Ina has more than 20 years in the hospitality and tourism industry. From October 2014 to November 2021, she has directed the Croatian National Tourism Office in North America, based in NewYork. She was tasked with building awareness of Croatia in the North American market while encouraging U.S. tourists to visit Croatia and explore and experience its diverse landscape and rich culture.
Prior to joining CNTB, Ms. Rodin directed a consulting company specializing in asset management, sales and marketing, and was a visiting Professor lecturing on Tourism & Hospitality Management at Zagreb School ofEconomics and Management. In 2008, Ina was employed by Horwath HTL., a U.S.-based company with franchise offices in Zagreb, Croatia, Belgrade, Serbia, and Rome, Italy, where she provided HTL advisory services in the SEE and Italy. She began her career with Valamar Hotels and Resorts, Croatia’s leading hotel management company, and was involved in product development and hotel operations for 40 properties.
Ina earned her MSc Degree in Economics and Tourism at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and graduated from Zagreb Faculty of Economics with a Major in tourism. In 2013, she published a book "Principles of Tourism" a textbook used in Croatian high schools, with Zoran Kasum and Lidija Birin, and was a co-author of TURIZAM Studije slučaja Hrvatske i regije (Tourism – An Analysis of Croatian Best-Case Studies) with M. Hanžek, P. Haramija, H.Jerković, A. Kuštrak Korper, O. Jurković Majić, H. Maljak M. Martinović, K.Miličević, V. Pirić, I. Rodin, K. Šorić, publisher: MATE Ltd, Zagreb, 2016.
She was awarded Virtuoso’s Ambassador of the Year in 2017.
Trúc has nearly thirty years of strategic global communications experience with a core focus on financial, PR, crisis, investor and media relations.
She has advised clients on overall programs and communications strategies with stakeholders, shareholders, potential investors, and strategic partners as they specifically relate to strategy, positioning, messaging, targeting and tactical execution. She has worked across multiple industries and her extensive communications experience includes IPOs, institutional and sell-side targeting, research & analysis, perception studies, shareholder identification, social media campaigns and corporate events. Trúc’s results-driven approach, applying traditional communications techniques, coupled with strong events marketing experience and PR capabilities, allows her to deliver impactful communications programs for her clients. She has successfully executed major events for clients such as Analyst Days, Global Roadshows, Investor Field Trips, Site Visits, Initial Public Offerings, Exchange Listing Ceremonies and Corporate Celebrations. She has offered counsel to companies of all market caps and industries, based in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
After transitioning from financial communications, Ms. Nguyen lead the North American communications and media relations efforts for the Croatia National Tourism Board, leveraging her skills and key relationships to introduce influencers like the head coach of the New England Patriots (who is of Croatian descent) and strategic media relations to change perception and broaden Croatia’s appeal while navigating geopolitical issues (Syrian refugee crisis) and practical issues (lack of direct flights from the US). Despite these challenges, her efforts secured thousands of media hits in traditional media, online, broadcast, and with bloggers with a media value in excess of USD$1 billion, prompting US travel media and influencers to endorse Croatia in their dialog to readers and viewers. These results included consistent coverage in the travel at top-tier mainstream media such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and LA Times and travel media including National Geographic, AFAR, BBC Travel, Conde Nast Traveler; Travel+Leisure, Brides, Harper’s Bazaar, Fortune, Forbes, Bloomberg and other travel outlets. In addition to media relations, she has helped organize key events to showcase Croatia and its regions, such as New York Times Travel Show, Sell Croatia, Regional tourism board dinners, and wine events. Additionally, she has assisted the Dubrovnik Tourism Board to organize a trade event in NYC which attracted key travel agents in the metro area.
Trúc was a Managing Director at Grayling, a Vice President at Stern & Company, as well as an MD at Manning Selvage & Lee and Citigate Dewe Rogerson, two major international PR agencies. Born in Vietnam and raised in Massachusetts, Ms. Nguyen is fluent in Vietnamese. She holds a BA in International Relations and Political Science from Hartwick College.
