Teneo Hospitality Group Names Julie Stovroff Vice President of Sales, Insurance and Financial Services
Eden Prairie, MN, April 2017 … Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier global sales firm representing 300+ independent and luxury branded hotels, resorts, and DMCs continues to expand its portfolio and international reach, naming Julie Stovroff Vice President of Sales, Insurance and Financial Services. Teneo President Mike Schugt made the announcement.
“As Teneo continues to grow, we are enhancing our ability to drive the highly important insurance and financial services business to our member properties,” said Mr. Schugt. “Teneo will become a stronger player in this market with Julie on board, and we welcome her to our company.”
Julie Stovroff brings 31 years of global sales and representation experience within the key insurance and financial services markets to her new position with Teneo Hospitality Group. She was previously Vice President, Group Sales Insurance and Financial Services for Preferred Hotels & Resorts where she earlier served as Director of Sales for the same market. In these positions, Ms. Stovroff was consistently recognized as a top performer, earning the company’s most prestigious sales and incentive awards. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Sales with Hinton and Grusich, responsible for insurance and financial services sectors as well.
Ms. Stovroff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communications and Psycology from the University of Denver. A resident of Denver, Colorado, she will operate out of Teneo’s Denver offices.
TENEO HOSPITALITY GROUP REACHES OUT TO NEW YORK’S HOMELESS VIA INNOVATIVE NETWORKING EVENT.
Teneo Hospitality Group Launches Nationwide Meeting Planner and Hotelier Networking & Charity Events, Assisting Homeless in 14 Cities
NEW YORK, NY, March 2017 … Teneo Hospitality Group launched the first of several planned 2017 networking and charity programs with an interactive event at Manhattan’s swanky Second Floor venue. The gathering, to benefit the New York Rescue Mission, was attended by 100 meeting planners from the Northeast and representatives of 58 hotels and destinations from across the US and internationally. Teneo’s networking programs, held across the United States and in Latin America, provide members with a unique opportunity to showcase their products and services, enjoy great food and entertainment, while aiding a local charity. Teneo will host similar gatherings in 13 other cities during the year, each benefiting a local charitable organization supporting the homeless.
At the New York event, meeting planners were given Teneo tote bags to fill. Then, they visited each of the 58 tables where they connected with a hotelier or destination management company (DMC) who added an item to each bag. Each tote bag contained 58 items that could be useful to the homeless, including socks, dental floss, eye drops, hand cream, feminine products, toothbrushes, umbrellas, blankets, Band-Aids, snacks and a number of other necessity items. Over 160 bags were filled and donated to the NYC Rescue Mission.
Teneo developed the innovative program last year as a key part of its business model. “Our business is built on developing strong relationships between meeting planners and the hotels and DMC members who serve them,” says Teneo President Mike Schugt. “Our charitable outreach utilizes these interactive gatherings to give back by supporting the organizations servicing the homeless in their city.” He also noted that the problem of homelessness continues to grow, affecting a broad spectrum of the population, including families, women, children, veterans and those suffering from substance abuse and mental illness.
Since launching the program last year, Teneo has hosted nine events in various US cities, plus the company’s annual Summit in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Teneo chooses a different charitable focus each year. In 2016, the company’s outreach benefited at risk children in numerous US cities. Charities included Covenant House, Special Olympics and several local shelters and clothing programs for children in need. Participants filled backpacks with school supplies, toiletries and sneakers.
The innovative charitable aspect of the evening was new to many and greeted with appreciation. Noted Tiru Irani, president of Far Horizons, a luxury group travel company, “It was very thoughtful of Teneo to include the charity component to this event. I was touched and very impressed by this kind gesture.”
