Her Story
About Tori
My career in the hospitality and meetings industry spans 25 years, beginning with 9 years on the hotel side before I transitioned into meeting and event planning in 2001 after 9-11. By 2008, I had specialized further, moving from meeting planner to sourcing manager, where I found my true expertise in contract negotiations. Today, as a travel account manager and senior sourcing manager for a third-party meeting company, I serve as the point of escalation between my sourcing team and leadership. My daily responsibilities are varied and dynamic. I interact with clients daily, negotiating their hotel contracts and securing meeting space for their upcoming events. I've been working in the Cvent technology tool since 2009, and I leverage that deep experience to provide strategic thinking and visionary planning for how we move forward in the current state of the economy. In my previous roles, I've implemented Cvent from a global perspective on other client accounts. About 50% of my time is dedicated to sourcing and negotiating contracts, while the other portion involves project work. Currently, I'm involved in sustainability projects and AI initiatives, always thinking 2-3 years ahead about what the future might look like for us in the industry. I'm also deeply committed to mentoring, serving as part of the mentoring program where I train new staff coming onto the team and provide Cvent training as well.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tori
01What do you attribute your success to?
What I attribute my success to is very personal. I remember telling my father when he was checking in with me before he passed away for him not to worry about me, that I would make something in my life and I would be able to stand on my own two feet. So it's just a determination for me to succeed and, you know, make my parents proud, even though they didn't witness anything. I lost both my parents before I was [AGE] to cancer, so that drive to prove to them that I could make it has been what pushes me forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was, what's your brand? How are you going to build your brand? What are you going to be known for? At the time, many years ago, I was like, why do they care? What do you mean, what's my brand? What's my brand? I'm Tori Thomsen. But that question really stuck with me and shaped how I think about my professional identity and what I want to be known for in my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to accept change and don't be afraid of change. And to network. Keep those connections with people. The industry is constantly evolving, and being open to change while maintaining strong professional relationships is key to success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges in the industry right now coincide with the current state of affairs that's coming on. We're dealing with flexibility and availability with hotels, like having space for these meetings. And then there's price and budget considerations. So those are the three main things that stand out: the political and economic climate, the availability of meeting space, and managing costs within budget constraints.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are transparency, honesty, and flexibility. These principles guide how I work with my team, interact with clients, and navigate both my professional and personal life.
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