(sorry didn’t know I was supposed to take a picture)

I am not sure if this class would have counted towards guest speakers since we
were not required to dress up, however the Freeman presentation for Festivalization
and Meetings and Events was really interesting to me. For the presentation there were
3 different speakers: Natalie McMenemy, Kelly McLaughlin, and Jennelle Mendes. Kelly
and Natalie being Senior Directors and Jennelle being a Manager in their respective
fields.
The meetings and events sector of hospitality is definitely a dynamic industry that
covers and includes a wide range of different events such as business conferences to
social gatherings. That was something I did learn was how broad this section was and
how it ties into the other areas of hospitality and tourism due to all the details that go
into the planning and coordination. Listening to our speakers, it was clear that they
prioritize guest satisfaction, aiming to create memorable and enjoyable experiences.
They have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to
diverse client needs.
I really enjoy how Freeman is straying from the traditional conferences and
utilizing Festivalization. I understand that on the business side of things I think that
Festivalization will bring companies more attention and profit but also that it will benefit
the event goers too. Our speakers brought up how corporations are starting to value
memorable experiences rather than information spewing and starting to deviate from
the “boring” calculated event spaces. That meeting and events should be more
interactive and focus more on getting the attendees to remember what these companies
have to offer by providing immersive experiences, incorporating entertainment and
unique event formats such as more open space floor plans. Something that stuck with
me during the presentation was that the Poll was taken to see which kind of festival was
the favorite amongst my peers, and that ComicCon falls under that category of festival.
It was surprising to me because although I have never formally been to a business
event, ComicCon’s layout felt very formulaic and something you would see in a
business setting; In the sense that the expo hall is very boxy in most places with a
multitude of different panels going on with strict timeframes. Very different from what
you’d expect a festival to be, but I guess it is one of San Diego’s largest events every
year. When our speakers got to the section it showed me how and why ComicCon has
been so successful over the years even with all the ups and downs. It’s because it
always has something new to offer, being innovative and keeping up with the trends
attracting new audiences all while keeping a familiar feeling and aura for the returning
guests.
I would categorize our guest speakers and mostly people savvy with a sprinkle of
business savvy. I feel like in this part of the industry it is very important for you to be
people savvy. I felt like our speakers were adept at understanding and interacting
effectively with others, and that's evidenced by them collaborating with different
companies and being involved with successful events as well as their positions at
Freeman. They are able to build relationships with event goers and brands and are able
to adjust to changing times and be aware of what's important to a successful event. I
also say they are business savvy due to the planning and decision making that goes
into these events that are intended to produce the best results.
Personally I enjoyed this presentation because I was interested in meetings and
events but I didn’t know much about it. I have slight experience with the front desk at
hotels that ultimately switched my interests, but this presentation only furthered my
curiosity in this field of hospitality. Our speakers seemed genuine, welcoming and
excited to be adapting events into something new which was nice to see. It’s exciting to
hear the advancements Freeman is making to make things like this more memorable.