CONFERENCE ARCHIVES | 2019 Schedule

The 2019 Conference was held at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, October 29-31. 

The following schedule is from the 2019 Conference which has passed. 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM	Executive Committee Meeting (open to committee members only)	Ebb Tide
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM	Board of Directors Meeting	Penobscot Bay
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Conference Registration Desk Open & Refreshments	Lobby
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Opening General Session "W T F" Presenter: Bashar Wali, Provenance Hotels When you’re filling hundreds of rooms, 365 days a year, you can sometimes forget that those heads in beds belong to unique individuals, all of them with their own particular needs and desires. Bashar brings his sharp wit and breadth of experience, both as a hotelier and as a traveler, to address this oversight as he shares a few of his frustrations and solutions to these all-to-common mistakes.	Bay Point Ballroom
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM	NEIRA Annual Business Meeting/Election of Officers	Bay Point Ballroom
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM	Roundtable Discussions by Property Type B&B's — Monhegen Inns — Penobscot Bay Hotels & Resorts — Vinalhaven	Multiple Locations
5:45 PM - 6:15 PM	First Time Attendee Reception (lodging properties only) If you have never been to NEIRA’s Annual Conference, please join us!	Clubhouse
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM	Cocktails & Dinner: Boston Sports Dynasty Night Attendees are encouraged to dress for our theme "Boston Sports Dynasty Night" - wear your favorite Boston Sports team apparel!	Knox County Ballroom
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM	Enoteca Lounge Open	Enoteca Lounge
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Breakfast	Knox County Ballroom
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Conference Registration Desk Open	Knox County Hallway
8:15 AM - 8:45 AM	Marketing Update from MJ Legault, Origin	Knox County Ballroom
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM	General Session "Crossing the Generational Divide" Presenter: Alicia Rainwater, The Center for Generational Kinetics We work in a time of unprecedented generational change and challenge. There are now five generations in the workforce and five generations of guests at your properties. Making matters worse is the tremendous amount of misinformation around generational differences. At The Center for Generational Kinetics, we know for a fact that strategies that work for one generation can be a complete turn-off for others. This divide is a costly challenge—but it can be a breakthrough opportunity. It all depends on how you and your leaders respond now. In Crossing the Generational Divide, Alicia Rainwater, speaker for the Center for Generational Kinetics will help you solve the multigenerational challenge. She will reveal new generational truths about Gen Z and Millennials based on The Center's latest research. She will share surprising data, powerful frontline stories, hidden trends, and specific solutions that drive measurable results in the hospitality industry. You will leave with new ways to improve employee performance in the workplace as well as strategies to sell, message, and market to the generations.	Knox County Ballroom
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM	Concurrent Sessions Block 1 Hospitality Economic Outlook | Presenter: Meri Keller, Pinnacle Advisory Group Location: Penobscot Bay Meri Keller, Vice President for Pinnacle Advisory Group, will discuss trends and key lodging statistical data on the New England lodging market. Her topics will include market demand factors, seasonality issues, operating performance metrics, and other relevant operating issues affecting the lodging market. This session will reveal and incorporate results on the NEIRA membership survey conducted this summer/fall, especially for this conference. SH--T | Presenter: Chris Gasbarro, Ember Location: Owl's Head Actually... that's not a typo, but some of you may think "SHIFT" is a bad word. Regardless, it's the 21st century, and there are more tools, ideas, partners, inspiration..and more need to create transformational meetings, events and hospitality to influence results within your organization and shift your meetings and guest experiences forward. Shame on us if we don't find opportunities, big or small, to shift the design, creativity and execution of the events we produce. Our responsibility to the attendee and the guest is massive – and this session will feature a plethora of ideas, techniques and "Challenges" to you to think differently and take calculated risks within your property's meeting event and hospitality experiences. Deliverables: A self-assessment if you/your organization’s