Leigh Silkunas
Leigh Silkunas is a seasoned digital marketing strategist and founder of 1AX Consulting, a boutique agency specializing in driving revenue for independent luxury and boutique hotels. With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Leigh combines her expertise in revenue management, brand strategy, and digital marketing to help hotel clients navigate complex marketing challenges. She is known for her hands-on leadership style, mentoring team members by example, and fostering a culture of honesty, kindness, and direct communication.
Leigh began her career in New York City, where she trained in revenue management with Starwood and transitioned into digital marketing roles with boutique hotel companies including Kimpton and Commune Hotels + Resorts. She also contributed to the launch of Sonder during its rebrand from Flatbook and later scaled her freelance work into a full-service agency, building a team of seven full-time staff. Throughout her career, she has focused on integrating market research, revenue insights, and digital strategy to deliver measurable results for hospitality clients.
A proud Penn State alumna with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, Leigh also completed professional training through HSMAI certifications and continuing education in digital marketing at NYU. She balances her deep professional expertise with creative ventures, most notably founding The Real Hotels, a Webby Award-winning travel website spotlighting hotels featured on the Real Housewives TV franchise. Leigh credits mentors Sarita Mallinger and Steve Rubin for shaping her approach, and she continues to champion mentorship, innovation, and thoughtful leadership in the hospitality marketing industry.
• Certified Hotel Digital Marketer
• Certified Revenue Management Executive
• Cornell University
• Penn State University- B.S.
• Hotel Management 30 under 30
• Online Marketing Excellence
• Emerging Professional of the Year
• Starwood Hotels and Resorts Scholarship Recipient
• Webby
• Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International
• 826 Valencia
• Dress for Success Worldwide
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being surrounded by amazing people—mentors, colleagues, and friends—who offer guidance, support, and encouragement whenever I need it.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to always be aware of my blind spots.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to raise your hand and say yes to every opportunity—you won’t know what you enjoy or excel at until you try it, and experience comes from stepping into new challenges.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I face are scaling from a solo consultant to a fully staffed agency, including hiring, training, and recruiting. Industry-wide, we’re navigating macroeconomic and political headwinds, climate change impacts on travel, and evolving consumer behaviors, especially shifts in domestic and luxury travel.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me in work and life are kindness, curiosity, and maintaining a positive, “glass-half-full” perspective. Outside of work, I love reading, cooking, crafting, working out, and hunting for treasures while second-hand shopping—and I’ve even completed three marathons!