Presenting the 2026 Smart Women in Meetings Award Winners

February 28, 2026

Meet the leaders building a legendary hospitality community

The meetings and events community pulses with remarkable leaders—women whose impact reaches far beyond ballrooms and boardrooms. This year’s Smart Women in Meetings Award nominations were nothing short of inspiring: stories of resilience, creativity, mentorship and vision that reminded us just how much brilliance fuels the production of live events.

Our founder, Marin Bright, believed in the transformative power of recognition—that when we celebrate excellence, we spark more of it. Eleven years ago, she noticed something missing: no one was truly shining a spotlight on the women shaping hospitality with heart, purpose and courage. So she launched the Smart Women in Meetings Awards to honor those extraordinary stories and the leaders behind them.

What began as a simple act of respect has grown into a movement more than 1,000 women strong. During Women’s History Month and all year long, we are grateful for the leaders who grace the following pages.

Rising Stars stepping into their power

Stellar Performers working behind the scenes to nurture meeting magic

Industry Leaders creating space for the transformative power of gathering

Entrepreneurs flexing their Event Boss muscles

Innovators inventing solutions that weren’t in the world before

Visionaries bringing us all into a better future

Hall of Fame honorees represent the role models we need right now

This year, we received a record number of nominations, each one a testament to how deeply these awards resonate. Narrowing the field was no easy task. The leaders featured here shared the three words that describe their hospitality career momentum, along with their powerful lessons they’ve learned along the way. You can read their entire story, including their biggest wins and how they are lifting up everyone around them at the link below.

We hope their stories inspire you as much as they inspired us—and serve as both a celebration and a roadmap for what’s possible.

We can’t wait to applaud the 2026 winners in person along with the rest of the leadership community at Smart Woman Summit and Smart Women in Meetings Awards Gala Aug. 19–20 at JW Marriott Las Vegas, where we will come together to toast their achievements and the incredible legacy they are leaving.

Congratulations to all of our honorees and thank you for all you do to create a welcoming future.

— The Smart Meetings Team