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This nonprofit organization utilizes corporate gifting to change lives

“You’re lucky if you get an opportunity to see the impact of the work that you do.” – Tamra Ryan, CEO, Women’s Bean Project

Whether you are supplying conference attendees with gifts or sending personalized gifts to business partners, associates or friends, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be demonstrated through the choices planners and executives make when choosing a gifting supplier that is using their proceeds for good.

Women’s Bean Project is a nonprofit organization hiring women who have been unsuccessful in finding employment and provides a personalized program for each individual to bolster their self-esteem and learn life and job skills they can utilize anywhere they go. Smart Meetings sat down with CEO Tamra Ryan to discuss the mission and how choosing Women’s Bean Project for corporate gifting is mutually beneficial and rewarding on many levels.

The Program

Women’s Bean Project temporarily hires women who have found it difficult to gain and/or maintain employment and through what Ryan calls a “self-sufficiency matrix” assessment test on their first day of hire, staff is equipped to recommend different classes that can be the most beneficial for each woman as their reasons for struggling with employment can vary greatly.

Tamra Ryan, CEO, Women's Bean Foundation — Tamra Ryan, CEO, Women’s Bean Foundation

“For instance, we do a whole series around trauma and recognizing the impact of trauma on one’s life,” says Ryan. “So that could be transformative for one person who has really not understood what her reaction to her past trauma is.”

“On the other hand, they’re in a computer class,” continues Ryan. “A woman in her 50s, who never turned on a computer before, that can be transformative. She can create an email address and she knows how to attach a resume to it.”

Ryan stresses the main goal of the 6–9-month program is to give women the skills for self-sufficiency to job search and maintain employment after they leave the program. “I think of it like a toolbox,” says Ryan. “She’s filling her toolbox. We want her to be able to replicate the job search when she leaves.”

Read More: CSR Fights Hunger

Corporate Gifting

One of the ways Women’s Bean Project spreads its message and products is through corporate gifting. With a wide variety of gift packages and individual gifts, the nonprofit organization has the ability to send one gift or in bulk to each recipient when given a list by a corporate client. With more and more companies paying attention to CSR, Ryan says Women’s Bean Project is an impactful way to have meaningful corporate gifting.

“What we do is (provide) an opportunity to actually purchase a product and send it to a client,” she says. “And then, I think, that the ‘halo effect’ that the company gets from supporting an organization is real.”

The gifts come to recipients as more than just products from a nonprofit organization, but with stories to connect people to the woman who hand-packed the gift with a short anecdote about her life. “We work really hard to make sure that when somebody gets our product in their hands, every one of our products tells a little story,” says Ryan. “We’re just trying to reinforce that there’s actually a person whose life has been changed by this product.”

With gift boxes and bundles of various themes and sizes, corporate gifting can be personalized as the client sees fit. There is a soup and cornbread gift, and a whole mealtime gift box. There is a rice and bean cup variety pack and a cookie gift set. Purchase the sampler boxes to get a little bit of everything, or for dog lovers, there is even a dog treat gift box!

Women's Bean Project Gift Box

Not only are the gifts packaged by the program participants, the women also are involved in new product ideas and encouraged to give their ideas and opinions. “We started with bean soup mix, that’s where the name came from,” says Ryan. “Since then, when we’re thinking about introducing a new product, we always engage the program participants in taste testing and rating.” She was hesitant to name a favorite product but did mention the “really yummy” split pea soup and the ginger zing trail mix.

How to Get Involved

Partnering with Women’s Bean Project to provide services and volunteers for training helps the participants put even more “tools in their tool kit.” From helping participants build a professional wardrobe, to health and dental care to mental wellness support, corporate and community partners help Women’s Bean Project provide the best for their participants. Yet the best way to support is to simply choose the nonprofit for corporate gifting.

“The one thing I always want to drive home is that we are a sales driven organization and sales create jobs,” says Ryan. “If someone would like to support us, one of the best ways to do it, which is mutually beneficial, is by ordering our products or giving them as gifts.”

Ryan ensures Women’s Bean Project can handle large orders from corporations with long lists of recipients or a meeting planner’s need to supply large conferences.

“What is appealing to meeting planners is that we can do really big bulk orders,” says Ryan. “We do gifts for conferences. We also have the ability to take a company’s list and ship to as many addresses they wish.”

While growing up in Acapulco, Mexico, Robert Sanchez, CMP, dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot. He imagined himself alongside the heroes of Top Gun, living a fast-paced life, helping people through service and enjoying days on the beach.

He grew up to become one of Events Industry Council’s (EIC) proud Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). But this profession isn’t too far off; he tells Smart Meetings that “the discipline, preparation and vision” present in the fighter pilots of Top Gun are “all essential when leading a team and planning missions – I mean, events!”

Sanchez currently works as the president and CEO of the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce and is the co-founder of S3 Global Events. He attended Texas Tech University to earn a degree in Hospitality in RHIM (Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management). In 2006, he earned his CMP certification from EIC.

Sanchez spoke to Smart Meetings about what inspired him to earn his CMP and where the certification has brought him.

Earning His CMP

He began his career in hospitality sales and learned of EIC’s CMP program after joining his local Meeting Professionals International (MPI) chapter, Dallas-Fort Worth. He advises professionals interested in earning a CMP to first volunteer and join professional organizations. This will allow them to network and become a noteworthy candidate for scholarships. It is indispensable to trust the guidance of mentors and professionals who already hold CMPs.

