Dan Wacksman

About Dan Wacksman

I lead two platforms that support the hotel and travel industry in different ways. Sassato works with hotels, resorts, and travel companies around the world and helps them move faster and fix the complex strategy, tech, and distribution issues that slow down performance. Hawaii Hotel Hui focuses on Hawaii’s hotel and tourism community and creates a space where leaders, partners, and rising talent can stay connected and informed.Sassato LLCA lot of companies deal with stretched teams, siloed processes, and messy tech stacks that stall important projects. Sassato steps in when that happens.We help organizations• Assess and audit strategy, processes, and technology• Untangle complex systems• Lead vendor selection, RFPs, and implementations• Deliver clear recommendations that drive resultsThink of Sassato as a geekier Seal Team 6 for hospitality. We come in fast, solve the hard stuff, and leave the operation stronger than before.Hawaii Hotel HuiHawaii Hotel Hui exists to strengthen the hotel and tourism community here in Hawaii. The Hui brings people together through a twice a month newsletter filled with insight, context, and conversations that shape where Hawaii’s hotel and tourism industry is heading.The Hui also supports vendors and tech partners who want to understand the Hawaii market or enter it the right way. Hawaii is a unique market and vendors often need guidance on how to position their products and services, navigate the landscape, and build trust. The Hui gives them that bridge.Hawaii is my adopted home and supporting this industry is important to me. That connection is a big part of why the Hui exists.What connects both rolesEverything I work on comes back to a simple idea. Help the hotel and travel industry run smarter and move faster. Whether I am untangling a tech stack or helping a vendor understand Hawaii, my focus is clarity, speed, and execution that sticks.Sassato () is a Japanese word often translated as “quickly,” but it means more than that—it’s about not wasting time and delivering results fast. That’s our philosophy: clarity, speed, and execution that sticks.

Experience

1. Start-up Mentor

   Blue Startups

   Jul 2025 — Present

   Mentor at Blue Startups, a top-ranked Hawaii-based accelerator, advising tech entrepreneurs on fundraising, marketing, and scalable business strategy.

Education

• Fordham University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), History and Political Science

Skills

• Business Management
• Online Travel
• E-Commerce
• Online Marketing
• Travel Technology
• Digital Marketing
• Business Integration
• Hotels
• Mergers
• Tourism
• Marketing Strategy
• Strategic Planning
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategy Development
• Hospitality
• Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Strategy
• Trusted Business Partner
• Online Advertising
• Business Development
• Sales
• Business Strategy
• Hospitality Industry
• Start-Ups
• Integrated Marketing
• Marketing
• SEO
• Email Marketing
• Leadership
• Mergers
• Hotel Management
• Hospitality Management