Events Episodes

Reflections from The Lodging Conference: How Hospitality Leaders Connect, Communicate, and Collaborate - Steven Moore, Actabl
Oct. 12, 2025

Reflections from The Lodging Conference: How Hospitality Leaders Connect, Communicate, and Collaborate - Steven Moore, Actabl

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie talks with Steven Moore , CEO of Actabl , about what makes The Lodging Conference such a special event for hospitality leaders. Together they explore the conversations, connections, and collaborations that define the conference -- and what those dynamics reveal about how the hotel industry really works. Listeners will take away insights on building stronger relationships, communicating effectively, and creating events and environments that benefit everyone in ho...
RTRX: Suraj Hinduja on Designing Events That Spark Connection, Curiosity, and Impact
July 20, 2025

RTRX: Suraj Hinduja on Designing Events That Spark Connection, Curiosity, and Impact

In this episode, Suraj Hinduja , Managing Director of RTRX , shares how he and his team at Rockbridge are rethinking events by creating experiences centered around curiosity, connection, and impact. Originally inspired by the desire to support cancer research, RTRX has evolved from a small hospitality-focused gathering into a multi-day, cross-industry event intentionally designed to spark spontaneous discovery and meaningful interactions. Listen to learn how Suraj and RTRX use hospitality princi...
Lessons from New York City Women in Hospitality That Apply Anywhere - Joli Barfield
Dec. 1, 2024

Lessons from New York City Women in Hospitality That Apply Anywhere - Joli Barfield

In this episode, Joli Barfield , founder of New York City Women in Hospitality , shares her inspiring story of starting the organization and offers valuable insights on building genuine relationships in the hospitality industry. Listen now to learn about: The importance of relationships in achieving success in hospitality. How New York City Women in Hospitality was founded - and its evolution. The impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry and how the organization adapted. The activities...
Opportunities I See Now With Events (After Leading These For Amazon, Google & Others) - Gianna Gaudini
May 24, 2024

Opportunities I See Now With Events (After Leading These For Amazon, Google & Others) - Gianna Gaudini

How do you stand out in a world full of technology, endless content, and busy schedules? Hospitality is key, especially through events. Events offer a big opportunity for every hospitality provider. In this episode, we're learning from Gianna Gaudini , a top event producer and strategist. She’ll share her journey in the events industry, the opportunities events bring, and how hoteliers can work effectively with event planners. See Giana's book: The Art of Event Planning: Pro Tips from an Industr...
How We Produce The Best Events in Hospitality - Meg Gutowski, The Independent Lodging Congress
April 4, 2024

How We Produce The Best Events in Hospitality - Meg Gutowski, The Independent Lodging Congress

In this episode we're learning from Meg Gutowski , the Events and Operations Senior Director at the Independent Lodging Congress (ILC) . With a wealth of experience in producing top-tier events, Meg shares her insights into what it takes to create gatherings that are not only memorable but also foster genuine connections. Listeners will learn about: The Creative Process : Discover how Meg and her team at ILC blend meticulous planning with spontaneity to curate unique event experiences. Venue Sel...
How We Creatively Welcome Events & Group Business To Delight Guests (And Drive Revenue) - Matt Humphreys, Hyatt [San Francisco Sundays]
March 17, 2024

How We Creatively Welcome Events & Group Business To Delight Guests (And Drive Revenue) - Matt Humphreys, Hyatt [San Francisco Sundays]

In this week's edition of " San Francisco Sundays ," we're learning from Matt Humphreys , General Manager of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco , about creative things he and his team have done to welcome events and group business, delight these guests - and increase their own business performance as a result. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a grea...
Ideas For You From The Indie Lodging Congress Confab Palm Springs - Josiah Mackenzie
Feb. 19, 2024

Ideas For You From The Indie Lodging Congress Confab Palm Springs - Josiah Mackenzie

