Geoff Richards
Geoff Richards serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Vacation Ownership business line of Travel + Leisure Co. He is also a member of the Travel + Leisure Co. Executive Committee. In this capacity, Richards oversees core business operations, product development and integration, process excellence and quality, strategic operations, as well as enterprise-level growth initiatives for the company’s vacation ownership business. Richards also leads the hospitality, real estate, and development divisions of the company, along with the Sports Illustrated Resorts-related ventures.
The company’s extensive Vacation Ownership portfolio includes trusted and iconic vacation club brands with a combined 270+ resorts worldwide, offering quality, flexibility, and value to more than 800,000 timeshare owners.
With the company since 1996, Richards began his career as a Sales Program Manager, and subsequently held several leadership positions within sales and marketing operations, including Senior Vice President of Sales Development, Vice President of Sales and Site Marketing Programs, and Executive Vice President of Global Sales Operations.
Richards has extensive business operations experience, having held executive leadership positions in sales development, site marketing, hospitality, human resources, and global sales operations during his tenure. In addition, he served as the executive sponsor of a multi-year technology initiative designed to enhance the company’s inventory management and reservation systems. Aligned with the company’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, Richards serves as executive sponsor of the company’s diversity resource group for Black associates and allies.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from North Carolina State University and holds real estate licenses in North Carolina and Florida.
Travel + Leisure Co. is a leading leisure travel company, providing more than six million vacations to travelers every year.
Panel: Principles of Excellence that Transcend Industries
The core principles that drive excellence—discipline, resilience, vision, and leadership—are not confined to a single profession. This dynamic panel brings together accomplished individuals from the worlds of athletics, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership to uncover the universal traits that define elite performance.
This session is a powerful reminder that true excellence is not limited by industry—it’s defined by the principles we live by and the impact we make.
Attendees will gain insight into:
- Transferrable Excellence: How mindset, preparation, and execution fuel success across disciplines.
- Team Dynamics: What leaders can learn from sports about building trust, communication, and shared accountability.
- Legacy and Impact: How mentorship, community service, and servant leadership create value beyond individual achievements.
Moderated by Dereck Whittenburg, this conversation will explore how the same principles that lead to victory on the field or court are being applied in boardrooms, startups, and communities.
