Experienced Management Team
The Lodging Interactive team provides varied skill sets in design, search engine marketing, online advertising, social media marketing, copywriting, analytics, account management and technology. Our team consists of nearly 50 professionals who serve over 650 hotels, resorts, spas and restaurants worldwide.
DJ Vallauri
Founder, President and CEO
With nearly 30 years of hotel & travel marketing and technology expertise, DJ drives overall strategic direction. DJ founded Lodging Interactive in 2001 while Corporate Vice President for publicly traded Prime Hospitality Corp. where he oversaw Internet marketing for over 350 hotels.
He has also held senior marketing and technology positions with companies such as Meridien Hotels, AMR Information Systems (American Airlines), Utell International (division of Pegasus Solutions) and WizCom International (a Cendant Company).
In 2009, seeing the tremendous opportunity to further expand Lodging Interactive’s highly successful social media monitoring business, he spun off the Company’s Chatter Guard Social Media Monitoring business to form the nucleus of CoMMingle.
DJ also served on the Board of Directors of AlphaNet Hospitality Systems, Inc. a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of FreeShipping.com, which he sold in 2001 to private investors.
Richard Walsh
Vice President, Business Development
Richard directs Lodging Interactive's sales and business development activities in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
Richard’s experience in travel, hospitality and Internet techniques has evolved over the past 25 years in the industry. Richard began his business career with Procter & Gamble following graduation from Western Michigan University. His diverse sales & marketing career includes managing travel and timeshare sales call centers, managing GDS rates, inventory and content for a leading airline and launching a new GDS in North America.
One of Richard’s entrepreneurial successes involved the development of systems for online travel information, hotel per diem and hotel FEMA codes for the federal government. His travel and hospitality experience evolved from top management positions with two leading airlines, Reed International hotel marketing and publications division, President of Amadeus USA and the founder or contributor to three successful Internet travel companies. Plus, Richard spent two years assisting SECURE-RES develop an effective portfolio of services.
Christie Pasqua
CoMMingle Business Development Manager
Christie is responsible for business development activities for the Company's CoMMingle Social Media Marketing business unit.
Christie brings a unique combination of business and entertainment experience to Lodging Interactive. She brings with her a special skill set in sales, client development and support to our family. Her expertise in social networking has proven to be a great asset in understanding client needs. She holds a Bachelors of Arts from Hunter College in 2009.
Karen Verrinder
Inside Lead Generation Manager
Karen is our lead generation specialist, providing potential customers with key information on the benefits of Lodging Interactive and CoMMingle.
Prior to joining our team, Karen held various support and creative roles at a well-known Telecommunications Research Company. While there, she was a key partner in their research and communications departments, contributing to industry renowned studies, reports and newsletters. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Centenary College.
Alicia Pavignano
Director, Client Services
Alicia oversees and directs experienced client teams focused on providing a consultative, hands on approach with all clients.
Prior to joining Lodging Interactive she held senior management positions with various national media companies based in New York. She is a graduate of Hunter College, where she received her Master of Science in Education and Pace University, where she received her Bachelor of Business Administration and was awarded a four-year, full-tuition academic scholarship.
Rosella Virdo
Director, Social Media Marketing
Rosella oversees and directs the CoMMingle Social Media Marketing operating division and related departments. She is responsible for client reputation management and responses, social platform blogging and micro-blogging, report management and tracking, copy writing and overall CoMMingle office operations.
Rosella joined CoMMingle with over 25 years advertising and marketing experience in operational and management positions for various advertising agencies throughout NYC and NJ, specializing in real estate. She studied Hotel/Restaurant Management at The College of Technology of the City University of New York.
Alexandru Dan Georgescu
Chief Creative Designer
Dan provides all creative design and development direction for all our new client websites. He has over 15 years of professional experience as a graphic and interactive designer.
Over the course of his 15-year career he has worked for a number of interactive companies, where he was responsible for creating the information architecture, user interface, search engine optimization (SEO) and HTML/CSS production for a variety of websites.
Andra Chin
CoMMingle Analyst
Andra joined Lodging Interactive helping to provide social media monitoring and online reputation management services to our clients.
Andra oversees the Chatter Guard management department and reporting group.
She has over 15 years experience in technology and product development, evaluation, and benchmarking. Prior to joining Lodging Interactive she has worked at leading international companies managing strategic partnerships in the design and development of digital imaging products for diversified markets.
Jackie Saunders
Chatter Guard Manager
As a member of the Lodging Interactive team, Jackie provides social media monitoring services to our clients.
Prior to joining Lodging Interactive, Jackie held various positions in a major telecommunications company for 16 years. She brings her background in project management, budget and data analysis to our company.
Caroline Kraft
Operations & Finance Manager
Caroline oversees and directs the accounting departments for Lodging Interactive and CoMMingle. Her responsibilities include financial reporting and accounts receivables management.
Prior to joining Lodging Interactive Caroline was European/US Recruiting Manager for Booz Allen Hamilton. Caroline is a graduate of Columbia University where she received a Masters of Arts Degree.