meeting and events are at risk Increased understanding of your “Attendee/Guest" and your responsibility to them (hotelier or supplier) Receive 32+ great ideas to start incorporating into your organization to help you “Shift” All about Content for Hospitality & Tourism | Presenter: MJ Legault, Origin Location: Spruce Head In this session, we'll discuss the problems that many of us are encountering with our content marketing. We'll look at the changes in consumer behavior and expectations of content. We'll look at some strategies to address these changes and some tips for content distribution. Finally, we'll look at content trends we're seeing emerge in the hospitality and tourism industry, and examples of brands applying them successfully. Innovation, Authenticity and Creating Evergreen Brand Stories | Presenter: Rauni Kew, Inn by the Sea Location: Schooner The seminar will focus on innovation, authenticity and creating stories around your product that attract both guests and media interest. Every property has a great story to tell, and one that engages guests emotionally while helping to build brand. Learn your property may not be the central focus of your best stories, but rather seen as a facilitator for great outcomes. We'll look at how to be seen as an industry leader, how to attract more publicity by using what you already do well, and finding that emotional story hook that will kick your visibility up a notch or two.	Multiple Locations
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM	Concurrent Sessions Block 2 (repeated from first block; see descriptions above) Hospitality Economic Outlook | Presenter: Meri Keller, Pinnacle Advisory Group Location: Penobscot Bay SH--T | Presenter: Chris Gasbarro, Ember Location: Owl's Head All about Content for Hospitality & Tourism | Presenter: MJ Legault, Origin Location: Spruce Head Templates Hospitality Professionals Use to “Do” Hospitality RIGHT! | Presenter: Gregg Patterson, Tribal Magic Location: Schooner Hospitality Professionals are in The People Business and Managers, Supervisors and The Team who’ve “done good” are masters of and leaders in The Hospitality Experience. Successful Hotel Professionals know that in the Hospitality Business “stuff” is The Magnet and hospitality is The Glue and those who do “glue right” get the business, keep the business and make more money---longer!!! This seminar addresses Hospitality Leadership and provides tactical templates managers can use to evaluate the hospitality experience they and their teams deliver to their “hotel consuming” community.	Multiple Locations
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM	Lunch	Knox County Ballroom
1:30 PM - 3:45 PM	Dessert & Sponsor Trade Show	State of Maine Hall
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM	Business, Banter & Beer Educational Round Tables	Bay Point Ballroom
6:15 PM - 7:00 PM	Cocktail Reception	Lobby
7:00 PM	Awards Dinner NEIRA will present the "Master of New England Innkeeping, Lifetime Achievement Award" and the "Innovators Award." Learn more about the awards. The Cocktail Reception & Dinner are business attire (sport coat or jacket, dress pants, skirts, dresses).	Knox County Ballroom
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM	Entertainment in Enotica Lounge	Enotica Lounge
Thursday, October 31, 2019
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Breakfast	Knox County Ballroom
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM	Hotels and Community: How Good Citizenship is Good Business Moderator: Sarah Eustis, CEO, Main Street Hospitality Panelists: Peter Twachtman, Chief Operating Officer, Migis Hotel Group; Sarah Morris, Fifth Generation Host, Basin Harbor; Hans van Wees, General Manager, Hotel Vermont; Rob Blood, Owner & Founder, Lark Hotels In this panel we will examine the aspects of what makes a hotel essential to its community, how that is developed and manifested, and how it creates a virtuous cycle of loyalty and profitability.	Knox County Ballroom
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Closing Session: IT STARTS WITH YOU: 4 Breakthrough Steps to Playing Bigger in Leadership, Business, and Life Presenter: Justin Patton, Executive Leadership Coach The mindset and presence you show up with every day impacts your ability to create trust, influence, and an exceptional guest experience. That's why if you ever want to be a great leader of others, you must first be a great leader of yourself! Being a great leader of yourself starts by being self-aware on how you're showing up and taking intentional steps to maximize your influence. Join executive coach and body language expert, Justin Patton, as he guides you to explore who you are at your best, outline the #1 trait that holds all leaders back, and challenges you to communicate with stronger impact. It’s time to discover a bold new you. Remember: It Start With You!!! You won't want to miss this...	Knox County Ballroom