“The CMPs I met were well-respected, had credibility, and belonged to an exclusive group of professionals.” Encouraged by mentors who held CMP certifications themselves, Sanchez aspired to earn his own. “I knew I wanted to gain [this] knowledge and be a trusted resource for my customers.”

As he prepared to earn his CMP, Sanchez found an incredibly supportive community through EIC’s study buddy program. “It was such a great bonding experience,” he says. “I will always cherish the friendships I developed.” He encourages professionals currently pursuing their CMP to participate in this program and to study by taking practice exams, but most importantly, to prepare for the real exam by getting quality rest, taking their time during the exam and trusting that they have come into the exam prepared.

Where The CMP Certification Has Brought Him

Now, over 15 years after earning his CMP, Sanchez has enjoyed a fruitful career. He co-founded S3 Global Incentive Trips & Events, creating and executing successful in-person experiences and meetings. He had the honor of serving as the 2021-2022 chapter president of MPI Dallas-Fort Worth. Just recently, he assumed the position of CEO of Colleyville Chamber. “Obtaining my CMP…has helped me meet professionals from across the globe through conclave, groups and communities. It has also opened doors to fantastic friendships, valuable business partnerships and numerous career opportunities.”

Today, Sanchez says, the CMP certification is expected by many organizations and listed as a requirement in many job descriptions. More professionals than ever seek to attain it. And as times (and demands for meetings) have changed, the CMP certification has evolved.

Sanchez’s first event kept him up at night. “Even though I had the credentials, relationships and numerous hours of preparation, I was still anxious to make sure everything went well,” he remembers. One of his more recent experiences was a board of directors’ retreat in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. “It was a beautiful setting…There were so many complex parts…[but] it was a spectacular success with the contingency plans in place, safety protocols and my professional partnerships.”

Looking Forward

He envisions a bright future for the events industry. “Events are back,” he says, as people seek more in-person events following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Industry associations are growing as people seek education and resources, there’s greater legislative support and student programs are excelling at colleges and universities.” He sees both seasoned and young professionals making great strides in the industry.

So, Robert Sanchez did not grow up to become a fighter pilot along the ranks of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. But his attention to both fine details and the big picture, his drive, and dedication to his team makes him an absolutely standout leader and a CMP to look up to for those driven minds just entering the industry.

Constance Samuels, CMP, likes to live by the phrase, “Work hard, play harder.” Armed with her outlook, notes and events apps, her trusty three-ring binder and a medium black coffee, Samuels leads events that go off without a hitch. Afterwards, she treats herself to some much-needed self-care and rest.

“Planning an event is not simple,” she says. “[The CMP designation] continues to solidify our existence in the multibillion-dollar event industry not as an option, but as a need.”

Growing up, she wanted to be a teacher; then, an architect. By high school, she wasn’t sure. Career aptitude tests pointed her towards hospitality. “I leaned into what the tests suggested and haven’t looked back since,” she says. “Who knows what I would have initially majored in in college, but I feel in my heart of hearts, it would’ve eventually led me to this wonderful industry and career.”

She worked in hotel and DMO sales for 7.5 years before pursuing her CMP. “With a hospitality management background, I was aware of the certification but wasn’t sure where my career would lead me and if I would actually need it,” she says. “It wasn’t until my second industry role that I realized that not only would it apply to what I was doing at work, my company would support me in studying for it and help pay for me to obtain the certification.”

Preparing for the Exam

Having worked in sales roles, she says “I wasn’t sure that I had the applicable experience to pass it.” Despite her doubts, in early 2016, she began studying for the exam anyway. In 2017, she passed on her first try.

She joined a virtual study group to prepare. “It’s important to get a different perspective in thinking through questions, and being challenged by your peers is the best way to do that,” she says.

Flashcards became her best friend. “Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards!” she exclaims. “I had a huge stack that I made based on the content of the slides from my virtual study group. I used colorful sharpies to write different prompts and questions. I would play different games that included me reciting definitions, filling in the blanks and matching.”

She also relied heavily on her network. “I have always been of the thought that I can gain wisdom and knowledge from other industry colleagues that have been in events longer than I have,” she says. Samuels would schedule peer-to-peer interviews with individuals outside her organization to hear different perspectives and tips that would be helpful as she built her career. She also attended webinars regularly, learning skills and habits that strengthened her ability to perform her roles.

“In the words of the emergency alert system: ‘This is only a test.’”

“The CMP [exam] was intimidating, and I am a self-proclaimed overthinker,” she says. To anyone looking to take the CMP exam now, she advises, “Studying is very important, but if there are some things you don’t totally grasp, it’s okay.”

As a helpful tip, Samuels recommends the “brain dump” technique: At the beginning of the test, write down all the formulas and concepts you don’t want to forget on your scratch paper. Refer to it throughout the test so you can easily reference everything you want to remember when a relevant question comes along.

It’s also important to avoid second-guessing yourself, she says. “If there is one answer that sticks out to you, there is a reason why—and it’s probably because it’s the right answer.”

Where She is Now

Only six months after earning her CMP designation, Samuels took on her first planning role as association event manager. “I had the opportunity to apply everything I learned. Since then, I have had the pleasure of planning several events, and growing my career in ways that I didn’t know were possible.”

At her first event for which she was lead planner, a 200-plus person conference in Louisville, she says, “I was a nervous wreck, and I probably held my breath through the entire three-day event.” But everything went flawlessly. “Seeing everything come to fruition reaffirmed my decision to transition to the event side of the business. There are so many other events that I am proud of and have left me with memories I’ll never forget, but it’s always the first that will hold a special place in my heart.”

