PARTNERS YOU CAN TRUST

Melissa Ortiz is a seasoned hospitality and marketing expert with over 20 years of experience in operations, sales, events, marketing, and executive management.

Melissa founded PrimeGuide Partners, a certified Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) in 2018 and helps clients in hospitality, health, wellness, and retail achieve their marketing and PR goals.

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Melissa's expertise is in social media marketing, email marketing, event marketing, influencer collaborations, partnerships, and public relations.

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Key highlights of her career include:

• Opening Hilton Santa Clara, San Jose Marriott, and Hyatt Times Square.

• Launching the Hyatt Centric Brand in New York City and converting Hyatt Times Square to Hyatt Centric Times Square.

• Leading the $22.5 million renovation marketing campaign for Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.

• Driving marketing campaigns for Hyatt properties, Arrosto Italian Rotisserie, Mysa Day Spa, Wild Hare Bar Garden, and several women-owned brands.

• Building and maintaining websites for businesses like Studio 1040, Meta Wagner, Diana Putterman and more.​

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Melissa’s strategic insights earned her a nomination for the Hyatt Hotels’ Marketing Leadership Award in 2017. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, and is passionate about empowering female entrepreneurs achieve their business goals.

Natalie Borton, the creative force behind Late August Studio, radiates dynamic visuals through her passion for storytelling since her childhood in Kansas. With a camera always in hand, she found joy in capturing the beauty of the world around her, finding that the candid and spontaneous moments are the most impactful. These formative experiences ignited a lifelong love of photography, videography and artistry.

After graduating from San Diego State University, with many academic and leadership achievements, Natalie immersed herself in San Diego’s vibrant creative scene. Leading and gaining experience with some of the city’s top marketing and production agencies. This hands-on experience allowed her to refine her craft to launch Late August Studio. A content agency that seamlessly blends artistry with content strategy, creating results-driven content that elevates brands in the digital space. 

Natalie and Mel, have worked on high-profile projects such as productions for Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Their work is prominently featured on the hotel’s social media channels and in The Ultimate Gaslamp Quarter Bachelorette Magazine, available here.

Through Late August Studio, Natalie is dedicated to producing photography and videography that tell compelling stories and connect with audiences on a deeper level. Her work has also been featured in prestigious publications such as Modern Luxury San Diego, San Diego Voyager, San Diego Rebel and more. She has established her reputation in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. With every project, Natalie strives to capture not just moments but the essence of a brand, delivering visuals that inspire, engage, and leave a lasting impression.

Kristin Luckie has crafted compelling stories for some of the most ambitious brands today, including Cisco, AT&T, Movember and the James Beard Foundation. A Jill of all trades with 15 years of communications experience, she works diligently to advance the profiles, services, and (most importantly) the purpose of her partners – communicating thoughtfully through earned media coverage, owned content, major stage moments, internal communications and executive thought leadership. In her spare time – or what little her son allows her! – she volunteers as a support group leader for a local Alzheimer's advocacy organization and raises awareness for the disease in honor of her mother.

Jerome Lapuz is a distinguished hospitality expert with over 20 years of experience in sales, revenue management, financial analysis, and project management. His impressive career includes 6 years in luxury hotels, 8 years managing multi-property portfolios, 8 years in leisure destinations, and 6 years in corporate and convention hotels. Jerome has collaborated with prestigious brands like Hilton Hotels, Interstate Hotels, Taj Hotels and Resorts, and Woodside Hotels.

Jerome spearheads PrimeGuide’s groundbreaking Prime Revenue Consulting Program for Hotels, a strategic initiative designed to help hotel owners unlock their full revenue potential. This powerful program offers:

• Revenue Strategy Audit: A deep dive into your revenue management practices, from pricing and sales to operations.

• Dynamic Pricing Solutions: Profit-boosting, real-time data analytics for demand-driven pricing strategies.

• Forecasting & Reporting: Advanced forecasting tools and regular performance reports to ensure ongoing success.

• Tailored Recommendations: Customized, actionable strategies to elevate your revenue approach and outpace competitors.

With a passion for driving results and a proven track record of innovation, Jerome is committed to helping hospitality businesses thrive through PrimeGuide Partners.

Ryan Kurasaki-Maru brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the hospitality industry, spanning both restaurants and hotels. His extensive background includes expertise in hotel operations, revenue management, and finance, with a focus on both branded and independent properties. Ryan has worked with renowned brands such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels, and he played a pivotal role in the opening of Yotel San Francisco, successfully launching the brand on the West Coast. 

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With more than 15 years of hands-on experience in revenue management, Ryan has led teams at a variety of properties, including resort destinations in Hawaii, ski resorts in Utah, and urban hotels in San Francisco. His deep understanding of revenue strategies and operational efficiency has consistently driven success across a broad range of hospitality settings. 

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Specialties: 

• Expertise in group pricing, STR (Smith Travel Research) and market share analysis 

• Proficient in the creation and accuracy of pro-forma, budgets, and forecasts 

• Extensive experience in West Coast, Hawaii, and ski resort markets 

• Excels in optimizing revenue streams and implementing advanced systems 

Ryan is dedicated to empowering partners to succeed through PrimeGuide Partners, leveraging his ability to navigate any situation and tailor strategies to meet each client's unique needs. 

Tiffany Monterrey is a seasoned digital marketing and eCommerce specialist with over 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, driving revenue growth through strategic online marketing campaigns and OTA management. Her expertise spans operations, revenue, events, eCommerce and digital marketing, with a keen focus on leveraging data-driven insights to optimize performance and maximize conversions.

Having worked with both branded and independent properties—from luxury lifestyle hotels to select service properties—Tiffany has a deep understanding of OTA dynamics and the ever-evolving digital landscape. She has successfully developed and executed customized marketing strategies, managed multi-property portfolios, and implemented cutting-edge SEO, paid media, and social media campaigns that have resulted in measurable revenue increases.

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From grand openings to ownership changes to task force support, PrimeGuide Partners will utilize Tiffany’s extensive experience to customize a digital marketing strategy that aligns with your property’s unique needs. A results-driven leader, she excels at collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance brand visibility, streamline processes, and deliver seamless execution in dynamic environments. Whether optimizing direct booking strategies or launching large-scale marketing initiatives, Tiffany is committed to turning digital touchpoints into powerful revenue-generating tools.