7:30 - 8:15 am PST
Networking - Stonehaus (located at the hotel)
Coffee Culture Sponsored by Lockton
Head over to Stonehaus for coffee and some light bites. This is a great chance to unwind and network with fellow attendees before the conference officially kicks off.
8:15- 9:00 am PST
Networking - Bogie’s
Registration Opens & Light Bites
Refuel and connect with fellow attendees before heading to the main stage.
9:00 - 9:30 am PST
Opening - Provence Room
Welcome
with Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, President of TIEWN, and Co-Founder of StayBoutique, and Kris Potter, Founder of The Potter Co. and TIEWN Board Liaison
Join Ariela, half of the mother-daughter duo behind BLLA & TIEWN, as she kicks off this year’s Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference. Come with open minds and an eagerness to learn and connect. You’ll also get to hear from Kris Potter about TIEWN (the driving force of this conference!) and what’s in the pipeline for this year.
9:30 - 10:10 am PST
Discussion + Q&A - Provence Room
Finding Your Circle of Influence
with Tracy Campbell, Creative Director at The Brand Terminal, and Darlene Cordero, Founder of Wellness Culture
Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, President of TIEWN, and Co-Founder of StayBoutique
Sponsored by Lockton
Let’s dive right into the theme of the conference: Finding Your Circle of Influence. We invite you to partake in this meaningful conversation as we discuss the tools and strategies to seek out your community and thoughtfully create a space that is authentic, motivating, and beneficial, both personally and professionally.
10:15 - 11:10 am PST
Breakouts - Fairway Room
Pods & Mentorship Circles
with Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of BLLA, StayBoutique, TIEWN, & Boutique Money Group, Nile Tuzun, Founder & Chief Creative Storyteller of Studio Nilebrand, Janet Eason, Founding Partner of Eason Branding, and Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA
Sponsored by DIRECTV HOSPITALITY
Let’s take some time to come together and learn from one another!
A little bit about our mentors...
Frances - Her experience spans from hotel booking technology to third-party travel programs to radical and advanced marketing strategies. Frances was an integral part of the groundbreaking systemic change in the way people traveled, which led to the contemporary boutique movement. She started her career handling some of the country's largest companies for CWT (Carlson Wagonlit Travel), such as Disney and Toyota. From there, she created a hotel marketing program called CCRA and sold it 15 years later to create the BLLA.
Nile - Nile, a highly accomplished hospitality design and development executive, an award-winning photographer, creative director, art advocate, and citizen of the world, has developed a solid reputation for uncompromising excellence in the world of international hospitality design. Her work over the past 22 years has influenced and raised the bar for the hospitality experience worldwide with her lifestyle and interior design company Studio Nilebrand as Founder and Chief Creative Storyteller.
Janet - Janet is an experienced brand strategist and marketer who is passionate about finding the DNA of a great independent hotel. She loves to travel and often visits hotels along the way. She can be found wherever an assignment takes her but frequently splits her time between her RVA and NYC offices. She has worked on both the agency and client-side in the hospitality and lifestyle industries - from destinations to airlines, to hotels, to restaurants - she brings an innovative perspective to problem-solving, and building connections between consumers and brands.
Ariela - Ariela has quickly become a thought leader in the global hospitality and boutique industries. From producing the sector’s most influential conferences, events, and content to leading the sector in category disruption, she has gained respect and vast knowledge from the industry. Frequently called on to speak and give insights to media, she has dedicated her career to growing the boutique movement. Her passion for the industry extends beyond all the personal relationships and stories through the development of beautiful StayBoutique Magazines to all the digital aspects the association sends to its more than 33K direct subscribers.
11:20 am - 12:00 pm PST
Workshop - Provence Room
Building a Hotel Brand
with Jersey Banks, Founder/CEO of Urban Cowboy Hotels, and Jenesis Laforcarde, Founder of The Jenesis House
Interviewed by Nile Tuzun, Founder & Chief Creative Storyteller of Studio Nilebrand
Sponsored by Dragonfly Strategists
What does it take to actually build a hotel brand? What are the secrets to building a lasting hotel culture? What can hotels do to attract quality team members? We welcome these daring hoteliers to the stage as they cover the top tips on how to build a successful and memorable hotel brand in the contemporary era of hospitality.
