Greg DeShields is a recognized leader in the tourism and hospitality industry. His career has spanned hotel management, nonprofit work, higher education, destination marketing, and advocacy for inclusion. He owns Greg DeShields Consulting LLC, where he develops initiatives that foster trust, belonging, and inclusive practices across organizations. With a firm belief in the power of diversity, DeShields has dedicated his life to creating equitable environments in all his professional pursuits.
After graduating from Johnson & Wales University with degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management, DeShields furthered his leadership skills through programs such as the Urban League of Philadelphia Leadership Forum. He is also a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), which complements his vision of making access and inclusion strategic assets for organizations in a dynamic world. His experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors has shown him how inclusive practices can foster lasting change.
DeShields was recently appointed to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, where he works to promote small-business interests. Locally, he has served on several Chamber of Commerce boards in Philadelphia, advocating for underrepresented business communities, including Hispanic, African American, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ groups.
In his hospitality career, DeShields has held management positions at Omni Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels, and AKA Hotel Residences. He later became the director of the award-winning Hospitality Training Institute in Philadelphia, which provides career opportunities in various service sectors. His work in higher education includes a 13-year tenure at Temple University, where he expanded the institution's reach in both U.S. and Japanese markets, and as Executive Director of PHL Diversity, where he promoted Philadelphia as a multicultural destination.
Today, DeShields is also an adjunct professor, imparting his expertise to students at Temple University and the Community College of Philadelphia. He established the Delores W. DeShields Endowed Scholarship at Temple to support tourism students, and he recently collaborated on a Hotel Development Case Study Competition to help students learn the art of hotel design.
An active contributor on Medium.com and host of the podcast "Something to Say," DeShields shares insights on leadership and inclusion. His expertise and impact on the industry have earned him several awards, including the 2023 BizBash 15 Over 50 and the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal. Through his speaking engagements and board service, DeShields remains a guiding force, inspiring the next generation of hospitality leaders and championing diversity in every arena he touches.
The full article is available at: Greg DeShields: A Career Shaping the Hospitality Industry