She now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and works in a full-time event management role, as director of events and education at National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), a company that seeks to grow, promote and support the PEO industry, which provides HR services to small to mid-size companies.

Looking Forward

Samuels feels inspired by the industry’s continued evolution and its agility during the turbulence of the past few years. “While it’s true there will never be anything to replicate face-to-face meetings, we have found innovative ways to heighten the creativity, engagement and connectivity of events through the avenues of technology as it relates to the changing attendee profile.”

Like many CMPs, Samuels sees the designation evolving alongside the industry. “[It] will always be a highly regarded certification for event professionals that are dedicated to their craft and who find importance in continuing to grow, not only in their own careers, but in the industry as a whole…It is a stamp of confidence that is looked at when there is a company or organization looking for the right person to get the job done.”

After executing a great event, you can find Cynthia MacDonald, CMP, recharging on the beach before setting out to plan her next meeting and event experience. She grew up planning spectacular parties for her family and friends. In her adulthood, she has built an illustrious career as a meeting and event planner.

She now works as a travel operations manager at Cascadia Motivation, a company that helps organizations develop, create and execute relationship enhancement programs and events for their employees. She lives in Ontario, Canada, close to where she grew up.

To plan a smooth event and keep everyone aligned, she views communication as essential. She uses WhatsApp to connect with her events team whenever needed. And during a busy event, her number one way to refuel is with a protein bar.

MacDonald enrolled in an event management course in college and graduated with honors before going on to pursue her CMP. Over the past six years since she earned it, the designation has been incredibly rewarding for her career. She says, “Don’t think twice about whether you should or should not put in the time and effort into getting your CMP. All the effort, all the studying, all the experience is definitely worth it.”

Why earn your CMP?

Her CMP designation has helped her to stand out as the best of the best in the event industry. “It makes a huge difference with employers who want to know that you understand the business. It has shown that I know all of what goes into building a successful, well-executed event,” she says.

“[My CMP designation] gives them confidence and it gives me confidence.”

MacDonald shared her favorite quote, which couldn’t be more fitting to her gratification around earning the CMP designation. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” She believes in the importance of investing in ourselves. “The reward for doing so is so much greater than you can imagine.”

Preparing for the Exam

When asked about what advice she would share with professionals who are preparing to take the CMP exam, MacDonald says, “Make what you have studied relatable to real life experiences. If you find that there is a domain you don’t have much experience with, then be sure to learn as much as you can about it before taking the exam.

“Know your stuff and be confident. Stress can block your mind and make you question what you know. Relax, take a deep breath and go for it!”

She found flash cards to be an invaluable tool, and recommends downloading apps to help you study, so you can prepare anytime, anywhere.

Looking Forward

MacDonald recognizes that the CMP designation is growing. “A few years ago, it was still just considered something new and not something that was needed,” she says. “Today, more and more people who have a hand in the events industry are recognizing the need to have a certified level of standardization, skills and knowledge for event management and creation. That recognition continues to raise the bar and hold event planners to a higher industry standard.”

MacDonald doesn’t have just one event that stands out. “Every event I have created has been memorable, not only for me, but for my attendees. There is no greater thrill than to overhear someone talk about an event they went to and recognize it as one of your own.”

She sees the events industry continuing to flourish. “New technology, along with new and innovative ideas into both the attendee experience and the behind-the-scenes world of events helps all levels of event planners build and plan more epic events with greater ease and attention to detail.”

MacDonald went on to earn her CMM and DES in order to further develop her skills after gaining more experience. She is an example of just how far specialized continuing education can take people in their careers. With her passion for building and executing incredible events, and the work she has done to fuel that passion, MacDonald is an industry pioneer every event planner can look up to, and she demonstrates just how valuable the CMP designation is for any planner looking to earn their own.

Read More: Get to Know Robert Sanchez, CMP

6 tips for a smooth European event from an international DMC expert

If it seems to you everyone is taking their incentive meeting to Europe this year, you are not alone. International destinations often increase the perceived value of an experience in the mind of the participants making the reward (in the case of an incentive program) even more unique and unforgettable.

Pent-up demand has filled planes going across the pond. U.S. News & World Report highlighted the most popular European cities for 2023 and three of the top 10 were in Italy.

TerraEvents, a destination management company that operates in Italy, Spain, Portugal and France recently hosted a customer event for DMC Network in Milan, Italy, this summer and President Lorenzo Pignatti, DMCP, shared some of the reasons for the migration and tips for hosting a successful incentive, corporate event or conference in the Old Country.

1. Explore Widely

cathedral

That U.S. News list included Rome (No. 2 with an emphasis on fresh Italian cooking and stately historical sights), Florence (No. 7 thanks to popular museums, architecture and the beautiful Piazza della Signoria) and Venice (No. 9 for its iconic canals, opulent St. ark’s Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs). But the country is a treasure trove of cultural experiences. The Lombardy region anchored by the capital Milan and nearby Lake Como afford easy access to an urban-resort pairing event grounded in centuries of history and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

2. Start Early

The first tip is to book early and contract early! Italy does not have a lot of large hotels so if your program requires a peak of more than 100 rooms on a five-star category I suggest anticipating as much as you can the hotel sourcing and contracting, especially if you travel on shoulder and peak seasons. The leisure and MICE market time windows have started overlapping more intensively in the past 12 months so the earlier the better.

