“We love the one-off projects, but our real passion and what we're really looking for are ownership groups where we can do a project with them, forge a relationship, build that trust, and then we grow alongside them.” Joining Dan is Aggie Zamir, Vice President of National Hospitality and Gaming at Cumming Group. They discuss Aggie's insights into the luxury hospitality industry, the importance of building trust and relationships, and how Cumming Group works as a project management office (PMO) and owner's representative. The conversation also touches on mentoring young professionals, the impact of industry organizations like AHLA, and the personal fulfillment that comes from fostering community within the hospitality sector. 

Takeaways: 

• Establish trusted relationships within your teams and with clients. Trust and strong relationships can help navigate through project stresses and challenges more effectively.
• Focus on finding clients who appreciate and value your service offerings and are looking for a long-term partnership. This can help with sustained, meaningful growth rather than just seeking one-off projects.
• Whether in a project setting or through professional dinner gatherings, creating a sense of community among colleagues, clients, and industry professionals can lead to more inspiring and productive collaborations.
• Navigate client preferences by partnering them with experienced team members who can help guide projects to success while respecting client visions and requests.
• Utilize available technology like project dashboards to keep track of multiple project metrics and ensure streamlined communication across teams and with clients.
• Get involved in mentoring young professionals or students in related fields. It can be both personally rewarding and beneficial for the industry.

Quote of the Show:

“Everybody can participate in their community or participate in the industry or mentoring in their own personal way, right? There's no prescription for it.” - Aggie Zamir

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aggie-zamir-a750982b/ 
• Website: https://cumming-group.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 0:42 - AHLA https://www.ahla.com/ 
• 0:45 - SCI Arc https://www.sciarc.edu/ 
• 2:37 - Redbird https://redbird.la/ 
• 37:16 - Joe Saatcamp https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-saatkamp-3b1b6712/ 
• 37:32 - TRT Holdings https://trtholdings.com/ 
• 37:39 - Omni Hotels https://www.omnihotels.com/ 
• 38:46 - Gavin Middleton https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-middleton-48aa9910/ 
• 38:56 - Starwood Capital https://www.starwoodcapital.com/ 
• 42:35 - Channing Henry https://www.linkedin.com/in/channinghenry/ 
• 43:45 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 
• 52:16 - Hollywood Bowl https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/ 
• 52:18 - Musso and Frank’s https://mussoandfrank.com/ 
• 52:25 - Dodgers https://www.mlb.com/dodgers 
• 52:28 - Rams https://www.therams.com/ 

🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
• Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/