Teneo Hospitality Group brought its imaginative networking while giving concept to Manhattan with a major event attended by over 160 meeting planners, hoteliers and destination management companies. Meeting planners were given Teneo tote bags to fill, then visited each table where they connected with a hotelier or DMC who then added an item to each bag. Each bag contained 58 practical items, including dental floss, hand cream, feminine products, toothbrushes, umbrellas, blankets, Band-Aids, razors, snacks and socks designed especially for the homeless. Over 160 bags were filled and taken to the NYC Rescue Mission.
Expanding Its Presence in the Northwest and Utah
Teneo Hospitality Group Names Christie Post Director of Sales Northwest
Eden Prairie, MN, February 9, 2017 … Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier global sales representation firm for 300 Four Diamond independent and luxury branded hotels, continues to expand its portfolio and international reach with the appointment of Christie Post as Director of Sales Northwest. Based in Portland, OR, Ms. Post will oversee Teneo’s sales initiatives in Oregon, Washington and Utah.
Christie Post joins Teneo Hospitality Group with over 20 years of global hotel sales experience, primarily on the west coast. Most recently, she held a global sales role with Disney, representing their convention and incentive hotels and Disney Institute, and received Disney’s Platinum Club Award for two consecutive years. She has also been a top producing member of Gaylord Hotels National Sales Team where she focused on large group business for Gaylord’s four convention properties.
Ms. Post opened and operated Krisam Group’s first Pacific Northwest office from 2004 – 2010, and had previously held national sales and on-property positions with Ritz-Carlton and Krisam Group in New York.
https://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Teneo-Hospitality-Group-Names-Christie-Post-Director-of-Sales-Northwest.png6661000Maria Perret-Gentilhttps://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/website-logo-white-NEW.pngMaria Perret-Gentil2017-02-14 10:42:062022-12-09 16:08:34Teneo Hospitality Group Names Christie Post Director of Sales Northwest
Top 10 Food & Beverage Trends for 2017 from Teneo Hospitality Group Chefs, Luxury and Independent Properties Take Lead meeting New, Diverse Demands
Eden Prairie, MN, January 2017 … The food revolution that swept America’s tables all the way to the White House has reached the kitchens of the country’s hotel and resort ballrooms and banquet spaces. Chef-led, millennial-driven, and embracing the issues of sustainability, sourcing, wellness and diversity, the 2017 food & beverage trends show an increasingly complex and sophisticated market.
“Today’s hotel and group banquet guests have new and highly diverse dining requirements and demands,” says Mike Schugt, president of Teneo Hospitality Group, the leading professional group meeting sales organization bringing together 300 hotels, resorts and destination management companies worldwide with professional meeting and event planners. “Luxury and independent hotels are well-positioned to provide customized culinary solutions to planners, as they are less restricted by brand corporate procedures and purchasing requirements. This has resulted in an explosion of culinary creativity, and has made local sourcing of ingredients much easier, providing chefs detailed knowledge of how vegetables are grown and how animals are raised.”
Teneo recently addressed food & beverage trends at its Annual Summit, partnering with guest Executive Banquet Chef Stefan Peroutka of The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas. A native of Austria who has cooked in several acclaimed restaurants in Europe and the United States, Chef Peroutka brings the same creative vision and commitment to excellence to group events.
“I believe that a key factor to longevity and success in this industry is based on a simple concept that I refer to as an ‘HONEST Food Program’,” said Chef Peroutka. “It is built on delivering fresh and real ingredients that are prepared with proper technique and passion, always setting out to preserve the integrity of all ingredients used. This is the basic concept to building great culinary programs.”
Top 10 Group Food & Beverage Trends
Trend #1 Local and Sustainable
Sourcing and using locally-raised meat and produce is the most productive way to meet the changing requirements for healthy dining while reducing a hotel’s or resort’s carbon footprint. Chefs are assured of fresh ingredients and much more intensive knowledge of the food they are buying and serving. Says Chef Peroutka, “Increasingly, group meeting and banquet guests want to know where their food comes from, how it is raised and fed, and they have a right to that information.” For example, meat from grass-fed cows, raised without hormones is far healthier and tastier. By buying locally, a chef can assure guests from personal knowledge that their dinners come from animals that have been naturally and humanely raised. Indeed, animal welfare is a growing concern, especially among millennials. Buying from local farms will also greatly reduce transportation costs and emissions.