3. Call the Local DMC

The second tip is related to the first. Get in touch with your local DMC well in advance because they might help you find availability in independent hotels not necessarily on your radar with the major brands. Remember, the DMC might be struggling with bandwidth as well and putting a placeholder in their calendars will be of great help.

Engaging with a DMC before contracting the hotel is always a smart move as we are the neutral consultants you need when it comes to selecting one hotel over another in a given destination. With such high demand and a current focus on revenue management, hotels are reluctant to hold group allotments for any length of time, so work with your DMC to plan your site visit and timeframe for contracting accordingly.

4. Manage Your Budget

Although the price of the airlift has increased in the last year as it has for domestic flights, in Europe you can still save a lot of money on hotels and F&B services compared to the average costs in tier 1 destinations in the U.S.

The exchange rate is always a moving part of our negotiations, but it has never been a major concern or a main deciding factor as fluctuations (except some rare occasions) are always contained and can be counterbalanced with some adjustments to the program. Some of our clients prefer to buy Euros in advance—when convenient—if they know they have one or more programs in the EU in the following 12/24 months.

Read More: Coordinating International Travel

Proper Value-added tax (VAT) management is actually a very important element of the budget, depending on the type of program (incentives versus meetings and conferences) there are many services if not the whole program that could be billable vat exempt avoiding the tedious and unsure process of Vat reclaim post event.

5. Add a Sprinkle of Local Culture

people walking around inside of cathedral This is one of the most valuable assets DMCs bring to the table; my suggestion would be to be open-minded and instead of describing the service you’d like in the RFP, share the memory that you want your guests to create or the experience you want them to live.

DMCs embody very creative minds and we’ll always find a way to incorporate local traditions, culture and elements to make your program unique and unforgettable.

6. Secrets for Seamless Transportation

There’s no secret sauce for this. There’s a lot of hard work, extremely careful operations management and precise procedures to follow. Extra duty of care is essential, double-checking timings, the impact of public events, road works, demonstrations, strikes, the impact of bad weather and drivers’ service shifts. So many things can go wrong on a simple transportation service, your DMC must have bulletproof checklists for this specific task.

And don’t be penny-pinching of staff. Positioning a dedicated person onboard each vehicle makes all the difference in the world.

A thorough procurement process, though often unseen by the end consumer, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that organizations function optimally. It has been widely used by many industries to ensure they are working with quality suppliers. It can also be effectively used by meeting and event teams of all sized to deliver better end products.

A properly implemented procurement process directly impacts the bottom line, operational efficiency and the quality of products or services. Effective procurement strategies not only ensure that companies get the best value for their money but also play a role in risk management, innovation and corporate social responsibility.

An organization that undervalues the importance of procurement often pays for it in numerous ways—financial and legal.

A 7-Step Process

A true process will go beyond RFP sourcing and site selection, contracting and negotiations. While these siloed activities might have been helpful when they emerged, today they are less than optimal in the never-ending chase for cost savings, data gathering, personalization and process optimization.

Read More: Year of the Sustainable RFP

Let me connect the dots for you.

By definition, procurement is the structured process through which organizations acquire goods and services from suppliers. It might seem like a straightforward purchasing activity, but a robust procurement process is a critical component in determining an organization’s success. It should connect all the phases of conference planning, prevent unforeseen obstacles and set a solid foundation for the conference’s success.

It’s like going on a treasure hunt to find the perfect pieces for your event at the right price, terms and conditions, and over time, gather this data to create a factual database. Procurement principles are useful tools for you to establish your own organization’s buying power for future conferences.

Procurement isn’t just about finding the cheapest option. It’s about ensuring quality.

Following is a 7-Step Process pulled from the gaps and inconsistencies I have identified over my 20-year career. Hopefully, this will act as a steppingstone for strategic conversations with suppliers and vendors.

Step 1: Risk Matrix and Analysis

By establishing a systematic risk matrix and analysis, you gain the ability to foresee potential pitfalls and proactively address them. This not only safeguards the success of an event but also reduces potential negative impacts on participants and the environment.

Step 2: Pre-sourcing Assessment and RFP Creation

Take an “inventory” of past events to effectively transform the RFP from a wish list to a fact list. Pre-sourcing assessment goes beyond past spend, total room nights with rates and F&B minimums.

Read More: Cooking Up Culinary Excellence

Step 3: Sourcing and Vendor Profile

This is where the holistic nature of the process comes to the forefront. By considering not only cost and speed but also the social and environmental implications of sourcing decisions, you can influence the supply chain in a positive way. The choices made here ripple through to create a more responsible and sustainable event industry.

Step 4: Site Tour and Evaluation

Thoroughness and attention to detail are key. With site tours and intentional evaluations as part of the supplier relationship management framework, you gain insights that extend beyond meeting logistics.

Step 5: Contract Negotiations and Management

If all steps so far were followed with attention and thoroughness, this step is establishing clear expectations, shared responsibilities and a commitment to sustainability create a solid foundation for your event’s success.

Step 6: Meeting Logistics Plan and On-site Execution Blueprint

Flawless execution is every meeting planner’s dream. The 7-Step Process acknowledges this and elevates it further by considering the minutest details in the meeting logistics plan and on-site execution blueprint so participants experience a seamless, immersive and impactful event.

Step 7: Post-event Evaluations and Analytics

The journey doesn’t end when the curtains close and the lights dim. Post-event analytics allow you to gather insights, measure outcomes and identify areas for improvement. This iterative approach includes additional evaluations beyond post-event survey from attendees, and not only refines the planning process but also contributes to the industry’s collective growth and evolution.

