The Room Block

In a recent article listing the top 30 most stressful jobs in the world, the events and hospitality industry had the honor of securing 4 different positions. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was an organization dedicated to cultivating better mental health and wellbeing in events, and for the professionals who work within the industry? Lucky for us, help is on the way! Rachael Riggs returns to the The Room Block, not only to share what she has been up to in her position of WellBeing Leader at Maritz Global Events, but also as the first US Ambassador for EventWell, a UK based organization launching in North America on March 3, 2021.

Rachael Riggs is the WellBeing Leader at Maritz Global Events, as well as the North American President and Board of Trustee for EventWell. Rachael is a 25+ year career veteran in the event industry who is passionate about integrating wellbeing into the event experience. Having spent time on both the planner and supplier side of the event industry, Rachael landed her ultimate job experience just prior to the pandemic as the WellBeing Leader for Maritz Global Events. Connect with Rachael at linkedin.com/in/rachaelriggs.

EventWell, based in the UK, is the event industry’s trailblazing and official not for profit social enterprise and charitable organization dedicated to campaigning, educating and supporting better mental health and wellbeing in events. EventWell is launching in North America on March 3, 2021! Learn more at eventwell.org.

This is The Courtesy Block, a chip off The Room Block podcast.

Can you or your company claim a purpose that inspires the people working with and for you? It takes a visionary leader to fuel this kind of passion, and a little Swiss hospitality doesn't hurt either. Philippe Clarinval and Rob Brandenberg are Hotel General Managers and friends who share the mentality required to infuse their teams with a dedication to service excellence, even during a pandemic. Listen in as Philippe and Rob chat about managing vs. leading, positivity vs. hope, and why it's so important to strike a balance between the transactional and the transformative.

Philippe Clarinval is the General Manager at Carlton Hotel St. Moritz. Following completion of his MBA degree in hotel management, Philippe worked around the world. After holding several management positions in Europe, the USA and Asia, he then served as Resident Manager of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Indonesia and Malaysia. Following that appointment, he spent seven years as Managing Director of the five-star Omnia Mountain Lodge luxury hotel in Zermatt, which he transformed into one of Switzerland's leading hotels. Philippe is a multilingual Swiss-Belgian citizen, a member of the European Hotel Managers Association, and a current Doctoral Candidate at the University of Liverpool. He has also obtained certificates in Executive Leadership and Higher Education Teaching from the University of Oxford and Harvard University, respectively.

Connect with Philippe at https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarinval/

Learn more about the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz at https://carlton-stmoritz.ch/en

Rob Brandenberg is the General Manager at the Pan Pacific Seattle. Prior to this, he held positions such as the Director of Food & Beverage, Director of Operations and Hotel Manager in locations including Atlanta, San Francisco, San Diego, Jakarta and Bangkok. Rob has worked for several luxury hotel brands like St. Regis, Peninsula, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Regent and Le Méridien. The start of his over two-decade long hotel career started as a pastry chef back in Zurich, Switzerland, where he was also born. Going through a formal culinary training in a Grand Hotel in his hometown, his path let to New York City where he started his first assistant management role with the Peninsula Hotel Group. After stints in the Manhattan Restaurant scene, he returned to the world of hotels for good to pursue his dream of becoming a General Manager.

Connect with Rob at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-a-brandenberg-2632366/

Learn more about the Pan Pacific Seattle at https://www.panpacificseattle.com

Can a virtual event be transformative? If you attended PCMA Convening Leaders 2021, you might say so. In this Courtesy Block episode, I recap the highlights and my main takeaways from this year's event, including the importance of having a strong host or moderator. It may be one of the elements that helps take an engaged attendee to an event evangelist.

Learn more at conveningleaders.org.

This is The Courtesy Block, a chip off The Room Block podcast.

How do you want to remember this critical time in our history? Business events industry veterans and co-hosts of the TRAVELING Podcast, Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth want to be part of the story. By being some of the voices that bring our industry's biggest issues and opportunities into the forefront, Dan and Ryan are helping to create a narrative - not just for the events industry, but for themselves as well. Listen in to find out how their friendship has been the backdrop to taking risks and setting trends, all in the name of moving our industry forward.

Dan Sherman is Vice President, Business Development at Freeman, Founder & Contributor at HIP Network, and Co-Host at Traveling Podcast. With over 19 years of industry experience, Sherman has successfully supported hundreds of North America’s top events, which include Major League Baseball, U.S. Department of State, Specialty Food Association, American Chemical Society, U.S. Green Building Council, Indianapolis 500, Heisman Trophy Weekend and many more.