Trend #2 Natural, Minimally Processed Foods
Creative chefs throughout the country are leading a movement to educate and excite their customers about experiencing foods as close to their natural state as possible, and not overly seasoned or processed. As healthier, plant-based ingredients replace processed food and awareness of the dangers of sodium, sugar and saturated fat grows, Americans are demanding healthier food at meetings and banquet events.
Trend #3 New Cuts of Meat, Non-traditional Fish, Meat Versus Plant
Animal-based proteins will assume a more secondary role in 2017 as chefs respond to guest’s individual diet preferences for more sustainable and healthier eating habits. Look for a greater use of vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes as part of the protein intake at group dining events. Since some fish have become scarce, more abundant species such as mackerel, rock fish and skipjack are now trending as healthy protein sources. To make food more sustainable and affordable, chefs are using a variety of cuts of meat – not just breasts, shoulders, and legs, but the entire animal.
Trend #4 Healthful Snacks
New and healthier snacks are coming on the market, impacting both what is offered at hotels and resorts, in meetings, and what individuals purchase or prepare for themselves. Planners have long seen the need for energy-boosting break-out items such as fruit, nuts and yogurt. These will be joined by seaweed and plant-based snacks, and smoothies made with nut-based milks rather than dairy.
Trend #5 Ethnic-Inspired Breakfast Items
An increasingly diverse American population now consumes a breakfast that goes well beyond bacon and eggs, and international attendees bring their own preferences. Many Europeans start the day with a variety of breads and charcuterie from prosciutto and salami to pâtés. Middle Easterners enjoy spreads and salads, while Latin Americans prefer spicier breakfast entrees with meats, eggs and empanadas. In 2017, look for fruits such as pomelo, star fruit, mangosteen, red bananas, pomegranates and Asian pears for breakfast. Hot and flavorful cereals such as congee mixed with vegetables or even spicy Korean kimchee makes a flavorful change from bland oatmeal. Popular breads will include pita, nan, flatbread, and tortillas for build-your own breakfast burritos.
Trend #6 Bolder Flavors
The phenomenal success of Siracha sauces and wide exposure to spicy ethnic foods such as Thai and Indian cuisine, make today’s guests far more adventurous diners, particularly among millennials. With an international mix of conference attendees, planners must explore ways to incorporate these items on restaurant and conference menus.
Trend #7 Hybrid Cuisine
Hybrid Cuisine evolved from the fusion food trend, which sometimes resulted in dishes that were more confused than fused. Hybrid cuisine is all about respecting the craft and traditional techniques of two culinary worlds and combining items into a harmonious well balanced dish. For example, it could be as simple as Korean fried chicken combined with a daikon Kimchee turned into a slider with miso mayonnaise.
Trend #8 House Made / Artisan Items
This trend is about creating a unique, individualized and memorable experience for guests – all produced and customized in house. This could be a small consumable item that is property-or event-specific … something a guest can take away with them, and which can later transport them back for a few moments to re-experience the event. This may be house-made snack mixes, gourmet popcorn, macaroons, or small jars of house-made jams, chutneys, mustards or infused seasoning salts.
Trend #9 Grab & Go with Mobile Apps
Like many current food trends, this is driven by busy, tech-savvy millennials. At conferences, attendees can use hotel or meeting apps to access interactive menus through personal mobile devices, ordering freshly prepared menu items for quick pick up without the wait. The apps can also be used to order to a vendor booth or break-out meeting space, for fast convenient service.
