COVID-19’s Effect on HR

J. Bruce Tracey is a Professor of Management at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Professor Tracey has taught courses in human resources management for undergraduate, graduate, and professional audiences throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, winning several awards for his efforts. He has conducted research on a wide range of strategic and operational-level HR topics, including the roles and relevance of HR flexibility, the impact of training initiatives on individual and firm performance, employee turnover, employment law, and leadership.

Professor Tracey has presented his work at numerous regional, national, and international conferences, and his research has been published in many of the top-tier discipline and applied outlets, including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Management, Organizational Research Methods, Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, and the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law. Professor Tracey’s sponsors for research and consulting include Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Hillstone Restaurant Group, and Uno Chicago Grill, and he has been cited in the New York Times, USA Today, Fast Company, and the Orlando Sentinel, among other popular press outlets.

Joy Rothschild, a 40-year associate who started in Omni’s Management Development Program, rejoined Omni Hotels & Resorts in 1998 and is the Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Rothschild is a dynamic and accomplished human resources executive that championed many Omni initiatives that directly impact profitability as well as customer and associate retention and satisfaction. She is a recipient of the now retired Omni Hotels & Resorts’ President’s Award for developing the Omni Service Champion employee recognition program and the Power of One® employee empowerment program. She is also a Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Golden Bell Winner. Ms. Rothschild serves on the Hospitality Board of Governors for the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at University of North Texas; the Executive Board of the University of New Hampshire Paul College; the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Labor and Human Resources Committees; and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Foundation’s Board of Directors. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business. Ms. Rothschild’s post-college executive education includes Harvard Business School’s Achieving Excellence Through Service Program and the University of Michigan’s Advanced Human Resources Executive Forum. She resides in Dallas with her husband Hank and looks forward to visits from her college-aged children, Raef and Francesca.

As Senior Vice President of Human Resources – Americas, Nikki Massey oversees the people and talent functions for Hyatt’s Americas region. Now a 25-year member of the Hyatt family, Ms. Massey began her career at Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Massachusetts, where her first job was as a towel attendant in the hotel’s health club. She held several operational roles within the hotel before pursuing her passion for human resources. Ms. Massey worked in hotel HR functions across North America for several years before joining Hyatt’s Chicago headquarters in 2012. Prior to her current role, she was responsible for global learning, culture, engagement, and change management; today, she spearheads efforts to continuously evolve Hyatt’s culture as the hotel and travel industries navigate recovery in a dynamic environment. Ms. Massey holds a Bachelor’s degree in communications from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, and a professional human resources certification. She is co-chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Human Resources Committee. Ms. Massey and her husband reside in Chicago with her stepchildren and their rescue dog, Moxie.

Robert Mellwig joined sbe, headquartered in New York City, as their Chief Culture Officer (head of Human Resources) in March 2019. sbe is the world leader in lifestyle hospitality, serving as an owner/operator for some of the world’s best hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightlife, including the SLS, Katsuya, Hyde, Doheny Room, and Delano. Responsible for cultivating a global tribe of talent in concert with our partner organization Accor, Mr. Mellwig thrives on building teams through a strengths-based leadership lens.