12:00 - 12:30 pm PST
Keynote - Provence Room
Infusing Heart & Soul Into Your Business, Finding Balance & Honoring Your Ethos
with Marissa Hermer, Co-Owner/Partner of Boujis Group
Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, President of TIEWN, and Co-Founder of StayBoutique
Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig
Join Marissa Hermer, restaurateur, entrepreneur, author, and past star of Bravo TV's 'Ladies of London,' as she sits down with Ariela and shares her journey in the restaurant industry and the value in staying true to yourself and your brand in all your endeavors.
12:30 - 1:30 pm PST
Networking - Bogie’s
Lunch
Come say hello to fellow attendees and grab some nourishment to re-fuel your day.
1:35 - 2:25 pm PST
Think Tank - Provence Room
The New Generation of All-Inclusive: Retreats
with Diana Stobo, Owner & CEO of The Retreat Costa Rica, and Eve Gaines, Founder & Director of RITUEL
Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, President of TIEWN, and Co-Founder of StayBoutique
Sponsored by Nestle Premium Waters
Let’s take a look at the new generation of hospitality… retreats! As we dive into this topic, we wonder: how would you define a “retreat” in this age of travel? What are the key elements of a retreat? How do you design a retreat experience that resonates with the modern traveler? Today, we will be bringing some amazing hospitality experts onto the panel to discuss the art of retreats and how they are impacting the contemporary era of hospitality.
2:25 - 3:20 pm PST
Workshop - Provence Room
Mentorship Within the Technology Space
with Kim Twiggs, Associate Vice President of Market Development at DIRECTV, and Vivian Teddi Mur, Director, Travel & Tourism at Aki Technologies, an Inmar Intelligence Company
Interviewed by Jessica Kramer, Founder of Hospitality Advisory
Sponsored by DIRECTV HOSPITALITY
It is no secret that technology has embedded itself in the sphere of travel, tourism, and hospitality. If you’re a woman in technology, how do you make your way up the ladder? What are some examples of networking groups that women can join with ease to meet other professionals and share ideas? How do you see women's roles in technology changing 10-15 years into the future? Join this engaging workshop as we dive into the heart of technology and the importance of women in this evolving space.
3:20 - 3:40 pm PST
Networking - Bogie’s
Break
Recharge and connect with fellow attendees before coming back to the main stage.
3:40 - 4:30 pm PST
Workshop - Provence Room
Long Life Learning, Navigating Transitions & the Power of Purpose
with Kari Cardinale, SVP of Digital & Alumni Strategy at Modern Elder Academy
Sponsored by BLLA
Let’s focus on YOU for a bit. In this workshop, we will explore the power and impact of developing a growth mindset towards the next chapters of life - certainly a leading motivation to experience travel and tourism. Kari Cardinale will help outline the benefits of curiosity and “long life” learning as a path to growth, the impact of managing personal transitions, and how to find greater satisfaction at work and at home by living more purposefully.
4:30 - 4:40 pm PST
Community - Provence Room
I Am Woman Sing-a-Long
Join us as we turn up the volume and sing along to an uplifting and celebratory anthem for women.
4:40 - 5:20 pm PST
Closing - Provence Room
End-of-Day Reflections
with TIEWN Board Members: Jessica Kramer, Founder of Hospitality Advisory, Nile Tuzun, Founder & Chief Creative Storyteller at Studio Nilebrand, Kris Potter, Founder of The Potter Co., Kim Marshall, Co-Founder of S’Well the Agency, and Alana Miranda, Travel Industry Account Director at Mr. C Beverly Hills
Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, President of TIEWN, and Co-Founder of StayBoutique
Sponsored by StayBoutique
Ariela will come back on stage and bring some TIEWN Board Members with her to reflect on the day. Together, they will focus on memorable moments, lessons learned, and how they will implement their findings into their personal and professional lives.
5:20 - 7:00 pm PST
Networking - Provence Patio
Evening Reception
Join us as we celebrate this eventful day. Cocktail, Pasta Bar, Appetizers, Desserts.