Meeting and event executives are often tasked with the impossible combination of delivering value to stakeholders and being cost-conscious. The 7-Step Process to Event Design with its focus on procurement is a necessary tool for planning flawless quality-driven meetings and conferences.

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With an extensive career spanning over 22+ years in the meetings and events industry, Magdalena Bonnelly has worked with and for major suppliers in Poland, where she started at age 18, in a travel agency, designing adventure and incentive travels around Europe. After moving to the United States, she earned a meeting management and MBA while working full-time in sales departments of various hotels.

She has planned meetings for many industries, in different countries around the globe. Now she helps clients plan meetings, conferences and incentive trips through her company, Procurement Strategy Group.

Check out these five holiday party ideas for your next end-of-year gathering

Looking for holiday party ideas to shake things up? The holiday season presents the perfect opportunity for businesses to show appreciation for their team members. Among colleagues, it’s a chance to get together in a place outside of the office (or home office) and build camaraderie.

While the classic event space—accompanied by delicious food, cocktails and desserts—will surely get the job done, sometimes it pays to do things differently. Hotel properties and distilleries in the United States and abroad are offering groups ways to get together that are a bit different from the norm.

Catamaran Cruising

aerial shot of catamaran next to hotel

Your group will feel like kings and queens, even if only for a day. At Portofino Hotel & Marina, in Redondo Beach, California, groups of up to 50 can take to the water aboard El Rey, a 62-foot catamaran that recently debuted at the waterfront property. Weather permitting—it’s in California, so it likely will be—groups will be able to cruise along the coast, with views of the city’s seafood restaurants, the beach and Redondo Pier.

The two-floor catamaran includes a fully equipped kitchen and staff from the property’s on-site BaleenKitchen restaurant and a viewing deck. While the water-based activities are fun, meeting on land at Portofino is also something worthy of consideration. The 162-room property features more than 8,000 sq. ft. of space across the property, this includes the catamaran, as well as the 3,500-square-foot Bayside Ballroom and the outdoor Seaside Lawn, which features enough space for 150 attendees.

Over the Edge

aerial view of hotel over water

Seattle’s The Edgewater is the city’s only over-water property. And that isn’t the only thing unique to the property. At no extra cost, event guests can rent Orangewood guitars and put their skills on display before the group. Victrola record players are also available for rent (which guests can take to their guest room or enjoy their record of choice in the listening area at The Brim Coffee Shop). The hotel is home to a collection of vinyl records, curated by local record shop Easy Street.

The waterfront property features 223 guest rooms and more than 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space across 10 venues, including Olympic Ballroom, which overlooks Elliot Bay and Puget Sound. Just nearby is Bell Harbor International Conference Center, which features 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.

Bottle It and Go

people standing around and talking in space

Westland Distillery, a popular distillery based in Seattle, lets groups get a little more hands-on than others. The single malt artisans offer groups a 90-minute tour of the of the distillery’s production process, followed by a tasting of its flagship and special release whiskeys. Visitors can also bottle and take home their own whiskey in 750ml bottles.

The distillery provides ample event space in the form of the 2,200-square-foot Tasting Room and Bar, and the 1,650-square-foot Cask Room.

Island Buyouts

Why buy out a hotel when you can buy out an island? Event profs can take their island retreats to a new level at Fiji’s Nanuku Resort (in featured image as well), equipped with 15 suites, 13 villas and seven residences, has its own private island that can be rented out for events.

No matter the terrain, groups will find plenty of activity to engage in. In the water, there’s adventurous activities, such guided snorkeling tours in the Beqa Lagoon, paddleboarding, jet-skiing and kayaking, as well as more relaxing activities such as coral planting with the property’s resident marine scientist. On land, groups can take a trek through the rainforest by foot or dune buggy or catch crabs in the mangroves and enjoy them at the resort later.

Nanuku offers plenty of outdoor and indoor spaces for meetings and events, such as the 80-person Sunset Deck, which offers up a perfect view of the ocean; Tabua Room, a private library and lounge which grants views to the Beqa Lagoon; and Club House Lawn, which features a pool and lawn that offer up sights of the ocean and beyond.

Southern Serenade

man with guitar in hand singing around table

Thompson Hotels’ company-wide ‘Taste of Thompson’ dinner party initiative gets a Music City twist at Thompson Nashville. Music and food are arguably two of the most important things that tell you about a city, and this Nashville property offers both in one sitting.

As part of Thompson’s Culture Lives Here program, the Thompson Nashville is placing its music and food scene on display from its Goldtop Terrace, which overlooks the LEED-certified Gulch neighborhood. While listening to the jams of Nashville-based artists, attendees will get to choose from a menu of local dishes that includes dishes like Nashville hot chicken, southern braised greens and chocolate chess pie

The 224-room property’s Goldtop Terrace is included in the property’s 6,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

The MRN Agency proves diversity leads to success

Sept. 15th through Oct. 15th, 2023 marks Hispanic Heritage Month and brings more awareness to the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) while emphasizing that celebrating different cultures in the workplace and at your events is an asset. Organizations such as The MRN Agency have dedicated their data-driven marketing and event production company to representing diversity both within their company and through their installations and live experiences.

Who They Are

As a female and minority-owned company with CEO Rebecca Nunez at the helm, The MRN Agency is a full-service operation with marketing strategies offered on several different platforms. Their 75% diversity and inclusion rate are their strengths, as their team is able to analyze minutia in complex data as well as grassroots marketing to serve their clients and create experiential events. The agency gears its marketing campaigns and event services towards multicultural audiences and prides itself on being “representations of the faces, skin tones, languages, backgrounds and identities that our clients are aiming to reach.”

