Solimar’s team brings together tourism industry leaders and technical specialists with deep field experience in destinations around the world. Because we work exclusively in tourism, our clients benefit from a focused, multidisciplinary team with expertise in destination stewardship, hospitality, strategic planning, destination marketing, product development, and conservation.
Solimar Leadership
Chris Seek
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Seek is the founder and CEO of Solimar International, where he leads the company’s global strategy and helps destinations use tourism to support conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and community wellbeing. Based in Washington, DC, Chris manages Solimar’s team of sustainable tourism professionals working across the globe and leads business development, strategic partnerships, and client engagement. Under his leadership, Solimar has supported tourism development in more than 90 countries and delivered projects for clients including the Colorado Tourism Office, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, National Geographic, the World Bank, UNESCO, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the World Wildlife Fund and many more.
With more than 25 years of experience in sustainable tourism, Chris brings expertise in destination planning, product development, branding and marketing, public-private partnerships, and enterprise development. His area of expertise is using the tourism industry as a force for good, facilitating a shared vision for sustainable tourism and inspiring public-private partnerships and catalyzing investments in the tourism industry.
Chris is also an adjunct professor in the marketing department at George Washington University’s School of Business, where he teaches Marketing Sustainability and Destination Investment and Finance through the GW International Institute of Tourism Studies’ Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management. He also owns the Estate at Meander in Virginia, giving him direct experience as a hospitality entrepreneur. Prior to tourism, Chris worked in marketing for Fortune 500 clients including Heineken, Sony, Perrier, and GE. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wake Forest University and an MBA from American University with concentrations in Marketing and Sustainable Destination Management.
Natalie Sellier
Chief Operating Officer
Natalie Sellier brings over twenty years of experience in the tourism industry and manages Solimar’s internal operations, including contracting, compliance, and financial management, while also supporting business development and the implementation of technical programs. Since joining Solimar in 2007, Natalie has combined her business expertise with a passion for travel to strengthen small tourism enterprises and destination management organizations through strategic business planning, public-private partnerships, and market linkages. She has played a hands-on role in the design and execution of more than 100 technical programs worldwide and is highly skilled in navigating the complexities of federal and donor contracting as well as tourism value chains, enterprise development, and destination stewardship. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from James Madison University and an MBA from The George Washington University with a degree focus in sustainable destination management.
Jim Phillips
Principal
Jim Phillips has 35 years of experience in international tourism consulting, including strategic planning for tourism development, small business and micro-enterprise development, hotel and tourism-related investment promotion, marketing and promotion, feasibility studies and economic impact analyzes. Prior to Solimar, Jim worked for Arthur Andersen LLP and Arthur Consulting Group International, completing assignments in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Russia, and the Middle East. Jim also served as Director of Tourism Development Programs for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean, where he conducted programs and events for more than 30 countries in the LA/C region. Programs included hotel investment missions and conferences, investment promotion strategy development, tourism planning, and product development and assessment missions. Work at the Commerce Department also included providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses to establish and operate a range of tourism and export-oriented enterprises.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in international business from the American Graduate School of International Management, Thunderbird campus.
Catherine (Cat) Hawkins
Principal
Cat Hawkins has 20+ years of hospitality sales, marketing, and revenue strategy experience across Washington DC, Chicago, and national markets. Former senior sales and marketing leader at IHG, Sonesta Hotels, Marriott International, and Starwood/Westin properties.
In DC, Catherine served on the opening team for the Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, where she led pre-opening sales efforts for the hotel, restaurant, and event spaces, exceeding group sales targets by 110% and first-year team goals by 118%. As Director of Sales & Marketing at the InterContinental Washington DC, The Wharf, she spearheaded the rebranding and launch of Moon Rabbit restaurant during the pandemic, earning Food & Wine Best Bites in America, Esquire Best New Restaurants in America, and RAMMY Good Neighbor Award recognition. Under her leadership, the property won IHG Americas’ highest net RGI and Most Improved RGI awards in 2021. She also served as DOSM at the Westin Georgetown, where she built a strong partnership with Destination DC and earned Best in Class guest satisfaction scores in 2012 and 2013.
She also served as Global Account Director at Marriott’s Global Sales Organization, leading a team responsible for Marriott’s share across a $599M US corporate account portfolio.
Cat has a BA and Master of Tourism Administration from The George Washington University (Tourism & Hospitality Management / Tourism Marketing & Event Management).
Specialists and Advisors
Matthew Humke
Social Enterprise Specialist
Over the last twenty years, Matt Humke has pioneered an approach to building community-based tourism enterprises that directly support biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation efforts in protected areas throughout the developing world.
First working with Native American communities such as the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, next as Rare Conservation’s Senior Manager of Enterprises in Latin America & the Caribbean and now managing Solimar’s small business development projects around the world.
