Originally launched in 2018 to spotlight real member stories on HGV’s blog and amplify the member voice, the Explorer program has tripled in size and evolved into a vibrant influencer community under my leadership.

The Explorers program initially had 10–12 contributors and limited reach.

Goal: Transform it into a scalable, high-impact engine that drives:

• Content creation
• Member engagement
• Consumer insights
• Brand loyalty
• Purchase upgrades

I led the strategy, expansion, and cross-functional execution of the Explorers program.

I was responsible for:

• Building the future-state vision
  
• Marketing the program internally to gain buy-in
  
• Directing recruitment, onboarding, and contributor support
  
• Aligning Copy & Design, Club, DBM, Legal, Development, Consumer Insights and Social Media teams
• Leading messaging and storytelling direction

"By scaling the Explorers Program we’re enabling HGV to tap into authentic, real-world testimonials that build trust, validate the Member experience and influence purchase decisions."

Gordon Gurnik, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

1. Blog Explorers
→ Story-driven content creators
→ Authentic owner voice

2. Forum Moderators
→ Peer-to-peer engagement
→ Build trust & community

3. Insights Panel
→ 200+ owners for research & feedback
→ Real-time insight for marketing & product decisions

How I operationalized the program:

• Built recruitment pipelines and multi-touch campaigns
• Established vetting and selection criteria and processes
• Created onboarding & training systems
• Developed Explorer incentive program
• Built alumni pipeline to sustain long-term advocacy
• Integrated content flow back into marketing channels

• 150% YoY growth in program participants (exceeded goal)
• 600 Insight Panelists onboarded (exceeded goal)
• 20 Forum Moderators recruited (exceeded goal)
• 100% increase in content production (program launch year)
  
  

I don’t just produce content — I build systems, programs, and teams that drive measurable growth.