The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has named Gordon Lambourne Vice President of Communications. In his new role, Lambourne will lead the NRAEF’s overall communications strategy, including media relations, campaign development, social media and digital storytelling and content creation.
“We are excited to have Gordon join our leadership team and help us shape and share the NRAEF story,” says Rob Gifford, executive vice president, NRAEF. “With more than three decades of hospitality communications experience, he brings new and innovative thinking to how we attract, engage and advance the careers of people pursuing opportunities in our industry.”
Prior to joining the Foundation, Lambourne served as Senior Vice President of Global Public Relations for Marriott International, Inc., the world’s largest hotel company. During his career at Marriott, Lambourne held leadership positions in all aspects of communications, including brand and consumer PR, corporate communications, social and digital PR, campaign and event strategy, multicultural PR and issues management. He provided communications support and guidance during many of Marriott’s most transformative moments, including several brand launches and acquisitions, introduction of the Marriott Rewards loyalty program and major milestone hotel openings around the world.
In 2015, Lambourne received the prestigious Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Travel and Hotel Public Relations. He also serves as an Executive Committee Member for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Kidney Ball in Washington, D.C., and is an NKF “Mission Speaker” sharing his personal perspective on the importance of kidney disease awareness and prevention and organ donation.
Lambourne has been a guest speaker at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Brigham Young University’s School of Communications. He is a graduate of BYU with a BA in Communications and Journalism.
