In this episode of Lobby Talks, host Ravi Sharma, General Manager at Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills, sits down with Austin Connors, General Manager of the Arvest Convention Center, for a deep dive into what it really takes to operate at the intersection of hospitality, events, and citywide tourism.

Both leaders share their passion for service, the fast-paced world of event and hotel management, and how they’ve built a powerful partnership—even when some might view their roles as competitive.

Whether you’re a hotel professional, event planner, destination marketer, CVB partner, convention center operator, or tourism pro, this episode is packed with insights on collaboration, leadership, and navigating constant change.

Chapters:

1:00 — Raised in the Biz: Austin’s Second-Generation Convention Center Story
3:00 — When the World Stopped: How the Pandemic Reshaped Events
5:00 — Why Tulsa? Austin’s Journey to Leading the Arvest Convention Center
10:00 — No Off Days: Managing Major Transitions When Events Never Pause
13:00 — Power in Partnership: How MTH&LA Connects Tulsa’s Hospitality Pros
16:40 — Behind the Curtain: Why Events Are One Big Production
20:00 — Citywide Wins: How Massive Events Demand Massive Collaboration
25:00 — New Frontiers: Hybrid Meetings, Tech Shifts & the Rise of AI
27:00 — Better Together: The Tourism Partnerships Elevating Tulsa
29:00 — Bridging the Gap: Connecting City Stakeholders and the VenueConnect with the Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills or the Arvest Convention Center to explore how their teams can support your next meeting, conference, or citywide event (links below). https://www.arvestconventioncenter.comhttps://www.marriott.com/tulse