A panel discussion with top career professionals in Hospitality and Service. The goal is to show all attendees how to succeed in the Hospitality and Service sectors and what to look forward to in their future.
Key Takeaways:
Michael Krouse
President and CEO
Greater Ontario California CVB
Michael K. Krouse, CHME, CASE, is Regional Vice President of Convention Centers West for ASM Global. He is responsible for oversight of twelve (12) convention centers and convention visitor bureaus, one (1) Arena and one (1) California Welcome Center located in the Western United States.
Mr. Krouse is President and CEO of the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau (GOCVB), Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and the California Welcome Center at Ontario Mills where he directs business development, marketing and destination sales for conventions, meetings and events, national and international visitors plus the overall operations at the venues.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Krouse spent more than twenty five (25) years in a variety of senior hotel sales management positions, where he was frequently charged with overseeing more than twenty (22) hotels and multiple brands simultaneously. His customer service ratings at the time soared consistently above the 95 percentile. Key positions that he held during this time included Interstate Hotels and Resorts Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, and Hilton Hotels Corporation Regional Director of Sales and Marketing (West), for more than thirteen (13) years.
He has served as a Board Member of the UCLA Extension Executive Hotel Program and Creativity Advisory Council, and Los Angeles Hotel/Motel Association. He is also a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Convention Industry Council (CIC). Currently Mr. Krouse serves on the Executive Committee for Cal Travel as well as a PAC Trustee. He was recently honored to receive the Cal Travel Advocacy Award in 2019.
Kerry Flowers
Founder and Marketing Guru
Genre Hotels
With over 30 years of relationship marketing experience, Kerry has companies as diverse as Hyatt and Kimpton on his resume.
This Purdue educated Sigma Chi Fraternity, hotel expert has founded 3 hospitality marketing companies including Kerry Hotels and Kerry Camp (Boot Camp Training for SUPERSTAR Sales) providing unparalleled representation to independent hotels.
Recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement award from HSMAI!
CTA, DOS, Senior Sales Manager, Director Sports & Entertainment Sales
LA Grand Hotel
Lavon Minor has over 10 years experience in the Hotel Industry. Her claim to fame was Spearheading a telephone blitz to local and state administrators during the Covid-19 Pandemic and successfully negotiated and contract an extended stay account contributing over $3 million monthly for over a year and counting, generating incremental revenues to sustain operations. The only one of this size in the County of Los Angeles.
Ms. Minor has significantly developed new accounts in all segments of the hospitality industry specializing in Sports and Entertainment. This would include film, television and Media productions.
This Distinguished Southwestern University Alumni is a Certified Tourism Ambassador and represents the State of California in Various Capacities
Purple Umbrella
Accomplished Sales & Marketing Executive with years of experience in global metropolitan markets, delivering exceptional client service to the corporate, group, transient, leisure, airline & specialty markets. Strong negotiation, relationship-building and prospecting skills, combined with a passion for serving internal and external customers. Demonstrated record of exceeding revenue goals and closing business.
Mastering peak leadership performance, sales productivity and strategy, management of global, regional and local sales crew, meetings, groups, corporate, transients wholesale, planning & development, pre-opening hotel experience, creative market development, key customer partnerships, brand and product promotion, profit maximization, yield management, interpersonal cultural sensitivity, marketing plans, advertising campaigns, public relations, full-service, boutique, luxury resort & spa, condo, limited, residential building, multi-family, mixed-use properties and extended stay, hotel experience.
The Glenmark Hotel
Kevin, the General Manager for The Glenmark has a strong background in luxury lifestyle hotel operations, with 22 years' experience working at Los Angeles-based hotels.
He spent a total of 18 years with OLS Hotels and Resorts, where he grew from Front Office Management, Revenue Management and Sales to the General Manager at The Grafton on Sunset. Prior to that, Briggs helped open Kimpton’s first LA hotel, Hotel Palomar in Westwood, CA where he ran front office operations. Beyond driving strategic revenue growth for The Glenmark Hotel, Briggs is passionate about promoting Glendale as the premier tourist and business destination and engaging with the local community. His rooftop lounge is already one of the hottest spots in Los Angeles and #1 in Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena.
Originally from a small town in western NY, Briggs graduated from college with a degree in Business Management and was heavily involved with the food and business industry. His outside passions include writing and recording music, as well as playing guitar and piano. He currently resides in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons.
