IMPACT HOSPITALITY RETREAT:
Pioneering with Purpose

SEPTEMBER 12

1PM - 8PM

“Pioneering with Purpose,” Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a Peruvian-American explorer, mountaineer, social entrepreneur and technologist. In June 2018, she became the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits, the tallest mountain on each continent from both the Messner and Bass lists.

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The New “ROI” – Return on Impact, Erica Najmabadi and Brendan Ames, NuovoRE

The team at NuovoRE and their property teams have been implementing a hypothesis: if we build positive social impact into every element of our operations, we will increase revenue and decrease expenses, resulting in better financial performance than similar properties. So how is it going? NuovoRE will share our progress from the last year on key impact and financial metrics, with an honest look at what’s working so far, and what’s still a work in progress.

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Attracting a Strong Workforce in 2022, Moderator: Kim Garner, El Capitan Hotel

Turnover and staffing challenges are par for the course in the hospitality sector, especially in the last few years. How are innovative properties and companies thinking about their workforce, finding and keeping fresh talent?

Panelists:

• Ken Oliver, Executive Director, Checkr.org

• Chris Vitelli, Merced Community College

• Donte Johnson, Revival Baltimore

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Winning Business with an Impact-Driven Brand             Moderator: Ken Cruse, SCP

A key part of succeeding in outsized financial returns is winning more business. Learn how to structure and market impact offerings as part of your overall brand, including community events, artist features, group night packages, winning conference bids and more.

Panelists:

• Corey Clark, Honeycomb

• Molly Casey, NINE dot ARTS

• Rebecca Parekh, THE WELL

• Steve Wilson, 21c Museum Hotels

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Zero-Proof Hospitality, Moderator: Megan Stromberg, NuovoRE

It can sometimes seem that drinking culture is an inseparable part of hospitality. But in an effort to be inclusive to the growing number of sober and sober-curious guests, more institutions are adding “zero-proof” beverages and “mocktails” to their menu. Hear how these industry leaders have found a way to build a reputation and an outstanding beverage program that makes everyone feel like they are part of the party.

Panelists:

• Anna Welker, Revival Baltimore

• Jonnie Long, Death & Co

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Zero-Proof, Zero Waste Happy Hour    

Featuring mocktails, cocktails, light apps and tunes from DJ IMPULSE, Director of Content & Sonic Identity at Revival Baltimore and Gil Shaw, Fork Farms. 

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Dinner and Broncos Watch Party

Participants are free to make dinner plans on their own or join us for a Broncos watch party at the base of the hotel in the McGregor Square complex (https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/).

SEPTEMBER 13

8 AM - 1PM

(Optional) Sunrise yoga

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Fireside Chat: Join special guest Zach Neumeyer, Chairmain of Sage Hospitality Group for an informal conversation with Mike Everett, NuovoRE

Zack’s civic focus is ensuring that every child in America can fulfill their potential.  He works through many organizations focused on making our education system work. These include Board Chair of America Succeeds, Board Member of Colorado Succeeds and Teach For America Colorado.  He believes that developing superb leadership is essential to improving our cities, states and country.

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What does it take to Implement a vendor diversity program? Moderator: Jason Bass, Hotel Revival

You may have ambitions to work with small, local, BIPOC, LGBTQ, veteran-owned, women-owned, or other underrepresented groups in sourcing everything from produce to case goods, snacks to personal services. But newer companies may not have the sophistication and scale necessary to enter into industry-standard arrangements. Learn how these vendors and intermediaries have used creative strategies to direct more business to diverse vendors in every category.

Panelists:

• Nnadagi Isa, Lor Tush

• Jen Collins, EOS Hospitality

• Alexis Lanman, New Waterloo

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Helping Employees Thrive: Financial and Mental Health in the Workplace Moderator: Chris Randall, 21C St. Louis

Beyond paying a living wage, how you can support your (hourly) employees to reach beyond surviving to thriving? Learn about employee relations programs that span innovative benefits, mental health support and more.

Panelists:

• Dave Runyon, City Unite

• Laura Louise Green, Healthy Pour

• Jessi Kalambayi, Ready for American Hospitality

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Certifications: Are they worth the effort?, Moderator: Heather Ciszczon, NuovoRE

From LEED certification to B Corp designation, there are many third-party organizations offering to provide the public with verification of your positive environmental and social impact. But those certifications take time and money to complete. Are customers paying attention? Is it worth the time and expense?

Panelists:

• Adam Schlegel, Snooze (not a B Corp) and Chook Chicken (a B Corp)

• Annalise Dum, JLL

• Jon Buerge, Urban Villages

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Fireside chat: Join special guest Bashar Wali, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly for an informal conversation with Leigh Hitz, NuovoRE.

A born leader and a bit of a rebel. Bashar can speak to the ins and outs of the Hospitality Industry because he’s done it all. Most at home on the road, he eats, sleeps and breathes this calling that we call hospitality. Some might say he’s obsessed with hotels. But, it’s really the humans behind them that drive him. Well, that and a vintage Land Rover Defender.