HOSPA membership proves pivotal for digital transformation success at Macdonald Hotels

HOSPA has highlighted the significant impact of its networking and educational ecosystem through the success of one of its members at Macdonald Hotels, with their experience underlining the association’s role as a central hub for industry innovation.

Kimberly Ofrecio, Group Commercial Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, emphasised the association’s role in helping her to drive large-scale commercial success within the organisation, which operates more than 30 properties across the UK and Spain.

Kimberly joined Macdonald Hotels sixteen months ago, bringing with her a strong commercial background spanning the retail and airline sectors. Wanting to tap into hospitality expertise to enhance her approach, she became a HOSPA member in early 2025. Kimberly used the association to navigate the complex supplier and technology landscape and to meet executives in similar roles at other hotel groups, describing the organisation as a "magnet" for the industry.

Her experience highlights how HOSPA serves as a critical bridge between senior hospitality leadership and the evolving technology and partner sectors and offers networking opportunities among peers.

Tasked with leading significant commercial initiatives for the prestigious hotel group, Kimberly joined HOSPA to connect with industry experts and identify the tools needed to support a "Big Transformation Project" underway at Macdonald Hotels. One year into her membership, the resulting partnerships and peer-to-peer insights have proven instrumental to the project’s progress.

HOSPA’s unique community model encourages high-level knowledge sharing, allowing even the largest hotel groups to gain insights into shared challenges and emerging market trends.

Kimberly said: "I was so lucky to meet HOSPA at the very beginning of my hospitality journey, just after joining Macdonald Hotels & Resorts. I wanted to network with industry experts and learn about the tools, new partners, and suppliers that would support me in my new role. HOSPA introduced me to a range of networking events and the right people in the industry.

"I think HOSPA plays such a good role as the magnet for all of us. We are all trying to solve the same problems, and because HOSPA is such a broad and supportive community, I’ve even gained insights from my competitors.”

The collaboration facilitated by HOSPA has enabled Kimberly to draw on insights from across the sector, ensuring that Macdonald Hotels remains at the forefront of commercial innovation. 

Commenting on the success of Kimberly’s membership, Jane Pendlebury, HOSPA’s CEO, said: “We are delighted that Kimberly has found such value in the HOSPA community. To have a leader of her calibre, managing the commercial direction of a group as significant as Macdonald Hotels, recognising HOSPA as the heart of the industry – or in her words, “the magnet “– is a testament to the practical, high-level connections we strive to facilitate. We are proud to support Kimberly and her team as they continue their impressive transformation journey.”

As HOSPA moves forward with its 2026 schedule of events, the association continues to champion the collaborative spirit that enables leaders like Kimberly Ofrecio to drive the industry forward.

A video interview with Kimberly exploring her experience with HOSPA can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2qXHf-mvT0