The community-based tourism enterprises Matt has helped to establish, such as “La Ruta Moskitia” in Honduras, have generated more than $5 million for local economies over the last ten years. The success of these enterprises in conservation and poverty alleviation has resulted in a number of the industry’s top honors, including a Tourism for Tomorrow award, a Responsible Tourism award, and inclusion on both Condé Nast Traveler’s “Green List” and National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”.
Chloe King
Destination Stewardship and Regenerative Tourism Specialist
Chloe King is both a critical researcher of and experienced practitioner in the worlds of conservation and development. A PADI Divemaster and avid ocean advocate, Chloe worked in the marine tourism industry and led research projects in Indonesia as a Boren and Fulbright Scholar, researching how tourism impacts social and ecological resilience while gaining fluency in Bahasa Indonesia. As the Director of Stewardship for Solimar International, she managed and implemented USAID-funded projects that focused on utilizing tourism as a catalyst for regeneration in destinations on the frontlines of climate change—including in Timor-Leste, Maldives, and Bangladesh. Her work has included establishing thriving DMOs to devolve destination management to local stakeholders, creating national tourism climate adaptation strategies, and instituting nature-positive strategies for tourism destinations and businesses.
Chloe holds an MSc Marine Systems and Policy from the University of Edinburgh and an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge where she was a Marshall Scholar. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, working with government and community stakeholders of the Galápagos Islands to imagine a more resilient and regenerative tourism future in the post-pandemic era.
Ben Isenberg
Tourism Marketing Specialist
Ben Isenberg is the Founder and Principal of The Symmetry Agency, where he leverages over 17 years of experience in destination marketing and strategy development. Ben Isenberg is an accomplished destination marketing professional with a strong foundation in environmental science and sustainable tourism practices. He has extensive experience in developing and executing tourism marketing strategies for international Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and has led year-round marketing campaigns as the agency of record for national DMOs. Ben specializes in crafting marketing strategies that meet campaign KPIs, utilizing programmatic media campaigns through an omnichannel approach, and leveraging his industry relationships to support audience development and campaign execution.
Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Catawba College. Before founding Symmetry, he served as COO of Solimar Marketing & Travel, a destination consulting firm and inbound operator, and he worked as a Land Protection Specialist for the Conservation Trust for North Carolina.
Kerry Gumas
Strategic Advisor
Hitesh Mehta
Landscape Architect and Land Use Planning Specialist
Hitesh Mehta is a multi-award-winning architect, landscape architect, and destination planner regarded as a global authority on sustainable tourism design. Over 34 years he has led projects in 66 countries—including Crosswaters Eco-Resort (China), Nihi Sumba (Indonesia), and the forthcoming Six Senses Galápagos—creating low-impact developments that benefit ecosystems, local communities, and investors alike. A National Geographic “Sustainable Tourism Pioneer,” founding board member of the Global Ecotourism Network, and author of the acclaimed book Authentic Ecolodges, Mehta also teaches at Florida International University and speaks worldwide on ecolodge and protected-area planning.
Juan-Luna Kelser
Tourism Specialist
Juan Luna-Kelser, a Mexico City native fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, spent his career at the Inter-American Development Bank designing and managing tourism investment projects. Since retiring in 2007 he has advised Solimar International, multilaterals, NGOs, and private clients on sustainable tourism, and he is a senior research scholar at George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies. He holds an MTA in Sustainable Destination Management (GWU), an MA in Political Science (Drew University), and a BA in Political Science (University of the Pacific).
Lucia Prinz
Community Tourism and Guiding Expert
Maria Lucia Prinz entered tourism 25 years ago as a tour guide in Guatemala City while studying ecotourism. After graduating, she launched community-based tourism ventures in Petén that tied local livelihoods to conservation. She has since advanced ecotourism projects across Central and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, specializing in product development, staff and nature-guide training, business planning, and marketing.
Philippe Duverger
Tourism Statistician
Philippe Duverger is a distinguished tourism data marketing expert with a Ph.D. from George Washington University and an MBA from Athabasca University, Canada. With years of experience, he excels in econometric analysis, data mining, and market sizing, specializing in quantitative research. As President and Chief Researcher at PhD Consulting, he has led significant projects like demand modeling scenarios in countries like Moldova, Tunisia, and Jordan, and has played a key role in tourism studies for regions like the Middle East and South America. Philippe’s expertise in developing surveys, analyzing data, and interpreting marketing metrics and KPIs has been instrumental in shaping effective tourism marketing strategies. His profound contributions in academia and practical applications in tourism marketing make him a valuable asset in the field.
Andres Omar Hayes
Hospitality and Tourism Specialist
David Roubie
Operations and Food and Beverage Specialist
Dave Roubie is Solimar’s Hospitality Management and Strategy Specialist, bringing more than 22 years of experience in food and beverage, hotel operations, revenue management, and hospitality business leadership. His career spans major hospitality brands including Loews Hotels, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, IHG, and Marriott Hotels and Resorts, where he built hands-on expertise across property operations, fine dining, banquets, beverage programs, catering, and guest experience management.
