Member Spotlights: (Alphabetical by Last Name)

Member Spotlight:  
Carolyn Barrett
Executive Director of Visit Kenner +
Executive Director of Rivertown Main Street
MSWIT Board Member/Secretary

Carolyn has built an accomplished career in the hospitality industry, holding leadership roles as Hotel Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Senior Sales Manager for an area CVB.  She now serves as Executive Director of Visit Kenner, which she helped create eight years

ago and was recently appointed by the City of Kenner as Executive Director of Rivertown Main Street, the city’s historic district.

She has twice served on the National Board of Directors for the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, where she earned the prestigious Sam Gilmer Award, and completed two terms with the Gilmer Institute of Learning. Carolyn currently serves as Immediate Past President of

the Kenner Business Association, secretary for Mid South Women in Tourism and sits on the board of the Louisiana Society of Association Executives. Her contributions have been recognized with honors including Executive of the Year, Supplier of the Year for LSAE, Meeting

Planner to Watch from Convention South Magazine and the Kidney Hero Award for her work with the Louisiana Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.

Beyond her professional achievements, Carolyn and her husband, Tunney, embrace the holiday

season by portraying Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for numerous charities, civic organizations, and

associations—bringing joy to their community year after year.  

What Carolyn likes best about being a member of MSWIT for the past 7 years are the amazing friendships she has built with her fellow MSWIT members.  It is an honor t be in an organization with such incredible, supportive ladies.

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Member Spotlight:
Peggy Benoit
Owner
True Louisiana Tours LLC 

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Peggy started working in tourism in 1988 at Oak Alley Plantation and spent over a decade there in various positions before taking a job in loan servicing at Whitney Bank. This job was short lived once she realized that tourism was her passion. 

In 1999 she began working for the Bayou Lafourche Area CVB, now known as Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. She spent 16 years there as Tourism Sales Manager and then spent 7 years at Carmel Inn & Suites as Director of Sales while also working as Director of Business Development for TripShock…a position she held for 10 years. 

Peggy started True Louisiana Tours as a sideline to her other jobs, and, after the pandemic, she decided to dedicate herself to her own company & passions. 

Peggy has served on the LTA Board and Past President of the E.D. White Historic Site, Louisiana State Museum – Thibodaux.  She joined MSWIT in 2014 and serves on the Board as Historian for MSWIT New Orleans & also serves on MSWIT Capital Region Chapter.

She and her devoted husband Linton have been married for 30 years and have two grown sons, Donnie and Roy as well as a grandson Dakoda who will be graduating high school in the spring. 

Peggy’s favorite part of being a MSWIT member is the relationships acquired. “There’s always someone I can turn to for advice on both a professional and personal level.”

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Member Spotlight:
Leslie Brewer
Sales & Marketing Director
Destrehan Plantation + Houmas House Estate & Gardens

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Leslie Brewer’s hometown just happened to be one of the most well-known international tourist destinations – New Orleans. This is where she began her tourism career, which has continued for more than 34 years.  She currently holds the position of Director of Marketing and Sales at Destrehan Plantation, Living History Museum in Destrehan, La. and Houmas House Estate and Gardens, Darrow, La.

Her strong background in group sales, operations and business development is the product of over 30 years of work in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Leslie’s past experience includes Chairperson for the Tour and Travel Development Committee for the Asheville CVB, Tour & Travel Sales Mgr. for The Biltmore, DOS for the Culinary Institute of New Orleans, Tour & Travel Sales Mgr. for Harrah’s Casino, Dir. of Operations & Sales for Longue Vue House & Gardens, GM of Grenoble House & DOS at the Park Inn Int’l. 

Leslie has served on the Louisiana Tourist Development Commission and officer/board of La. Attraction Assn., La. Travel Promotion Assn, Louisiana B & B Assn, Hospitality Education Networking Assn (formerly HSMA). She currently serves on the Boards of La. Travel Association and both MSWIT – N.O. and MSWIT Central Region. 

“As a member for over 30 years, MSWIT has always allowed me great networking opportunities as well has helped me build long lasting relationships.”

Sandra Savoye Dartus has spent her career bringing people together through the power of events, culture, and community. A passionate advocate for New Orleans and the people who shape its spirit, she specializes in creating experiences that celebrate the city while making a meaningful difference.

Today, Sandra serves as the Community Engagement and Planning Coordinator for the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s Improvisations Gala, where she builds relationships and develops partnerships that help sustain the museum’s mission. Over the years, her consulting work has supported beloved celebrations such as FestiGals, NOLA ChristmasFest, and the Louisiana Pirate Festival — always with a focus on empowerment, collaboration, and cultural authenticity.

Sandra is best known for her longtime leadership as the original Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., for the first 20 years of French Quarter Festival and led the effort to create Christmas New Orleans Style (now Holiday New Orleans Style) and Satchmo SummerFest into treasured traditions with major economic and cultural impact. She was also the founding director of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience and the Dallas City Arts Celebration, and has produced Caroling in Jackson Square for several years.

Her work has earned her numerous honors, including recognition as one of New Orleans’ “300 for 300” in the Tricentennial Tribute, the Spirit of Hospitality Lifetime Achievement Award, Ambassador of the Year for the New Orleans Chamber, and several distinctions celebrating her leadership, creativity, and service. She has even been honored with her own scholarship fund and a festival in her name — a testament to how deeply she is woven into New Orleans’ cultural fabric.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sandra is a devoted volunteer and community leader. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Historic BK House & Gardens and proudly supports organizations throughout the city that preserve history, uplift women, and nurture the tourism and hospitality workforce of the future. She is passionate about travel and her grandchildren.