This past week, I was in Palm Springs for an event produced by the Independent Lodging Congress and wanted to summarize some of my takeaways. You'll hear what stood out to me from some of the top leaders in independent hospitality - as well as some takeaways from the location, host hotel, and event itself that will inspire you in your hospitality business. Learn more about the next events from ILC here Let's connect! Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn Join The Huddle - Hospitality ...
The Power of Collaboration in Hospitality for Events - Micayla Diener
Jan. 9, 2024

The Power of Collaboration in Hospitality for Events - Micayla Diener

Events are such a big part of the world of hospitality - whether it's hosting internal events for your teams or hosting others and helping them produce their events on your properties. Today, we're learning how to do this well from Micayla Diener , the Global Events Lead at a major technology company. Micayla studied hospitality management in college before starting her journey to leadership in events, and in this epsiode you'll learn about what goes into planning and producing successful events...
Let's Make Hospitality Events More Representative - Rachel Humphrey
Dec. 23, 2023

Let's Make Hospitality Events More Representative - Rachel Humphrey

Rachel Humphrey is the founder of The Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance and is Principal at DEI Advisors. In this episode, we explore how we can make hospitality events more inclusive and reflective of the industry's talent pool. Listeners will learn about: The current state of diversity among attendees and speakers at hospitality events. The importance of visibility for women and diverse groups in leadership roles within the industry. Practical strategies for conference organizers to enh...
Hosting Successful Events - Steve Turk, The Hospitality Mentor
July 24, 2023

Hosting Successful Events - Steve Turk, The Hospitality Mentor

Steve Turk is The Hospitality Mentor, and in this episode, you'll hear about his most recent event - and the lessons he learned that you can apply to hosting your own events. View photos from the event Follow Steve on LinkedIn Follow The Hospitality Mentor on LinkedIn Listen to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast Subscribe to The Hospitality Mentor Newsletter Join the conversation on today's episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page . Hospitality Daily isn't just a podcast ! Every morning - Tues...
Hosting Offsites for Transformation - Andy Elwood
June 16, 2023

Hosting Offsites for Transformation - Andy Elwood

Could offsites unleash the power of your team - and your hospitality business? Our conversation with executive coach Andy Elwood will leave you with practical insights and fresh inspiration. Andy shares advice on preparation, including pre-event surveys that ensure all voices are heard equally. He also introduces the "Artifact Dinner"– a powerful activity that fosters deep connections among team members by sharing personal stories through small objects. Discover the secrets to creating unforgett...
Guest: Andy Ellwood
The Future of Events is More Human - Deanna Vollmer, Questex
June 8, 2023

The Future of Events is More Human - Deanna Vollmer, Questex

Deanna Vollmer is the Director of Events and Customer Experience at Questex and shares what she’s learned along her journey so far. We discussed: Deanna's career path (2:25) Discovering the hospitality industry (2:41) First job in meeting planning (4:17) Importance of understanding customer needs in events (6:50) Staying inspired and up-to-date on industry trends (9:22) Incorporating theatrics and unique elements (11:46) Importance of networking and conversations (12:38) Focus on customer experi...
The future of events (and the case for investing in hospitality) - Paul Miller, Questex
May 19, 2023

The future of events (and the case for investing in hospitality) - Paul Miller, Questex

Today, we're learning from Paul Miller , CEO of Questex , and in our discussion, we cover: Background on the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference Why events matter now (2:26) What's changed post-pandemic in what we want from events (4:05) Trends and opportunities in events (4:57) Creating a "Coachella experience" in B2B events (7:37) The case for investing in hospitality (9:14) To learn more about Paul Miller and his work: Follow Paul on LinkedIn Visit the Questex website...
Why we need leadership offsites now - Hans Pfister, Cayuga Collection
Dec. 28, 2022

Why we need leadership offsites now - Hans Pfister, Cayuga Collection

Hans Pfister, President of Cayuga Collection, explains why he hosted an offsite leadership development event for his teams. Read the blog post (and see photos) Learn more about Cayuga Collection Follow Hans on LinkedIn here Join the conversation on today's episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page . Hospitality Daily isn't just a podcast ! Every morning - Tuesday through Friday - I summarize the stories you need to know as a hospitality professional in a short email. Read today's issue and ...