have stopped thinking about work.

What is your biggest accomplishment?

The accomplishment I am most proud of is not a single project or title. It is building a career where strategy, relationships and developing people have always gone hand in hand.

Professionally, I have had the opportunity to help reshape how hotels think about wholesale distribution, demonstrating that when it is approached strategically, it becomes much more than a channel. It becomes a powerful commercial strategy that drives incremental demand, protects profitability and creates long-term value for hotels and their partners.

Personally, nothing compares to seeing someone I have mentored grow into a leader or accomplish something they did not think was possible. And founding Project Save Hospitality during the pandemic reinforced a belief I will always carry with me: Leadership is not measured by titles or business results. It is measured by how you show up for people when they need you most.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

My advice to the next generation of female leaders is to stop worrying about proving yourself and focus on creating value. Stay curious and build relationships before you need them. Find mentors and, when the opportunity comes, become one.

Do not compare your beginning to someone else’s middle, and do not wait until you feel completely ready. Most growth happens when you are just a little uncomfortable.

Most importantly, remember that success is not measured by how many people work for you. It is measured by how many people succeed because you believe in them.

What gets you up in the morning?

Knowing there is another opportunity to have an impact.

Some days that means helping a hotel uncover a new opportunity. Other days it is mentoring someone on my team or simply having a conversation that gives someone a little more confidence.

Those moments are what energize me. Revenue is important, but people are what make this industry special.

What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel?

My favorite part of being a member of Women Leading Travel is, of course, the people!

Women Leading Travel reminds me why I fell in love with this industry in the first place. It is a community filled with incredibly accomplished women who are generous with their time, ideas and encouragement. I have always believed there’s room for all of us to succeed. Communities like this prove it every day.

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn to learn more.