Over the years, he has been recognized as a Top Intermediary Partner for Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Omni Hotels & Resorts. In addition, Sherman was honored with the prestigious 2014 Conrad Hilton “Be Big” Award Winner as well as the Connect Meetings 40 Under 40 Award.

Sherman has also launched and managed some of the industry’s most forward-thinking services and brands, including the development and sale of three successful companies: ShowScore (acquired in 2017), Sherman Hospitality (acquired in 2016) and Legacy Sustainability Management (acquired in 2012) in addition to HIP Network, Sessions in the City and ConveneGreen.

A passionate industry advocate within the group business and hospitality sector, Sherman also holds professional memberships in ASAE, PCMA, and IAEE.

Connect with Dan Sherman at linkedin.com/in/dansherman12/ 

Ryan Barth, CMP is a 15-year veteran of the meeting and event industry currently serving as Digital Sales Manager, Virtual Events for Freeman. Ryan works exclusively on Freeman's virtual event platform, OnlineEventPro, assisting clients with their online event portfolio. Prior to his current role, Ryan worked as a National Sales Manager for Visit Indy, Co-Founder of the Hospitality Industry Professionals (HIP) Network and as a Global Account Executive for ConferenceDirect. Ryan is a certified meeting professional (CMP) and has volunteered for CVB Reps as Board Chairman and as a board member for the Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPS). He was awarded in the inaugural class of PCMA's "30 under 30 Future Industry Leader" in 2014.

Ryan graduated from Indiana University and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Connect with Ryan Barth at linkedin.com/in/ryan-barth-cmp-42a39a3/

You can find the TRAVELING Podcast at travelingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ or any major podcast platform.

What does esports have to do with the events industry? As it turns out, quite a bit. Mega event organizer and esports subject matter expert Rebecca De Freitas joins me to talk about how event organizers can power up their planning game by leveling up their esports XP. Rebecca shares how her love of video games combined with her events industry experience gives her a unique perspective on the strong potential of an esports-infused future. Find out how the esports culture caters to the next generation of meeting attendees, and what you can do now to start engaging with your younger audiences in new and meaningful ways.

Rebecca de Freitas MPS, DES is a mega event organizer and esport SME. Through her career, she has worked with clients such as Partnership for a Healthier America, ESPN and The Commission on Presidential Debates. Her May 2020 master's thesis "Gen Z + Esports: Digitizing the Live Event Brand" from Georgetown University's Global Hospitality Leadership program has been accepted in IFITT's program. Rebecca is based in the Washington, DC area. 

Connect with Rebecca de Freitas at linkedin.com/in/rebeccadefreitas or visit shoutcasterlimited.com.

This is The Courtesy Block, a chip off The Room Block podcast.

2020 was a year for the history books, and I was lucky enough to have some of the very best teachers in the form of my incredible guests. So what did I learn? Join me as I count down the Top 10 lessons from this year's guests. Relive some of the quotes that best illustrate some ideas that are worth taking from 2020 into 2021.

Thinking of getting certified as a Digital Event Strategist (DES)? Amanda Duski, CMP, DES, Associate Director, Conference Services at the Alzheimer's Association and Kari Messenger, CMP, DES, Senior Manager, Meetings at the Association Management Center lead us through their career journeys, pre-COVID to DES-certified. Join us for a candid conversation about the chain of events that led each of these women to seek out the DES certification, what to know about the course and test, and Amanda and Kari's thoughts on who should get DES-certified, and why.

To learn more about obtaining your DES certification, please visit https://www.pcma.org/products/des/.

Amanda Duski, CMP, DES is the Associate Director, Conference Services at the Alzheimer's Association where she executes in-person and digital events for their home office as well as nationwide chapters. She completed the ECPAT-USA human trafficking course and became a Business Events Protector this past spring. You can connect with Amanda at linkedin.com/in/aduski.

Kari Messenger, CMP, DES has been serving Association Management Center (AMC) and their clients for five years, and in the association industry since 2010. In 2019 Kari was elected to serve on the Board for Association for Women in Events (AWE), where she can spread her passion of women helping other women grow and inspire each other in the events community. Kari was a recipient of the Connect 40 under 40 award in 2019 and 2020 Association Forum Forty Under 40. You can connect with Kari at linkedin.com/in/kari-messenger-cmp.

