News and Insights

FINN Partners promotes trio of North American Travel Practice leaders

November 11, 2026

Christina Gnozzo, Natalie Wayt and Chad Belisario promoted to Partner of FINN North American Travel Practice

FINN Partners, a leading global integrated marketing and communications agency, today announced the promotion of Christina Gnozzo, Natalie Wayt and Chad Belisario to Partner of the firm’s North American Travel Practice.

From Gnozzo’s base at FINN headquarters in New York City, and with Wayt and Belisario stationed at FINN’s West Coast address in Century City, Los Angeles, each new Partner will put their invaluable experience to work leading teams to deliver integrated public relations campaigns, develop new business strategies, and strengthen overall brand visibility for the firm’s growing roster of luxury travel and hospitality clients across every continent. Riding a wave of momentum, the promotions come as the firm’s North American Travel practice has grown by almost 10% this past year, with 17 new business wins and a roster that boasts marquee and long-term clients including Mandarin Oriental, Sublime Curated Hospitality, Gstaad Palace and Wilderness.

“Where do I begin quantifying the talent and leadership that Christina, Natalie and Chad bring to FINN’s North American Travel Practice? Together, as Partners, their creativity, energy and expansive knowledge of travel, public relations and media are sure to continue to impress our clients,” said Jennifer Hawkins, North American Travel Lead and Managing Partner of FINN Partners. “FINN Partners is the #1 independent travel public relations agency in the U.S. As our Travel Practice grows across the globe, Christina, Natalie and Chad will be key to everything from driving new business to securing placements with top-tier media and working collaboratively with teams of many disciplines across FINN Partners.”

Christina Gnozzo

Since joining the FINN Travel Team as a Vice President in 2021, Gnozzo has led strategic communications campaigns, secured high-profile media coverage and built partnerships for a global portfolio spanning internationally renowned hospitality brands, independent luxury properties, wellness resorts and eco-lodges. Her clients include Songtsam Resorts, Nomadic Expeditions and Rainforest Expeditions, aligning her expertise in luxury hospitality with her passion for regenerative travel and experiences that support local cultures, communities and conservation.

Gnozzo also contributes to new business development and helps identify emerging industry trends as a member of FINN’s Futures Lab. She supports colleagues’ professional growth through mentorship and confidence-building workshops, while leading team initiatives that encourage collaboration and a positive workplace culture. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from West Virginia University.

Natalie Wayt

Prior to FINN’s 2021 acquisition of Hawkins International, Wayt was the agency’s second hire in its Los Angeles office in 2018. Since then, she has blossomed as Co-Leader of FINN’s West Coast Travel Practice while becoming a trusted expert at luxury travel and hospitality. Her portfolio spans years-long partnerships with luxury hospitality icons, such as Montage Hotels & Resorts and Turtle Island Fiji, alongside major destination accounts including Destination New South Wales.

Driven by a passion to see others thrive from day one, Wayt manages the FINN Travel and Maverick Creative mentorship program and is responsible for team culture in the Los Angeles office. She has also become a leader in crises communications and AI, employing her expertise in the latter as a Travel Team representative for AIristotle, a FINN-generated, AI-empowered narrative intelligence tool that helps communications teams align messaging with algorithms that control content visibility across the mediascape.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Wayt studied radio and television communications at San Francisco State University and earned a Master of Journalism from Bond University in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Chad Belisario

Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience in public relations and communications focused on travel, hospitality, lifestyle and consumer brands, Belisario co-leads FINN’s West Coast Travel Practice, working across offices and disciplines to grow business and ensure measurable impact for a global client portfolio. Highlights of Belisario’s client roster include APT Travel Group, Great Wolf Lodge, Mandarin Oriental, Montage Hotels & Resorts, Qantas, the San Francisco Travel Association, and Visit Greater Palm Springs/Visit Palm Springs.

Since joining the FINN Travel Team as a Vice President in 2024, Belisario has been actively involved in new business development, contributing to more than 35 opportunities, while also helping to expand client relationships through strategic counsel, upselling and broadening project scopes. He also contributes to talent development and mentorship across teams and practice areas, working collaboratively to foster a “ONE FINN” approach.

A native of Carmel on the Central Coast of California, Belisario holds a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a culinary arts degree from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.