Risë Spinelli

Member Spotlight: 

Risë Spinelli
Sales Manager
Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome

Risë Spinelli is the Sales Manager for the Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome, a role she assumed in 2024, bringing her career full circle back to IHG/Holiday Inn brands where she first began over 30 years ago in Orlando, Florida. Although she grew up near (and worked for) Walt Disney World Resort, she never truly felt at home there. It wasn’t until she first visited Louisiana that she found a place she deeply connected with. She has now lived in Louisiana for over 18 years and embraces the culture, traditions, history, and vibrancy of New Orleans.

Risë began her hospitality career in housekeeping and steadily advanced through roles including Front Desk, Night Audit, Accounting, Reservations, Revenue Management, Front Office Management, and ultimately General Manager and Regional Manager positions. Over her 30+ years in the industry, she has worked with major brands such as IHG, Hilton, Choice, and Marriott. She spent over 12 years as a hands-on General Manager before unexpectedly transitioning into sales in 2021 at the Marriott Metairie at Lakeway. Initially hesitant about sales due to past operational challenges, she found that her operations background helped her become a more collaborative and effective Sales Manager.

A lifelong learner, Risë has consistently pursued education alongside her career. She earned her Undergraduate Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management in 2013, followed by a Master’s Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of New Orleans. As the first in her immediate family to graduate high school and college, she takes great pride in her academic achievements and aspires to become a part-time Adjunct Professor to help mentor future hospitality professionals – while keeping her “day job!”.  

Among her many recognitions, Risë was named Jefferson Parish Tourism Ambassador of the Year in 2023 during National Travel and Tourism Week. She is also an Ambassador for the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and most recently for MSWIT!  She remains active in community and industry events, frequently promoting Louisiana and New Orleans at conventions such as the American Bus Association Marketplace.  She loves the supportive connections made in MSWIT and is a happy advocate of MSWIT since her Professor, Dr. Green, invited her to join!

In her free time, Risë enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and their Catahoula Cur, Rougarou, at their home on the Westbank. She also enjoys reading her never ending “To Be Read” pile and values her close-knit family, which includes her husband, their dog, and her older brother in Orlando.