Connections Housing News

The Connections Housing Team  is excited to be live & in-person providing housing services for our client,the International Trademark Association   (INTA) & its influential branding professional leaders from around the world here for the  INTA 2022  Annual Meeting Live +,   April 30 - May 4, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in  Washington, DC.   INTA is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands.   Its membership comprises nearly 6,500 organizations from 185 countries. The organizations represent more than 34,350 professionals, including brand owners from major corporations, small- and medium-sized enterprises, law firms, and nonprofits. Our community also includes government agency members, professors, and law students. During INTA 2022, attendees are enjoy

Happy Earth Day!  On this day (and every day!) we are proud to provide housing for Earthx2022 and our client Earthx, which is dedicated to educating inspiring action for a sustainable future.  

  Connections Housing Partner Spotlight is a new series that shines a light on the incredible leaders we have the privilege to work with across the event and hospitality industry. This month we're excited to talk to Crystal Chism, Senior Sales Executive, Pharmaceutical & NE, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve Where’s Your Hometown?   Lexington, KY How Did You Get Your Start in Your Career? I actually wanted to be a nurse, but during an internship, I passed out at every turn.  I went to college with an undeclared major and took a part-time job at a hotel and absolutely fell in love.  Hotels for me turned out to be “hospitals for well people” and enabled me the opportunity to be able to take care of people after all.   What Attracted You to the Hotel Industry?   I love interacting with people, creating experiences and knowing we never have the same day twice! Fun Fact—Something That People Do Not Know About You? I love to make pie…and my Tic-Tac Pie is f

Connections Housing Partner Spotlight is a new series that shines a light on the incredible leaders we have the privilege to work with across the event and hospitality industry. This month we’re excited to talk to Kelli Orpen, Group Account Manager, National Group Sales, Marriott International.  Where’s Your Hometown?  I was born in Chicago, but raised in the Poconos in a small town called Stroudsburg, PA. How Did You Get Your Start in Your Career?  My “first hotel gig”, was the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort in the Poconos. My husband was the beverage manager and I worked the front desk. It was my first job out of college. What Attracted You to the Hotel Industry?  I always knew I wanted to travel. I have always had a passion for it. I went to East Stroudsburg University, and the first two years  of study I was undeclared. I had no idea what I wanted to do. The summer before my third year, I got a letter from the school telling me I needed to declare a major. The second letter I opened w

10,000 participants...just under 800 competing  teams ...limited spectators… 72+ hotels....health and safety  protocols.....It all came together for the successful run of the 2021 CHEERSPORT National Cheerleading Championship  at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.    From pre-event reservations to onsite hotel support to giveaways creating a fun, welcoming environment for the athletes, the Connections team was proud to work with the CHEERSPORT team as we continue to return to live events.  CHEERSPORT is a Varsity All Star event producer, part of the Varsity Spirit family out of Memphis, TN. We had the chance to talk to Kelley Thorp, National Director of Stay Smart for Varsity All Star, about the incredible undertaking and the extensive planning, communication and behind-the-scenes organizing that she and the CHEERSPORT team put into hosting this successful event. What was the biggest challenge in hosting the live Cheersport Nationals in Atlanta?  Athlete safety continues

  As the preferred housing provider for Visit Phoenix , Connections Housing recently had the chance to catch up with Lorne Edwards, Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services.   Visit Phoenix is the  non-profit organization that promotes the Greater Phoenix community to a global audience of travelers and books conventions into the Phoenix Convention Center and area hotels and resorts.   In this Q & A, Lorne shares the latest updates on new programs, safety protocols and other innovations from hotels, indoor and outdoor venues throughout the Greater Phoenix area. Q: In light of Covid-19, what new initiatives and/or programs have you launched to help travel pros feel comfortable booking their events in the Greater Phoenix Area? A: The Phoenix Convention Center, along with our greater community of hotel and hospitality partners, have implemented several key initiatives that we feel are key to inspiring confidence in planners considering Phoenix. For example, the Pho

 Q & A with Lisa Berry, Vice President, Clarion Events Gift & Souvenir Portfolio The Clarion Events Gift & Souvenir Portfolio successfully returned to face-to-face events last month w ith the 55th annual Smoky Mountain Gift Show – known as the nation’s oldest and most respected event for the resort, gift and souvenir industry.    We had the chance to talk with Lisa Berry, vice president for the Clarion Events Gift & Souvenir Portfolio, about the team’s commitment to creating a safe environment for the show’s buyers and exhibitors, as well as key takeaways and advice for planners looking ahead to their first live events.  (Pictured:  Lisa Berry (center right) and Christina Bell (center left), Smoky Mountain Gift Show Director, flanked by JK2 Apparel exhibitors.)  Many 2020 trade shows cancelled or pivoted to virtual formats for 2020. What led to Clarion’s decision to move forward with the live edition of the Smoky Mountain Gift Show? We were really driven by cust

 Between all the Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings,  strategy sessions and conference calls while we've all been working from home, we've also been perfecting our holiday recipes.  We've got some fun, easy (and not so easy!) and festive ones we'd like to share with you: Click on any image to download the complete recipe! Larry Peterson, Vice President of National Accounts, has a great libation to liven up any holiday gathering with this wonderful Old Fashioned Swedish Glogg recipe.  Jon Mitchell, Vice President of National Accounts, recommends this amazing Kabocha Squash Pie With Spiced Crust .  It won a winter squash recipe blind taste test (the pumpkin is part of the squash family) and promises to win over your holiday guests, too!  Courtnie Hicks, Director of Account Management, has shared a few recipes, including this savory Italian Briolata .   Not the easiest of the recipes she shared, but it's a favorite of her Italian family! For an easy appetizer, Courtnie

 Where would we be without our animal companions! Whether returning to a room after a quick trip to the kitchen or returning home from a long day away, they're always happy to see us!  Bottom line, our pets just make everything better.   So we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to some of our fabulous furry friends: Robert Colvin, Chief Operating Officer, and Chip Courtnie Hicks, Director of Account Management, and Sheba, a Great Dane Pitbull mix; Harlow, a Shih Tzu Terrier; and Bella, a Chiweenie    Larry Peterson, Vice President of National Accounts, with Sally the super dog, Luke and Kate   Truman, named for Harry S. Truman, and pal to Jon Mitchell, Vice President of National Accounts  Tom Bell, Vice President of Sports Programs, sent this great shot of (top to bottom)  Maggie, Zeke and Benny    A very special picture.  Jeff Moore (right)  a long-time member of our Connections Family, passed away in April of 2020.  Shown here with husband Richard and their 2 dogs, Zoey and