Nunez has overcome personal and professional struggles as a first-generation Mexican American who lost her previous position as a result of Covid. Rather than be defeated, she chose to be resilient.

“Today, I’m proud to have beat the 92% fail rate for female founders within one year, without any funding,” says Nunez. “I’ve opened offices locally and internationally and hired a full-time staff (60% female and 85% multicultural.)

The MRN Agency

What They Do

In addition to the wide variety of marketing strategies and data services, The MRN Agency creates experiential events around the world. Most notably, MRN launched the AT&T Fan Zone experience for Club America and the Seleccion Nacional soccer teams in Mexico City at the famous Estadio Azteca. The interactive event provided diehard soccer fans with digital experiences such as motion capture LIDAR (light detection and ranging) games in which fans kick a virtual soccer ball into a screen display of the goals their favorite soccer players score in.

The MRN Agency AT&T Fan Zone event

Fans also had the opportunity to emulate their celebrity soccer idols in a simulated press-interview. The MRN Agency created an interactive video booth for soccer lovers to answer questions about “their upcoming match” and share their testimonials. Attention to social media was important for the AT&T Fan Zone experience – the press-interviews were sent to the participants ready to be shared and a fan cam experience allowed fans to take a 180-degree boomerang photo with branded background to share on their favorite social media platforms.

Hispanic Heritage Month History

First introduced by California Congressman George E. Brown in 1968 as the civil rights movement was gaining momentum and different cultures were becoming more recognized in mainstream American society, a public law was passed declaring September 15^th and 16^th the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Week. Initially announced by President Lyndon B. Johnson, subsequent presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan all acknowledged Hispanic Heritage week. President George H.W. Bush extended the week to a month under the request of California Representative Esteban E. Torres who argued a week was not enough time to “properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.”

Why it Matters

DEI in the workplace is not only an issue of morality and social responsibility, but an asset to companies. Different languages, backgrounds and identities ensures a team such as The MRN Agency will be a diverse and collaborative group that can provide the client a personalized and memorable event such as AT&T Fan Zone. With a Hispanic female CEO and both a multicultural staff and clientele, The MRN Agency represents the success companies and clients have when DEI is a priority.

Christopher Walling

Walling joins The Salamander Collection as vice president of operations and managing director of Innisbrook in Tampa Bay, Florida. He has worked with The Salamander Collection since 2022, formerly overseeing Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club. In this new role, he will oversee all of Innisbrook’s daily operations and work to further synergize Salamander’s golf properties between Innisbrook, Aurora Anguilla and Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Rohit Radhakrishnan

Rohit Radhakrisnan

Radhakrishnan joins Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, set to open in winter 2023, as general manager. He will see the hotel through its opening and lead the team in all daily operations to provide an outstanding guest experience. He has worked as general manager at numerous hotels, many of them Hiltons. In his most recent role, he served as general manager of Embassy Suites Knoxville West where he acquired and maintained a 90 or more quality assurance audit.

Jörg Arnold

Jörg Arnold

Orascom Hotels Management has named Arnold general manager of The Chedi Andermatt as well as cluster director of Hotels Andermatt. He most recently worked as general manager of the Hotel Storchen and Widder Hotel in Zurich. Bringing over 35 years of experience in international tourism and hotel business, Arnold is an incredible choice to manage the hotels’ growth in a prime alpine destination.

Ted Knighton and Lisa Hudson

Thompson Houston will be led through its November 2023 opening and beyond by Knighton, the property’s new managing director. He will help Thompson Hotels to enter the Texas market with a band, and to establish the hotel as a stylish destination. His experience in hospitality spans over two decades, and he brings extensive experience in leading operational excellence.

Hudson joins Thompson Houston as director of sales and marketing. With over 15 years of experience, Hudson is a seasoned leader in driving sales and increasing revenues. She will help to further the Thompson brand legacy and introduce the new hotel to the Texas market. She will oversees the sales, marketing and events teams and to use strategic planning and market analysis to drive the property’s revenue.

Mario Farfan

Meet Chicago Northwest welcomes Mario Farfan as group sales leader, account executive of group sales. He brings over 22 years of community and business development experience, having worked in key banking roles such as regional manager and branch manager throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. He founded the Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2015 to serve the Latino market’s business development.

Vi Nguyen, CMP

Nguyen is campus director of sales and marketing for the dual-branded Hotel Citrine and AC Palo Alto. She will lead the campus style development in building their reputation as a hub for business and a local destination. Raised in the San Jose area, Nguyen will draw on her deep connection to the location, as well as nearly two decades of experience in hospitality. She is an active member of Silicon Valley Business Travel Association (SVBTA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

Steve Pastor

Pastor brings over a decade of experience in hotel management in California to his new role as general manager of Great Wolf Lodge Northern California. He previously worked for Evolution Hospitality at both Hotel MdR in Los Angeles and Hyatt Regency Westlake Village, and earlier managed the Radisson Mall of America Hotel Waterpark, now Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota.

Sierra Coronell

As group sales manager at Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver, Coronell will be responsible for selling guest rooms, meeting space and other Hyatt services to customer groups. She will also be in charge of managing accounts, preparing and presenting proposals and generating business. She has a proven track record with high customer satisfaction rates. In her seven months after joining Hyatt’s sales department as sales coordinator, she booked over $60,000 in room revenue.

