Debbie Holmes, has a very diverse background. She worked with Walt Disney World, for over fifteen years, in Orlando, FL and three years with Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. She began her career as a food and beverage hostess, working summers and weekends, in Adventureland Veranda. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, with a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies. Debbie continued her career with Walt Disney World. She was on the opening team of Disney's Beach Club Resort, working in operations, and not too long after, began working in Participant Services, as a sales/events coordinator.
Debbie was later promoted to become a Special Event Manager, planning events in Disney's Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, and Epcot. Planning events in all three theme parks and throughout the Disney Resorts. After three and half years or so in Special Events, Debbie was asked to be on the opening team of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. At the time, the venue had over 100,000 square feet of event space.
While at Walt Disney World, Debbie successfully designed and launched, Disney's Diversity and Inclusion special events program, by educating over 55,000 employees, including Executives, about Diversity & Inclusion. Debbie's signature style of event planning, became a mixture of educating and entertaining, affectionately known as "edutaining", employees by giving them the tools needed to take back to their respective areas, to create change and awareness about Diversity.
Debbie became a mentor for Disney's Diversity Resource groups and task forces, sharing her savvy skills on building relationships, and working with Disney's Special Markets, marketing department, in order to leverage community relations through a grass roots approach.
After relocating to the West Coast, Debbie has had the privilege to work with Disneyland and Marriott, as a group sales manager, and later transitioned into the luxury market, representing Bacara Resort & Spa, and Belmond, El Encanto, a Forbes-Five Star property, as a Catering Executive working in the Social Market, selling and planning mega weddings and Galas, in Santa Barbara, CA, also known as The American Riviera.
One of Debbie's passions is mentoring to those who are new to the hospitality/event planning industry and using her experience as a diversity and inclusion change agent to make the world a better place to live. She also enjoys spending time with her dog Boogie.
Debbie is an advocate for human rights. Her goal is to teach compassion and move beyond tolerance.