After 18 months of pivoting, the hospitality industry is primed to broaden the horizon in 2022. Kicking off the year, Hospitality Executive Exchange (HEE) East headed to the beautiful Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa on March 27-30, 2022. Senior level food & beverage executives and select beverage partners gathered for 2 ½ days to exchange ideas, insights & information. The agenda through-out the program centered around the theme, “Create. Connect. Cultivate.”

HEE continues to raise the bar when it comes to programming that is custom and determined by the participants. The overall agenda is carefully cultivated to create a relaxed but productive program providing key takeaways. It’s one of the most exclusive and beneficial offerings in the hospitality marketplace and HEE East did not disappoint.

The HEE program offers education, networking and one-on-one meetings allowing participants to connect in very organic and real ways. Kicking off the HEE East conversations was the opening keynote chat with Steve Madonna, Bar Louie and Lucas Dudley, Legendary Restaurant Group who shared insights on how their concepts navigated and emerged through the past 18 months. The opening general session, Conversations Create Change allowed colleagues to discuss topics chosen by them, that are affecting them in real time. The Beverage Bazaar engaged participants with topics of “Why We Crave Spice” led by Tanteo Spirits; “Does Your Menu Suck” led by Better Beverage Bureau and a great tasting and education session learning about the passion and women of Casa Del Sol.

HEE focuses on conversations throughout every aspect of the program. The one-on-one meetings are the foundation of the HEE program. These are NOT fast-paced, exhausting back-to-back-to-back meetings. They are relaxed, laid-back and productive meetings which are divided into 3 or 4 sessions with only 4 meetings per session, so that you have time to breathe and not feel pulled or pressured. In addition, HEE provides applicable ways to showcase beverages through-out the program. For HEE East, 3 nights of supplier marketplace where the innovations were the focus for beverage menus and programs provided by select supplier partners along with a Mad-Hatters lunch pairing and tasting led by industry leaders Carolyn White and Donna Frederick.

There are no two HEE programs the same. Each program is custom with new topics. HEE continues to elevate the conversation and provides a unique and rare opportunity for beverage professionals to gather without the stress. HEE has grown organically for the past 15 years, and it has become one of the premiere offerings in the hospitality marketplace. Plans are underway now for HEE West, with dates and location to be announced later this month. For anyone interested in participating in the HEE program, please visit the HEE website (hospitalityexecutiveexchange.com) and reach out to Jen Robinson at jen@thepineapplegroup.net