Heather Willett

The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett, scheduled to open in spring 2024, has named Willett assistant general manager. She will work closely with general manager Mark Castriota to oversee day-to-day operations. She most recently served as general manager of Foxhall Resort in Douglasville, Georgia, and earlier spent four years as assistant general manager of The Hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Jason Arnold

Arnold joins the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau as sales manager, where he will promote Cabarrus County, North Carolina as a key destination for associations, corporate meetings and conventions. With 14 years of experience in advancing roles at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Arnold’s experience at a large luxury resort will bring his vital skillset to Cabarrus CVB.

Profiles on five woman chefs of color leading the culinary industry

Chef Alice Seo, DM of Wolfgang Puck Catering in Seattle, was one of five incredible woman chefs of color in a leadership position who spoke to Smart Meetings about their careers.

In her interview with Smart Meetings, she recalled watching an interview of Madeline Albright, the first female U.S. Secretary of State. Albright said that her 7-year-old granddaughter had asked her why she was such a big deal—after all, all the secretaries of state were women! But Albright was the first; for her, it was a difficult path to pave her way in a role that no woman had ever held before. For her granddaughter, being a woman in this position was no big deal; it was simply her reality.

“I want that for my daughter,” said Seo. “I want that for every daughter.”

According to Zippia, a website that displays data cross-compared across the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, current job openings and more, as of 2022, 25.2% of chefs identified as women, up from 22.15% in 2010. Even fewer are executive chefs, at 12%. Women chefs on average earn $0.91 for every $1 male chefs earn. Additionally, 55% of chefs are white, with 17.1% being Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% being Asian, and 10.3% being Black or African American.

Five woman chefs of color in leadership roles across the United States spoke to Smart Meetings and shared stories of their careers, their inspirations and their passion for great food. Next time you plan a meeting or take a group on an incentive trip at one of these locations, look to visit these restaurants and book these catering services led by driven, passionate and talented women building a bright future in the culinary industry.

Malyna Si

Headshot of Chef Malyna Si

Restaurant Chef, Capa Steakhouse at Four Seasons Orlando Walt Disney World Resort

Orlando, Florida

Chef Malyna Si did not set out to become a chef. She worked at an ice cream factory, in chemical sanitation and at a financial advisory firm before she began working at a restaurant at 24, during her training as a glass sculptor. A senior cook recognized her enthusiasm and mentored her. “I quickly became enamored with the rhythm and energy in the kitchen, and with the seemingly endless potential in exploring cuisine,” says Chef Si.

Called to the profession, she worked tirelessly to gain as much experience as possible. In 2017, she joined Four Seasons Orlando with the job title of cook one, a chef who works to prepare, cook and dispense food, cleans work areas and equipment and receives and stores supplies. In 2019, she was promoted to chef de partie at Capa; in 2020, sous chef. Post-Covid, she acted as chef tournant, managing the resort’s seven kitchens, before returning to Capa to lead the team.

It’s no secret that being a woman in the culinary industry presents a unique challenge. “I believe part of my success has derived from the need to prove myself to be twice as efficient, creative and focused as my male counterparts,” shares Chef Si. But diversity in leadership has grown significantly. “Compared to five years ago, I am surrounded by far more women in leadership than I ever was before.”

“Changing attitudes, shifting economics and evolving culinary preferences” allow Chef Si to explore diverse, global flavors and techniques while staying true to Capa’s signature Spanish cuisine. For a long time, she felt motivated to have more control over the cuisine she cooked. At Capa, she does. She and her team worked extensively to determine the best type of wood to use in the restaurant’s steak grill. They decided on American oak for the unique flavor it imparts. And although Cambodian and Spanish ingredients largely do not overlap, one item on the menu is directly influenced by Chef Si’s Cambodian heritage. It is a dish that her mother made for her as she grew up: A tomato sauce with steamed vegetables. “I love the contrast of the gentleness of the vegetables with the pungent flavor of the sauce.”

Chef Si’s dedication to her craft, attention to detail, and passion for producing menus that people truly savor shows how closely tied being a chef is to being an artist.

Elgin Woodman

Headshot of Chef Elgin Woodman

Executive Chef, Constellation Culinary Group

Miami Beach, Florida

Chef Elgin Woodman grew up cooking in Lima, Peru, where she learned recipes and techniques that influence her menus today. “Peruvian food is very diverse and dynamic in its flavors,” she says. “There is a lot of acidity and a lot of spice. Anything I prepare has to have that balance. If not, it’s always missing something.” In modern Peruvian cooking, Italian, Japanese and local Andes food all merge. As executive chef at Constellation Culinary Group, she plays an important role in creating outstanding event experiences through large-scale catering menus.

To Chef Woodman, catering is all about “learning, changing and bringing something new to the table. It’s the only way that you can stay ahead of the game.” And catering is distinct. “It’s not only about the food. It’s about the whole experience.”

Chef Woodman found pushing herself beyond her comfort zone to be inspiring. She worked under mentors who encouraged her to work harder and more creatively. “You can always do a lot more than you think you can.”

At Constellation Culinary Group, Chef Woodman has found an incredibly supportive environment, but shares that it also hasn’t always been that way in the industry. In conversations with female chefs older than her, Woodman has heard stories about how difficult it was for them to get into the business. She sees younger women entering the industry have an easier time than she did. She is happy to be a role model for them. “I want to give them hope that they can become the executive chef of such a large company.”

Ruby Oliveros

Headshot of Chef Ruby Oliveros

Executive Chef at Ram’s Gate Winery

Sonoma, California

Chef Ruby Oliveros shows us just how far initiative and confidence can take women in the industry. She began her career as an intern at the Mandarin Oriental. When they had an opening for a sous chef, she thought, “Well, what do I have to lose?”

