Meredith Marin's Inspiring Journey from Social Work to Vegan Hospitality CEO

In a recent episode of "On Air with Russell of Hotels," a top 40 Hospitality Podcast from a top 100 Hospitality Influencer, Meredith Marin shares her remarkable transformation from a dedicated social worker to the CEO of Vegan Hospitality. She offers detailed advice to hospitality professionals looking to enhance their restaurant and hotel programming by opening their doors to vegan guests. Influencer Russell L. Edmond, a plant based hospitality professional himself, hosted this fabulous conversation LIVE on LinkedIn.

Watch the full show below.

Here are the key points from Meredith’s inspiring journey:

Early Career in Social Work

Meredith Marin began her professional journey as a social worker, driven by a passion for community wellness and food justice. Her background in social work laid the foundation for her empathetic, mindful and people-focused approach, which would later become crucial in her entrepreneurial endeavors.

Embracing Veganism in Aruba

Marin's life took a transformative turn when she moved to Aruba. Immersed in the island's vibrant culture, she began to advocate for plant based food to become accessible and acceptable at restaurants and supermarkets. This experience of living a vegan lifestyle while supporting the hospitality and tourism industry in confidently serving not only herself and the local community but the growing vegan tourist population sparked a new professional vision.

Founding Vegan Hospitality

In 2017, recognizing a gap in the market, Marin founded Vegan Aruba. Her company aimed to help restaurants and hotels become vegan-friendly, enabling them to cater confidently to guests with dietary preferences and restrictions. The initiative was not just about food; it was about creating a welcoming environment for vegan travelers and promoting sustainability in the hospitality industry.

Global Impact and Recognition

In 2019, due to increased demand for expanding this work globally, Meredith registered her new company Vegan Hospitality in Florida, in the U.S.Vegan Hospitality quickly grew under Marin's leadership, establishing a global network of professionally trained vegan hospitality consultants. The company has trained consultants in 25+ countries and 20+ U.S. states. Consultants provide training and certification to hospitality businesses, with a current focus on certifying hotels that welcome vegan guests. Meredith's work has significantly impacted the industry, helping businesses improve their menu offerings, achieve sustainability goals, and enhance customer satisfaction.

We hope that Meredith’s story inspires anyone looking to make a meaningful impact through their career. Vegans who would like to consult for their communities can apply for our consultant training program here. For more details about Meredith Marin and her work, and to learn how Vegan Hospitality’s services can impact your business, watch the full episode above.