What's your next move when faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge? Joann Chmura, Director of Client Services for Simpson Healthcare and Ephraim Yarmak, Founder of #1000Hires both believe that the answer is to help another in need. Join me as Joann and Ephraim share how what could have been their darkest hours were brightened by the actions they took helping and connecting with their communities. With an acute understanding of the pain and suffering that so many job seekers are facing right now, Joann and Ephraim empathize with and encourage listeners who may find themselves or their loved ones in such a position. This conversation showcases humanity at its best, and will leave you feeling hopeful knowing that help is out there.

About Joann Chmura CMM, CIS, HMCC: With 20+ years of experience as a Meeting and Event Project Management Professional, Joann is an expert relationship builder and a cost effective time manager. In addition to being an invaluable team member, she has won awards for her work on the Human Trafficking Steering Committee and Task Force with Maritz Global Events. Prior to that, she was the sole proprietor of Strategic Meetings and Events, LLC, a full-service meeting planning company.

linkedin.com/in/joannchmura

About Ephraim Yarmak: Ephraim founded #1000Hires in May 2020. Their goal is to empower people in their job search and create leaders that pay it forward. The #1000hires project aims to get at least 1,000 people impacted by COVID layoffs back on their feet, using bite-sized video interviews for recruiters and prospective employers to get a glimpse of their stories.

1000hires.com

linkedin.com/company/1000hires

linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak

The sales and revenue management departments of a hotel are dependent on each other to achieve success, yet, the more they agree with each other the less successful the hotel will be. Jeff Borman, Founder & Chief of travelINNsights and Steve Pierce, Director of Sales & Marketing from the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA examine the delicate and at times misunderstood relationship between sales and revenue management, how they win or lose together (including at Fantasy Football) and what each department is up against as we move through the pandemic.

About Jeff Borman: With over 20 years of hospitality management, Jeff has a wide range of experiences from early beginnings in hotel operations, reservations sales and marketing.  The majority of the last 20 years has been leading Revenue Management for Marriott and Hilton, with specific expertise in analytics, pricing science and inventory management.  He has held roles across all hotel kinds- from limited service and extended stay to full service, boutique and luxury.  Those roles have spanned from regional leadership in the US and Asia to global headquarters roles in Bethesda and McLean.  For 3 years, he lead the eCommerce strategy and analysis department in charge of OTA, GDS and 3rd party vendor valuations and negotiation strategies.  He then joined Park Hotels & Resorts in the Asset Management team.

Most recently, he founded the tourism and hospitality advisory travelINNsights (https://travelinnsights.com/) a consulting company serving hotel owners and investors. They also publish hospitality research and the economics of the travel industry for the general public.

When not helping the travel industry as an employee, Jeff is supporting it as a customer having hiked, dined and mingled with locals in over 70 countries and 42 States.  When grounded at his home in Alexandria Virginia, he can usually be found in the kitchen (preferably the outdoor one) or rummaging through the wine cellar proudly trying to recall recently acquired sommelier skills.

About Steve Pierce: Steve grew up on Long Island, NY and now lives in Fairfax, VA with his wife Nicole and their two kids, Rebecca and Owen. He has been in the hotel industry for 30 years starting on the restaurant side and operations. He has had the pleasure of working for Marriott International for the last 22 years in Revenue Management, Corporate HQ, Sales and Marketing, and is currently the DOSM at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasgw-crystal-gateway-marriott/). In his time-off, he enjoys watching baseball and co-authored a book on his favorite team – “off to see the Yankees.”

Understanding and embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a necessity in our personal and professional lives. Join me for a conversation with three event-industry leaders who have taken an active role in DEI advocacy and education, as they share how they got involved, and more importantly, why. Discover why empathy is so key to having a productive conversation that can push us forward.

Shameka Jennings is the Director of Meetings & Partnership Development for the National Coalition of STD Directors, and is part of ASAE’s 2020-2022 Diversity Executive Leadership Program Class.

http://www.shamekajennings.com

Gus Martinez is a Diversity Consultant and Founder of GSM Consulting, LLC, and has 17 years of experience in the tourism and non-profit sector working in sales, marketing, diversity, and operations.

http://www.gsmdiversity.com

Anthony Molino is Director of Hotel Sales with Choose Chicago, and Immediate Past President of the MPI Potomac Chapter, which received the 2020 MPI RISE Award for Industry Advocate.

www.mpi.org/chapters/potomac/media-resources/diversity-inclusion