She spoke to her head chef and told him that she had never had experience in the kitchen or in a managerial role. However, she was committed to being part of his team, and she would work hard and learn quickly. He recognized her drive and decided to give her a chance. Chef Oliveros moved quickly through the roles of junior sous chef, then sous chef, then executive sous chef. Now, she is the executive chef at Ram’s Gate Winery, where she develops creative menus to pair with the property’s wines for exclusive tastings.

When she entered the industry, Chef Oliveros remembers, “It was all male. Everyone.” Today, she shares that more women are in the industry than ever. “The biggest challenge is overcoming this stereotype that this industry is only for male chefs,” she says. Stereotyping and harsh treatment were common at the beginning of her career, but Chef Oliveros says it forced her to take initiative and grow more confident and assertive.

She also shared that professional cooking is heavily based on French techniques, and though this is almost always expected, she makes an effort to add her own flare. “I will always work an Asian ingredient in a dish. It’s my roots, I’m proud of it, and I understand the flavors.” Just because a dish is French, that doesn’t mean it should be limited to French ingredients and flavors.

Chef Oliveros has the expertise of flavor and texture to know what international ingredients enhance a dish. This often makes her meals pair even better with the wines. She knows that menus do not have to fit in a box. Creativity, expertise, and self-confidence open up a chef’s world.

Sharon Nahm

Headshot of Chef Sharon Nahm

Director of Operations and Executive Chef at E&O Kitchen & Bar

San Francisco, California

Chef Sharon Nahm didn’t start cooking until college, but while studying biology, friends who saw her passion in the kitchen encouraged her to pursue cooking professionally. Now, she is the director of operations and executive chef at E&O Kitchen & Bar in San Francico, California, where she has worked since 2006.

When she started out as a line cook, her strong work ethic and genuine excitement about being in the kitchen made her stand out to her supervisors. When asked about being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she says “I didn’t necessarily try to de-feminize, but you definitely don’t want to accentuate the fact that you are a female in the kitchen. I tried to focus on working hard and doing the best I could. I spent my spare time learning other aspects of the kitchen on my days off to learn something new.”

She fondly recalls working under a woman chef who approached her job through mentorship and observance. She was committed to bringing out the best in her team. Nahm says, “Knowing that she could do this was very positive and encouraging. The opportunities are out there.”

Chef Nahm emphasizes that in culinary school, French culinary techniques took center stage, even if chefs were not necessarily going to be cooking French food. Nahm has had a range of experiences, in professionally cooking French, Italian, and American cuisines. Being Korean-American, she gravitated towards Asian food, yet she did not find cooking it professionally at the front of her mind; she says it instead fell into her lap when she began working at E&O.

In recent years, Chef Nahm has found that times have changed for the better. Modern chefs are more expressive, not only in cooking more global cuisine but also in expressing their individuality through their cooking styles and their own culinary interpretations to provide people with a distinct experience. The white coat used to be a requirement; now, the focus is on the food.

She believes in leading by example. Fostering an environment that nurtures teamwork and collaboration is a must in order to create an amazing culinary experience for chefs and guests alike. That’s exactly what she does now at E&O.

Alice Seo

Headshot of Chef Alice Seo

District Manager at Wolfgang Puck Catering

Seattle, Washington

Chef Alice Seo has two major passions: cooking, of course, and global health. She had just returned from an extended time working at a nonprofit women’s and children’s education program in India and Nepal when a former manager invited her to a culinary job fair. There, she met someone from Wolfgang Puck Catering who was putting together a team of chefs with experience in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Her Korean-American background only added to her experience with these cuisines. The job was perfect. Chef Seo began as a sous chef, then became an executive chef. From there she became a general manager and now is district manager in Seattle.

Chef Seo expresses just how advantageous diverse cultural backgrounds are to chefs. She recalls a breakfast service for an international clientele during which a customer asked for gravy. Her team was confused. They weren’t serving biscuits, only toast, so sausage gravy didn’t make sense. She asked her office manager to find out who the customer was. The customer was from India, and Chef Seo knew from her time there that gravy refers to curry. She and her team made a tomato-based curry, and the customer was thrilled with their service. “To me,” says Chef Seo, “that’s an example of what cultural awareness is. Rather than just assuming, we should ask questions and be curious.”

Read More: The Joy of Inclusive Cooking

In terms of being a woman in the culinary industry, Chef Seo says that though she feels confident now, there are still moments when she faces both external and internal pressures to outperform constantly to make sure her skill is noticed.

People would often confuse her for a pastry chef; Though she loves pastries, she never was. When she went on maternity leave, almost everyone asked her if she was ever coming back. She had never considered not returning, but these questions put the idea in her mind. “It’s these contexts that women have to navigate, and men don’t,” she says.

She has seen improvement in the industry throughout her career. “I don’t think, when people see me, they’re surprised to learn that I’m a chef. Ten, fifteen years ago, absolutely, they would have been.”

She shared one piece of advice she wished she had known from the beginning: “Take a seat at the table. Don’t wait for someone to invite you. Take up space and show up for what you believe in.”

She finds a lot of inspiration in her multidimensional background, not only in numerous global cuisines but in her eclectic education and the support system she finds in her family. She is committed to guiding talented chefs who work under her, and at the same time she continues to work in global health. “You can do both! You can be whoever you want to be.”

Read More: Empowered Women Take Center Stage