Term 10/23 – 6/25

Cecilia Menezes, a 32-year veteran of the hospitality industry, currently serves as the General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego – Mission Valley. Her career began in the rooms department, and she has since held several leadership roles, including Director of Rooms and Director of Operations at the Marriott Mission Valley. While at the Marriott, she opened the first Marriott in Moscow, Russia and the Marriott in Goa, India. In 2004, she joined Hilton and assumed roles such as Director of Rooms and later Director of Operations at the DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort, eventually landing at DoubleTree by Hilton, San Diego – Mission Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree from Purdue University.

For Cecilia, joy in the hospitality industry comes from meeting new people and witnessing the happiness on their faces during their stays. She finds inspiration in her dedicated and passionate team, which motivates her daily.

In her spare time, Cecilia is an avid traveler, having visited over 50 countries, and enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

Her love for travel stems from childhood family vacations, and she and her husband have worked to pass on this love for exploration to their children. Travel, for Cecilia, is about connecting with people from around the world, trying new cuisines, and embracing diverse cultures. Regardless of the destination, she believes that people everywhere share a common desire for peace and a better world for their children.

Some of her favorite travel memories include crossing the Arctic Circle and experiencing the powerful winds at the North Cape, Norway; meeting the locals and exploring the natural beauty of Greenland; absorbing the amazing engineering feat of the Panama Canal; and admiring the stunning palaces and churches in St. Petersburg, Russia.