Industry Hospitality Veteran Thomas McCarthy Dies at 90

McLean, Virginia - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has revealed the passing of their past President, Thomas Tracey McCarthy, Jr, on January 20, 2023.

Thomas had a long and illustrious career in all phases of hotel marketing. After graduating from Villanova University, he started his career as a room clerk at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, joining Hilton Hotels two years later. He was a sales representative at Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria, a sales manager of the Beverly Hilton and director of sales at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C, eventually becoming a member of the Waldorf Astoria Distinguished Alumni. He then joined Marriott Hotels as national sales manager and was later promoted to vice president of advertising and public relations.

In 1976, Thomas left Marriott to start his own hotel marketing consulting company, Tom McCarthy Associates. In addition to his consulting business, he co-founded the Hotel Professional Education Series, which presented hotel education seminars throughout the United States and Europe. In 1980, Thomas became the international president of HSMAI and went on to become a member of their Past Presidents’ Council, receiving their highest honor, induction into their Hall of Fame, in 1993. Thomas was widely recognized for his monthly marketing columns in Hotel & Resort Industry magazine and Lodging Hospitality magazine, which he wrote for twenty years.

Tom was a tireless advocate for hotel sales professionals and the discipline of sales. He trained, coached, and mentored thousands of industry professionals over the years and had even a greater reach through his twenty years of columns in leading hotel trade magazines. Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI

Born March 23, 1932, Thomas is predeceased by his wife, Mary Catherine (Wilhelm) McCarthy and his son, Thomas Tracey McCarthy III. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the HSMAI Foundation at www.hsmaifoundation.org.