Bruce Himelstein
Speaker/Consultant at The BJH Group, LLC
Bruce Himelstein is a distinguished executive, brand leader, and sought-after advisor recognized for transforming iconic luxury brands through innovative marketing, brand revitalization, and service excellence. His career spans hospitality and healthcare, where his work has consistently bridged experience, leadership, and purpose-driven growth.
From 2002 to 2009, Bruce served as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he led some of the brand’s most influential global initiatives. Most notably, he spearheaded the landmark campaign “Blow the Dust Off the Lion and Crown,” reinvigorating Ritz-Carlton’s global brand presence and redefining modern luxury hospitality. The campaign—featured in Joseph Michelli’s The New Gold Standard—earned numerous industry honors, including a Platinum Award from HSMAI.
Bruce’s pioneering contributions to marketing and brand leadership have been widely recognized. He is an inductee of the American Marketing Association Hall of Fame and has been named by HSMAI as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing.” In 2024, SUNY Geneseo awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of his leadership and lasting impact on travel and hospitality marketing.
Beyond hospitality, Bruce has extended his service-first philosophy into healthcare, serving on hospital boards and advising healthcare systems on branding, patient experience, and organizational culture. From his beginnings as a bellman to his role as a trusted executive advisor and speaker, Bruce exemplifies leadership grounded in humility, innovation, and the enduring power of service.
Areas of Expertise
- Brand Leadership & Revitalization
- Disruption, Innovation & Market Relevance
- Leadership Through Service Excellence
- The Intersection of Hospitality Experience & Patient Experience