Debra has worked for the last 7 years bringing the high-end Golf Resort the Villas at Seven Canyons back to its 5-star luxury status following a developer bankruptcy in 2012. As Rooms Division Manager at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Shinn facilitated and oversaw a $7 million Spa renovation. Her experiences at The Peninsula were put to use as she became involved with L’Auberge de Sedona in their $25 million renovations in 2009. Her expertise in the areas of personalized service, seamless check-in of guests, and eye for detail were evident to the owners and contributed to L’Auberge’s ownership decision to tap Shinn to manage their adjoining Amara property.

Previously involved in the opening of the Ivy in San Diego, Shinn’s contributions to that successful boutique hotel helped gain the celebrity and hip audience for which it is known. These themes of personalized service, customization and creating top-notch service standards are all skills that Shinn has honed throughout her career.

EDUCATION:
2007 Master’s Certificate Program Cornell University-ECornell and Hong Kong China (as of 2006 completed) 2006 Managing People Effectively, 2006Managing Dynamic Teams
Professional Development Program Cornell University-New York: 2005 Negotiations in the Service industry, 2005 Strategic Marketing for Hotels and Restaurants
Extension Course UCLA – California:  1994 Principles of Supervision, 1996 Hospitality Law,
1998 Strategic Hospitality Management

ASSOCIATIONS AND AFFILATIONS:
2001-2002 Vice President of Entertainment IndustryBeverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
2000-2001 Vice President of Membership Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
1999-2000 Vice President of Beverly Hills Conference and Visitor’s Bureau – responsibilities include management of a $2.1 million dollar budget.Allocating said monies into brand & media campaign, public relations, enhancing web site, Inand Out bound Familiarization trips, corporate gifts and annual production of the Beverly Hills Visitor’s Guide.
2010 to present Sedona Lodging Association
2015 Keynote Speaker at Sedona Women’s Association
2021 Keynote Speaker for CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness) Association meeting
2021 Guest speaker for series on Alex Munford’s hospitality blog
2021 Informational source for Sonal Uberoi’s book The Wellness Asset
2021 Conducted workshop at Yavapai College-Managing Hospitality-Post Covid

Member of
Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Vice President of the Sedona Lodging Council
Sedona Arts Center
Sedona Verde Valley Marketing Alliance