Julie Faver-Dylla is now President and CEO, while Damien O’Connor is now Chairman of the Board
The Hotel Association of Tarrant County (HATC), which represents over 400 hotel properties across the county, announced promotions of its two senior leader positions effective immediately.
Julie Faver-Dylla is now the President and CEO of the association. She has served as Executive Director of HATC for the last 15 years and will continue to run the association’s day-to-day operations in her new roles. Damian O’Connor, General Manager of the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown, is now the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the association. He is in his second term leading the board. His previous title was Board President.
Faver-Dylla took the helm of HATC in 2010 after a 15+ year career in hotel sales at multiple properties across Tarrant County, including a decade-long tenure as the Senior Sales Account Manager at the DFW Airport Marriott South.
She is a dedicated industry champion and serves on the boards of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, Visit Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Tourism Improvement District, the UNT Hospitality Advisory Board, the Tarrant County College Hospitality Advisory Board, and the UTA Hospitality Advisory Board.
“Julie is a passionate advocate of our industry and has established herself as a relationship builder, which has provided immense value to the HATC,” said O’Connor. “ Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our industry have helped elevate our association to record heights. This promotion is a well-deserved achievement. Our board is excited to see the continued growth of our association under Julie’s leadership.”
Under the direction of Faver-Dylla, the Hotel Association of Tarrant County has experienced unprecedented growth, reaching record numbers in membership and event attendance. Her leadership has helped elevate the Association’s visibility, deepen member engagement, and expand programming that delivers real value to the hospitality community. Beyond strengthening the present, HATC has also become a driving force in building the future workforce of Tarrant County hoteliers through strategic partnerships with local schools, workforce development organizations, and industry leaders. Faver-Dylla’s dedication and vision have played a pivotal role in shaping HATC into the influential and forward-thinking organization it is today.
O’Connor has been the general manager at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown since 2022. Aimbridge Hospitality owns the hotel. Prior to joining the executive team at the Sheraton, he held various senior leadership positions at other Aimbridge properties. He recently oversaw a $50 million transformation of the Sheraton, one of the largest-ever hotel renovations in the Fort Worth region. He has been on the HATC Board of Directors since 2022 and has served as Board President since 2022.
“Damien’s leadership on our Board has been nothing short of exceptional. His strategic vision and steady guidance have been instrumental in shaping the direction and success of our association over the past few years,” said Faver-Dylla. “Working alongside him has been both inspiring and productive.
“Our association has been a vital part of the hospitality industry in Tarrant County for the last 85 years,” she continued. “With this new senior leadership organization, we are now positioned for the next 85 years and beyond.”