Trend #10 Cocktails, Mocktails and More
Beverages can make an event, and the emphasis should be quality and innovation over quantity. Many classic cocktails are making a comeback, including Manhattans, Side Cars and French 75s. America’s very own whisky, Bourbon, is giving Scotch a run for its money and gin lovers can now choose from a variety of tonics for their G & Ts. Talented mixologists are mixing their own infusions from fresh ingredients. Locally brewed craft beers and local wines enhance the overall dining experience and also contribute to sustainability.
Nondrinkers don’t want not be limited to simple water or chemically laden soft drinks. Planners can provide non-alcoholic beverages that are imaginatively presented. Fortunately, the current concern with health and safety has given rise to Mocktails, alcohol-free takes on mojitos, Cosmos, Martinis and Bloody Marys with infusions of fresh fruit and colorful garnishes.
In conclusion …
“We are seeing a much more complex and challenging environment emerging within group food and beverage,” says Teneo President Mike Schugt. “These changes will demand a creative, flexible response to guest demands, including an emphasis on flavor, health, and strict attention to sustainable farming & livestock practices, and dietary needs.” While Mr. Schugt sees luxury and independent properties in the vanguard of this movement, he has no doubt that the entire industry will eventually step up to meet these new challenges. “This is an innovative, creative industry,” Mike Schugt affirms. “We listen to our customers, ask questions, learn, and then lead the way.”
Introducing The Scott, a Lively Gathering Place for Valley Visitors and Locals with a Signature Sonoran Style, Enhanced Amenities and Creative, New Programming
Scottsdale, Ariz. (January 5, 2016) – Classic Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality development and management company based in Phoenix, announced today its plans to rebrand and rename Firesky Resort & Spa, a boutique property the company acquired in April 2016. The 204-room resort, located in Old Town Scottsdale, is being renamed as The Scott Resort & Spa, along with a newly rebranded website that is now live.
Revered as one of the premiere resorts in Arizona, boasting one of the best locations in Scottsdale and known for its impeccable service and tantalizing cuisine, The Scott continues to be a favorite among tourists and locals alike. Over the next two years, Classic Hotels & Resorts will invest $15M to make an already beloved resort even better. The reinvention will consist of all guest rooms, suites and public spaces, including the resort’s 14,000 square feet of meeting space, two pools, lobby bar and restaurant. The redesign will at once celebrate the historic building’s iconic architecture, while introducing a new look and feel and elevated guest service culture, creating a new personality for the prized resort alongside an all- new restaurant concept – both of which will be unique to the current Phoenix/Scottsdale hospitality market.
While maintaining the resort’s vibrant Sonoran style that visitors and locals have enjoyed for the past 55 years, The Scott will soon benefit from several significant enhancements throughout. The first phase of the redesign will begin in May 2017 and be complete in September 2017, just in time for peak season travelers, and will include:
The lobby will be upgraded from the inside out. With caning screens that contrast against the modern curved brass of Bauhaus-inspired chandeliers and rattan settees scattered throughout, the lobby will reflect an eclectic style of traditional front porch Havana. Blue-glazed olive jars and indoor landscaping create an intimate seating oasis for guests. A hand-crafted, Spanish-tiled bar and existing arches reflect the traditional, original architecture of the space. Vintage artwork and paintings compliment signature rattan and wicker furniture.
The signature Lobby Bar and Restaurant will be completely renovated and re-concepted, while still capitalizing on its ideal indoor-outdoor layout. A large tree will serve as the bar’s focal point in the center of the open-air space, surrounded by abundant succulents and indigenous plant life. The fireplace will remain rightfully intact, as a gathering place for morning coffee or evening cocktails.
The new furnishings and décor are met with an all-new menu, designed by Executive Chef Christopher Bailey.
Several upgrades to the resort’s two lagoon-like pools will include additional cabanas and beautifully new landscaped surrounds. Guests and locals will continue to enjoy creative cocktails and light bites from the Acqua Pool Bar and are welcome to dip their toes in the resort’s signature sandy beach pool.
