Steve Halasz is the Founder & CEO of Blue Room Research. He created Blue Room to help destinations analyze and interpret their existing data sources and to maximize data driven decision making. He has more than 20 years of experience working in tourism, hospitality, and market research. Steve began his career in tourism working for Abercrombie & Kent and Bluegreen Resorts. As a market research consultant, he worked with leading global brands such as John Deere, UnitedHealth Group, Genentech, and Ernst & Young. Most recently, he served as Director of Consumer Research at Brand USA and as Director of Research at Travel Portland. Steve served on the Board of Directors at the Greater Western Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (GWTTRA) and is currently the Associate Director of the Oregon Destination Association (ODA). Steve holds an M.B.A. from the Mason School of Business at The College of William & Mary and a B.A. in Mass Communications from Wake Forest University.

Niki McDonald is a native San Diegan who has had a lengthy and varied career in the tourism industry. She has worn many hats while working in hospitality, including working front desk at the Pacific Terrace Hotel, serving as a guest ambassador at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as a docent for City Cruises, and most recently, as Research Manager at the San Diego Tourism Authority. In her free time, she loves playing with her daughter, trying new restaurants around town, and taking her dog on long hikes. She holds a B.S. in Marketing from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego with her family.

With over 20 years’ experience working in hospitality and destination marketing organizations, Ayrn has developed a deep understanding of CRM systems, research, analysis, and hotel sales. She has worked with global hotel brands like Starwood and Marriott, and later shifted into more strategic, data-driven roles at San Francisco Travel and the San Diego Tourism Authority. Her focus has grown to include CRM optimization, data analysis, and cross-functional tech projects that improve how organizations understand their data and serve their stakeholders. Ayrn holds a B.A. in American Multi-Cultural Studies from Sonoma State University and is passionate about using research and data to uncover insights that shape smarter tourism strategies.