owner and president of Alexandria, Virginia-based Carol Godwin Communications LLC (CGC) and Virginia resident for 13 years, is an award-winning travel journalist and seasoned public relations practitioner with more than 30 years of experience working in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.  She assists HPR on special projects requiring high-level travel expertise. 

Carol’s previous work experience includes the position of area director of public relations for The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Washington, D.C., encompassing The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. and The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown.  Prior, Carol was public relations manager at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Virginia, focused on its Hospitality Group which encompasses five diverse hotels including the Williamsburg Inn, 28 Colonial Houses Historic Lodging, Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center, Woodlands Hotel & Suites, Governor’s Inn, ten restaurants and three world-class golf courses located at America’s largest, authentically-restored living history site, Colonial Williamsburg. 

Some achievements include multi-page features in Architectural Digest, Bon Appetite, Southern Living magazines, one-hour Travel Channel “Great Hotels” feature, several MarCom Creative Awards and a Gold Quill for Media Excellence Award.

A travel journalist and photographer for 30-plus years, Carol is recipient of two, Southeast Tourism Society Travel Writer of the Year Awards.  With numerous placements in national and international publications, she has co-authored a book for the Dothan (Alabama) Chamber of Commerce, taught travel marketing at the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College, and is an experienced researcher, pitcher and public speaker.