The resort’s 14,000 square feet of meeting and function space will receive all new custom Axminster carpeting and custom decorative light fixtures that echo the property’s overall Spanish and Moroccan inspired ambiance. Landscaping and outdoor lighting upgrades are also underway for the beautiful event lawn – the resort’s main wedding venue. Smaller common public spaces and patios will be refurbished, with additional fire pits for lounging.
The second phase will revamp all 204 spacious guestrooms, each of which features private outdoor patios or balconies. Significant upgrades will range from new furniture packages and case goods to redesigned bathrooms. The renovation will also unveil an all-new Presidential Suite and the addition of four one- bedroom suites.
“This historic property is an elegant and fun addition to our portfolio, and we feel honored to restore and update it in ways that enrich the guest experience – not only through elevated and comfortable design, but also through new amenity and programming concepts that speak to this unique desert destination,” said Classic Hotels & Resorts President John Grossman. “The Scott is a modern incarnation of an Arizona classic with a fresh, design-forward concept that will attract both locals and visitors alike.”
A talented team of designers is responsible for the resort’s new concept, including New York and San Francisco-based AvroKO, local architect firm Synthetic Design, and Hart Howerton, which is overseeing the meetings and events spaces. Rinker Design crafted the resort’s rebranding and played an important role in concept visioning and programing.
“This is such an exciting project for us to be involved with,” said Greg Bradshaw, founding partner of AvroKO. “We took the approach of wanting to keep intact some elements that are already very much a part of the hotel – particularly the beautiful Spanish Revival inspired architecture – and have incorporated several new layers into the overall design, including beautiful staple pieces that are inspired by the Bauhaus movement and old Havana, which guests will see immediately upon arrival and get a true sense of the place right away. We can’t wait to see the finished product and how it all comes together.”
For additional information, please contact your Teneo Sales Representative. 1-800-495-0119 | info@teneohg.com
Expanding Its Professional Sales Force, Teneo Hospitality Group
Names Cindy Meyerer Director of Sales
Eden Prairie, MN, November 2016 … Further expanding its professional sales force, Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier global sales representation firm for independent and branded hotels, named Cindy Meyerer as director of sales, responsible for the company’s Southeastern market.
“We are delighted to welcome Cindy Meyerer to the Teneo family,” said Teneo President Mike Schugt. “Cindy has developed tremendous relationships with meeting professionals throughout her career, and her background and experience are a perfect fit for our team.”
Based in Orlando, Ms. Meyerer’s background in sales, catering, operations and destination promotion spans prominent hotel brands in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington D.C., California, and Texas. These include Hyatt Hotels, Gaylord Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company. Her most recent position was with Disney Meetings and Disney Destinations Worldwide, as their National Sales Representative for the Southeast.
She holds numerous awards including Gaylord Hotels Teammate of the Year, Disney Destinations Platinum Circle Winner, and the NSO Top Production Award for Disney Destination’s Resort Division.
Ms. Meyerer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Hospitality Administration/Management from Florida State University.
About Teneo Hospitality Group
Teneo Hospitality Group represents over 300 independent and branded hotels, resorts and DMCs around the world.
Teneo is a Latin word meaning to know, understand and persevere. This maxim informs the company’s mission and its successful track record of global expansion. In just three years, Teneo has grown into a prominent industry player. The company continues to expand its staff of hospitality sales professionals, whose resumes span major hotel brands, independent properties and top travel destinations.
Teneo Hires Reena Shanahan as Director of Sales for the Midwest Region
Eden Prairie, MN, November 2016 … Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier global sales representation firm for four diamond independent and branded hotels, continues its expansion, naming Reena Shanahan as its newest director of sales, responsible for the company’s Midwestern market. Based in Teneo’s Chicago offices, Ms. Shanahan brings an in-depth background in hospitality sales and marketing to her new position. (more…)
https://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ReenaShanahan-newer-1.jpg393392Maria Perret-Gentilhttps://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/website-logo-white-NEW.pngMaria Perret-Gentil2016-11-28 10:25:182019-06-04 10:12:58Teneo Hires Reena Shanahan as Director of Sales
We took great consideration while choosing Circle of Success to be the theme of our Summit this year. As we prepared for our Summit, we wanted to keep the Circle of Success elements – Relationships, ROI, Trends, Education, Leadership, Technology, Networking, Negotiation, Opportunity – in mind in all the sessions, speakers, events, and activities that we scheduled.
