Hospitality: The Game-Changing Skill That Impacts Every Industry

I just came off of a whirlwind weekend working La Paulée , a Burgundy festival that is hosted by Chef Daniel Bouloud and longtime New York City Sommelier Daniel Johonnes. This event features some of the best winemakers from Burgundy alongside some of the best Chefs and Sommeliers in the world. For the main event, the Gala Diner, guests bring coveted bottles of wine that range in price from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. The stakes are high and so are the expectations. I was responsible for leading the Romanée-Conti table. Our table was comprised of thirty guests who brought some of the most irreplaceable wines in the world, including a 1957 Domaine de la Romanée Conti La Tache, current release retails for about $7000 a bottle. Historically, tasting these coveted gems is what brought me to this event year after year.

Today, I am pulled in and mesmerized by the power that high-level hospitality has in setting the tone and changing the dynamics of an event. In today's landscape, it is not enough to merely host an event. When big money is spent, whether it is personal or corporate dollars, a lot is at stake and tensions run high. I was blown away this past weekend by the way the team put the room at ease with such grace and made everyone relax into the space. Hospitality is what sets the tone for fun and connection and fueled the generosity of spirit that embodied this entire event. Hospitality is imperative for leaving a lasting impression. Here are some tips for how to incorporate hospitality into your corporate events strategy:

Welcome with Warmth (right away)

This sets the tone and puts guests at ease. Offering assistance with coats, luggage, and clear signage makes them feel comfortable and well taken care of.

Prioritize Comfort and Convenience

Consider how you make your guests feel throughout the event. Ensure that not only their basic needs are met, but that you’ve gone above and beyond to make them feel comfortable.

Cater to Individual Needs

Whether it’s an employee who doesn’t drink alcohol or someone with dietary restrictions, nothing quite makes you feel as loved as being taken care of when you have individual needs. Go in with a ‘yes’ mentality and do your best to meet the individual needs of your guests.?

Personalize the Experience

Add attendee names to menus, draw on local flavor or culture, and offer off-site activities that are local to add to the personalization of the experience. What makes this venue or city special? Why are you meeting in the first place? Try to bring these elements into your event.

Cultivate Connection

Facilitating engagement amongst guests is key for giving them individual takeaways that will make your event memorable. Design spaces for networking, include interactive sessions or introduce new icebreaker activities. The number one reason people attend corporate events is networking, so make sure that the flow of the event has a connection front and center!

Embrace Thoughtful Touches

Small gestures speak volumes. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be impactful! Provide custom name badges, offer personalized notes of appreciation, or include locally sourced gift bags. Thoughtful gestures show guests that you value their presence and their time!

Emphasize Attentive Service

Danny Meyer speaks in his book ‘Setting The Table’ about 51 %-ers. These are people who embody at least 51% genuine desire to do what is right and help others. He explains that technical service can be learned, but a genuine desire to help and care can not. Hire people that care and then make sure they have all of the information necessary to take care of your guests in the most hospitable way possible.?

Hospitality is about how we make people feel. It makes us better leaders, better teammates, and better people. I was lucky this weekend to once again work alongside Master Sommelier and Restaurateur Bobby Stuckey who embodies hospitality at his core. He tells a story in his Ted Talk about the difference between service and hospitality. Service is something that happens to you, while hospitality is something that happens for you. Hospitality is about looking out and saying, how can I be of service? It is a secret weapon for leaders…and it’s FREE.

When we apply a hospitality-centered approach to our corporate event strategy, we are forced to ask ourselves how each stage of the event will make our attendees feel. By weaving in a hospitality-centered approach, you are guaranteed to create a memorable event that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Learn more about how my company, Acquire, can help you achieve a hospitality-centered approach for your business by connecting with me here on LinkedIn or by booking a time to chat !