Dave’s work focuses on helping hospitality businesses strengthen financial performance, improve operating systems, and reposition assets for long-term profitability. He has held senior leadership roles across hotel and restaurant operations, including Managing Director of the historic Hotel Tabard Inn in Washington, DC, Regional Food and Beverage Director at BF Saul Hospitality, and Director of Operations at Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel.
With deep experience in budgeting, revenue analysis, yield management, food and beverage strategy, pre-opening operations, and team leadership, Dave brings a practical, financially disciplined approach to hospitality turnarounds. He works with owners and operators to identify operational gaps, improve cost controls, strengthen revenue streams, elevate service standards, and build management systems that support sustainable performance.
Country Representatives
Ivane (Vano) Vashakmadze
Georgian Tourism Specialist
Ivane Vashakmadze is a Georgian tourism expert with 30 years’ experience in guiding, ski-resort and adventure operations, public administration, and donor-funded development. He has crafted national and regional tourism strategies, eco- and cultural-heritage plans, and economic and land-use studies for partners such as the World Bank, USAID, EU, GiZ, SDC, ADA, and WWF. Formerly Deputy Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration and Deputy Director of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, he has also advised projects across Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia.
Zara Zeitountsian
Armenian Tourism and Marketing Specialist
Zarmine Zeitountsian is a tourism and finance leader whose career spans international banking (Moscow Bank of Technology, Wells Fargo), major development and education foundations, and government. As Armenia’s inaugural State Tourism Committee Chair (2016–2018) she steered initiatives that lifted visitor numbers by more than 18 percent, building on work such as the Tatev Revival Project. Zeitountsian now directs the Graduate Certificate in Hotel & Hospitality Management at the American University of Armenia, teaches marketing and tourism courses, and holds an MBA from CSU Los Angeles, CHIA certification, and a BA in Arabic Studies.
Sonja Gottlebe
Tourism Specialist
Sonja Gottlebe is a sustainable tourism expert and certified auditor with over 33 years of experience advancing responsible tourism in Madagascar and across the Indian Ocean. A German national and permanent resident of Madagascar, she now consults, trains, and audits internationally—bringing field-based expertise, global best practices, and a lifelong passion for conservation and community development.
She advises public institutions, NGOs, and tourism businesses on sustainability strategies, feasibility studies, and certification. Sonja is a GSTC trainer, Travelife and Green Globe coach/auditor, and external consultant for Germany’s Import Promotion Desk (IPD). She previously founded and led Boogie Pilgrim, one of Madagascar’s leading tour operators, managing 65+ staff, award-winning ecolodges, and pioneering community-based tourism models recognized by Fair Trade Tourism, DRV, and Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.
Beyond her private sector work, Sonja has held leadership roles with TOP Madagascar, Go To Madagascar, the National Tourism Board, and the Economic Development Board of Madagascar. She co-developed the first sustainable tourism certification network for 16 SADC countries, represented Madagascar in aligning standards with GSTC, and evaluated Vanilla Islands’ tourism achievements with Cap Business Océan Indien.
Fluent in French, German, and English, and based in Nosy Be, Sonja combines local knowledge with international credentials and strong stakeholder relationships. She holds a Master’s in Site and Territory Planning (Bordeaux Montaigne University), GSTC Trainer certification, Travelife and Green Globe auditor qualifications, and an ITC certificate in Community-based Tourism Training.
Remembering Dr. Donald Hawkins
Professor Donald E. Hawkins was far more than Solimar International’s chairman. He was a teacher, mentor, advisor, and unwavering champion of the company from its earliest days. As a professor and mentor to Solimar’s founders, Don helped shape not only their thinking, but also the values that continue to guide our work: that tourism should serve communities, protect cultural and natural heritage, and create lasting, inclusive value.
Throughout Solimar’s journey, Don remained our “Chief Cheerleader.” He believed deeply in the company’s mission and stood by us through every success, setback, and reinvention with wisdom, encouragement, and optimism. His guidance grounded our work in purpose and principle, and his faith in our team never wavered.
Don’s legacy extended far beyond Solimar. At George Washington University, he was a foundational figure who helped establish tourism as a serious field of academic study and practice. Over more than five decades, he played a central role in building GW’s Master of Tourism Administration program and advancing the International Institute of Tourism Studies, while mentoring generations of students who became leaders across the global tourism field.
A globally respected advisor and practitioner, Don worked with governments, development banks, international organizations, and destination leaders around the world. Long before sustainability became a common industry refrain, he championed ethical governance, education, and inclusive development as essential to tourism’s future.To Solimar, Don was an inspiration, a steady source of encouragement, and a beloved mentor. He helped shape the people behind the company and supported us through every chapter. We remember him with deep gratitude, affection, and profound respect. To learn more about DOn and his impact on the world visit Don Hawkins Sustainable Tourism Passport.
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