Over the course of three days, we learned from some of the top speakers and leaders in our industry. With 115 of our top clients, and 55 hotel and DMC members in attendance, the ability to network and the knowledge you gain from fellow attendees is invaluable. Plus, the ability to take part in the hosted buyer 1 on 1 appointments allows attendees to network in an exclusive, private setting where relationships are formed and strengthened.
With a strong focus on education throughout our Summit, attendees were approved for 4.5 CE credits. We understand the importance of applying the knowledge gained towards attendees’ professional development.
5 Great Takeaways from our Summit
By incorporating a charitable contribution element to your events, it sets the tone for teamwork and relationship building.
With help of our keynote speaker, Laura Schwartz, we know to always find the networking power of every social event that you attend. Therefore, attendees could use each meal function, session and activity for networking between the industry’s top meeting planners, hoteliers, and Teneo sales professionals.
All attendees left with key industry and F&B trends that are effecting the current meeting planning process.
Via Scott Friedman – Always use humor in the work place. By doing so, we found that we can enjoy work more than ever before with the right tools to create a positive culture and team.
Our industry debate panel showed us that viewpoints can be challenged, but one of the most important take-aways was that teamwork always leads to the best possible outcome.
Our host hotel, Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive Adults Only, thought of every single aspect that makes an incredible and memorable event, and everyone was blown away. Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive hit it out of the park at our Friday night dinner with entertainment, delicious food, and finishing the night off by lighting up the sky for us with an amazing firework display. Our transportation and activities could not have gone more smoothly thanks to our host hotel, our fabulous DMC member, Terramar (a member of The DMC Network), and the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board.
We hope that you join us in 2017 as we’ll continue to set the bar high and create unique opportunities for our members and clients to maintain that Circle of Success we so strongly believe in!
Ken Ellens Communications & Sweeney Public Relations to Provide Communications Services for Teneo
Ken Ellens Communications, in partnership with Anne Sweeney Public Relations, will provide communications services for the Teneo Hospitality Group (www.teneohg.com) Teneo is a leading professional group meeting sales organization, representing over 300 hotels, resorts and destination management companies (DMCs) worldwide. Teneo is a Latin word meaning “to know, understand and persevere” (more…)
https://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ken-Ellens-Communications-Sweeney-Public-Relations-to-Provide-Communications-Services-for-Teneo.png6661000Maria Perret-Gentilhttps://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/website-logo-white-NEW.pngMaria Perret-Gentil2016-11-09 12:11:322024-07-08 15:14:26Ken Ellens Communications & Sweeney Public Relations to Provide Communications Services for Teneo
Teneo Hotel Member, Boston Park Plaza, Receives AAAs Four Diamond Rating
BOSTON, MA (October 17, 2016) – Boston Park Plaza, which completed a massive $100 million renovation in June 2016, is pleased to announce that it has received the coveted AAA Four Diamond designation. This is the first time in its nearly 90-year history that Boston Park Plaza has attained this prestigious rating. Hotels at this level are committed to providing every guest with a personalized experience and attentive service (more…)
https://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Teneo-Hotel-Member-Boston-Park-Plaza-Receives-AAAs-Four-Diamond-Rating.png6661000Maria Perret-Gentilhttps://teneohg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/website-logo-white-NEW.pngMaria Perret-Gentil2016-10-17 11:54:592024-07-05 09:10:13Boston Park Plaza Receives AAAs Four Diamond Rating
