Melissa Crane-Baker has been appointed Chief Brand Officer at Journey, a loyalty and rewards technology platform serving an alliance of highly curated independently owned hotels and properties. In her new role, she joins the company as it continues to expand its presence across the hospitality industry and provide a much-needed solution for Independents.

Founded in 2024 by John Sutton, former Chief Digital Officer of Red Ventures, along with Advisor and Investor Brian Kelley of The Points Guy, Journey combines a network-wide points program, direct-booking technology, curated experiences, and partner rewards, which allows independent hotels to strengthen their guest relationships. The platform currently features more than 2,500 properties and over 200,000 members.

Image courtesy of Melissa Crane-Baker