Carl Winston

Carl Winston has over 40 years of experience in a variety of senior executive level hospitality, event and tourism industry positions in academia and the “real world.” He is the founding Director of the Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at San Diego State University. Launched in 2001, the School has earned a global reputation for its innovations, rigor, relevance and near perfect placement rate for graduates. Winston also leads the 16-campus California State University Hospitality & Tourism Alliance with thousands of students across California. Carl Winston was named one of The Top 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry by Successful Meetings in 2018 and one of the Top 500 Event Producers by BizBash in 2018. He also owns Real World Academics, a firm that conducts projects from economic impact studies to acquisition and development for companies and large companies, including Disney, Marriott and Four Seasons. RWA also provides Asset Management services to hotel owners.