After nearly three decades of staging impactful gatherings for others, one was staged for Brian Stevens. And, characteristically, it will benefit many others over many years.
Stevens, who co-founded ConferenceDirect, the global meetings and events solution powerhouse, in 1998 and is retiring as its executive chairman, was honored by 290 hospitality and meetings industry leaders on Oct. 11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for “An Evening of Legacy and Leadership,” raising $1 million to benefit the new Brian D. Stevens Hospitality Education Fund.
The event, which was held during IMEX America, reflected “a unique collaboration among leaders from some of the meetings and hospitality industry’s most influential organizations,” as stated in a press release from ConferenceDirect. Leadership from MPI, ASAE, Destinations International, PCMA and IMEX will serve as founding members of the hospitality education fund, “demonstrating a shared commitment to investing in the future of the industry.”
“The evening was humbling,” Stevens himself says, “seeing ASAE, PCMA, MPI and Destinations International come together with IMEX to give me a send-off into retirement with a lasting legacy.”
Supporting the Industry Leaders of the Future
The fund was created to support scholarships and educational opportunities for the next generation of hospitality and meetings industry leaders.
“Rather than awarding scholarships directly to individual students,” as Stevens explained after the event, “the fund provides financial support to participating colleges and universities. Those institutions then identify and select students based on financial need, with the scholarship assistance applied toward their tuition. This approach allows schools to determine where the support can make the greatest difference for students pursuing careers in hospitality, meetings and events.”
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Throughout the evening, industry leaders took turns honoring Stevens as a friend, colleague and mentor, sharing heartfelt stories, laughter and expressions of gratitude. The celebration was emceed by Roger Dow, CEO of DOW GLOBAL and former president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association.
Several founding members of the fund were featured in a video tribute to Stevens. They included Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International; Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of ASAE; Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI; and Sherrif Karamat, CAE, president and CEO of PCMA and CEMA. Together, they reflected on Stevens’ extensive contributions to the meetings and events industry and his enduring commitment to collaboration, mentorship and leadership.
Other founding members of the fund offered personal tributes during the event. These included Mike Gamble, chairman and CEO of SearchWide Global; Ray Bloom, chairman of IMEX Group; Jerry Horan, president and CEO of ConferenceDirect; Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of Destination DC; and Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide.
Others who wish invest in the next generation of hospitality leaders are encouraged to make a donation through the Brian D. Stevens Hospitality Education Fund’s website at bdshef.org.
Stevens’ Advice to Future Leaders
Smart Meetings took the occasion of the Stevens’ retirement to ask him to reflect on his long and successful career and to offer advice to those who will follow him. Here are our questions and his replies.
What inspired you to devote your career to the events and hospitality industry?
My father was an association executive with the American Bankers Association, and I loved attending his annual meetings while I was in college. Plus, the suppliers were always better dressed.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned throughout your career?
Never burn a bridge. Whether you’re a meeting planner or a supplier, you never know when the person you’re working with today might become your future boss, or customer.
What was your best decision—and what was your worst?
My best decision was earning my MBA in marketing. My worst decision? Not starting my company four years sooner.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to the first recipients from the Brian D. Stevens Hospitality Education Fund?
Get a mentor. Scholarships are valuable, but a truly great mentor can be even harder to find.
My advice is to seek out someone who is about four positions ahead of where you are in your career. When you reach that level yourself, find a new mentor who can help guide you through the next stage of your career.
Mentorships have a shelf life, and that’s okay. Over the course of a good career, you may have two or three mentors. But always stay in touch with those who helped you early on.
