Sherrie Tennessee
Assistant Professor/OwnerVirginia State University/SpaSOSDr. Sherrie Tennessee is a hospitality strategist, wellness innovator, and experience architect who helps organizations design spaces and services that truly connect with people. With more than two decades of leadership across hospitality, spa and wellness, higher education, and organizational development, she brings a rare cross-sector perspective to the future of guest experience.
Her career path — spanning animal care, cancer research, and executive hospitality leadership — shaped her ability to see systems holistically and translate complexity into strategy. That multidisciplinary lens now informs her work at the intersection of design, operations, brand voice, and human-centered service.
As founder of SpaSOS, Dr. Tennessee partners with spas, hotels, wellness brands, and hospitality leaders to build operational frameworks that align physical space, service delivery, and emotional intelligence. She equips teams to move beyond aesthetics and amenities to create intentional, revenue-generating experiences rooted in narrative, cultural intelligence, and strategic clarity.
A sought-after speaker and author, Dr. Tennessee is known for delivering actionable insight with depth and precision. Her presentations challenge hospitality leaders to think critically about how design, leadership, and storytelling converge to shape loyalty, longevity, and measurable business impact.
At HD Expo, she brings a forward-looking perspective on how hospitality environments can be designed not only to impress — but to endure, engage, and elevate the human experience.
Wellness by Design: Seamless Technology Experiences from Hotel to Home
Today's consumers don't just want wellness experiences – they expect a seamless, personalized journey that flows effortlessly between hospitality envi…Today's consumers don't just want wellness experiences – they expect a seamless, personalized journey that flows effortlessly between hospitality environments and their personal spaces. As technology blurs the lines between travel and home, our panel…Today's consumers don't just want wellness experiences – they expect a seamless, personalized journey that flows effortlessly between hospitality environments and their personal spaces. As technology blurs the lines between travel and home, our panel will explore how design and AI can create adaptive, intelligent environments that recognize and respond to individual health needs. We'll decode the emerging consumer expectation of a unified wellnes…Today's consumers don't just want wellness experiences – they expect a seamless, personalized journey that flows effortlessly between hospitality environments and their personal spaces. As technology blurs the lines between travel and home, our panel will explore how design and AI can create adaptive, intelligent environments that recognize and respond to individual health needs. We'll decode the emerging consumer expectation of a unified wellness ecosystem that travels with them, from a smart hotel room to their home sanctuary.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