At the heart of everything she does is a simple belief: when people come together with purpose and passion, great things happen — and New Orleans inspires the best of both.

Sandra became a MSWIT member when it was MidSouth Women in Travel in the 80’s when membership was a small group of mostly travel agents.  She’s watched us blossom into Women in Tourism and become 180 + members strong, encompassing virtually every segment of the industry and developing a culture of camaraderie and support that’s so rare, especially among women competitors.

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Member Spotlight: 
Christy Dillard
Event Guru
Game On Social Hub

MSWIT’s current President, Christy Dillard, has been in the business of fun for over 25 years with Game On Social Hub… (previously known as Laser Tag). She says she doesn’t sell a product, she sells an experience! 

Christy helps people host one-of-a-kind events from 5-500 guests – one was even her wedding!  She likes to say “if you think Game On Social Hub is just for kids- you’re missing out on some amazing fun. Where else can you go and the only responsibility you have is trying to NOT get shot by your friends, or which drink or food you want? Why should the kids have all the fun?”

Christy is a boy mom of 2 and has been married to hubby Ricky Dillard for 20 years…as well as her co-worker for 24 years. She is a founding member of Dance Fleur Elite Dance team which participates in parades, fundraisers and special performances. 

Christy is a Houma Indian and can dance traditional Native American dance. She also is a part of her dad’s band- The Gray Hawk Band, where she sings backup as well as plays the trumpet. This is only a little of the onion that is Christy!

Her favorite thing about being a part of MSWIT is the amazing sisterhood that is this organization. 

Laine has been at LTA for 17 years. Among many of her responsibilities, she represents LTA members at national trade shows in the group market for both domestic and international travel as well as promoting small businesses across the state at shows for the S.M.E.R.F. market! 

Laine has been married to her husband, Robert, for 30 years and has a son, Jonathan, who is now 18 years old. 

Laine’s favorite part of being a MSWIT member has been getting to know all the great women in our club and assisting them with marketing and educational opportunities LTA provides to its members!

Member Spotlight:
Dr. Yvette Green
Professor
Department Chair, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration
Director, Hospitality Research Center, University of New Orleans

Dr. Green has been at UNO for 24 years.  Before her career in academia, Dr. Green has professional experience in restaurant management, banquets and catering, and resort mananagement.   She serves as the Academic Advisor for the Louisiana Association Education Foundattion as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater New Orlenas Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.  Dr. Green is faculty advisor for the UNO Hospitality Student Association and is a member of Skal International New Orleans and International Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Association.

Dr. Green conducts industry training seminars and serves as team ambassador for the National Restaurant Association ProStart Leadership Invitational. She has published numerous articles in hospitality and tourism management journals as well as presented her research at hospitality and tourism conferences worldwide.

Dr. Green is also Yvette, Doc or Granty (if you knew her back in grad school). MSWIT has been honored to have Yvette as an active member since 2017 and we loved having her as a model in our Biennial Fashion Show.   Her favorite part about attending MSWIT meetings is the camaraderie, sisterhood, education and opportunities to connect with awesome like-minded women who are making a difference every day.

She is married to Ronald Green for 29yrs and has two great teenagers, Camille, 16, and Ronald, 13, who are attending Kenner Discovery Health and Science Academy. Yvette’s favorite hobby is to unwind with puzzle books. She is a pescatarian who loves all things chocolate and sweets. Her favorite vacations are traveling to see family or taking a trip to the beach to read a good book with her toes in the sand. Finally, she is learning all about the world of Pokémon and catching them with her kids.

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Kristyn has worked in the hospitality industry since she turned 18. She loves every part of the industry and is completing her Master’s in Hospitality Management at UNO this December after completing a bachelor’s degree at the same institution in 2018. 

Kristyn began working at Hotard Coaches 3+ years ago in the Charter Sales Department working with Conventions and DMC’s market.  In addition to custom bus transfers for delegates, she has been instrumental with the coordination of many shuttle bus services for major conventions in town.   MSWIT member Shannon Dallas says, “Kristyn is a Ray of Sunshine around the office, always polite and pleasant.”

It wasn’t long after she became a member of the Hotard team that we were so fortunate to have her become a member of MSWIT!

She is an advocate for hospitality, has room for everyone and likes to inspire more people to pursue this path.  Kristyn enjoys making people happy and can’t see herself in any other industry in the world. 

She hopes to have more time after graduating to attend more MSWIT and other tourism industry functions and make even more connections across the hospitality landscape.  When Kristyn is not working or studying, she enjoys being with her family including her “four-legged fur baby” named Spirit!

Kristyn looks forward to wherever the wind takes her… as long as it’s still hospitality related!

MSWIT member Dr. Yvette Green added these   special remarks… Kristyn is a pure delight to work with. I am so proud of the hospitality professional that she has become. Kristyn is a creative problem solver who understands the hospitality and tourism industry well. Personally, she is kind, caring, and a genuine warm-hearted person. She has an amazing personality and is very funny. We are fortunate to have Kristyn as an alum of our Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism program, a candidate for the Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a graduate assistant in our department. I am going to be so happy to see her graduate, however, I am going to miss her so much as she leaves our office to start the next chapter in her career. Kristyn rocks!!!