In an industry built on service and human connection, leadership isn't just about managing properties— it's about shaping cultures, commanding financial growth, and paving pathways for those who follow. Join legendary hotelier and industry trailblazer Terri Haack for an empowering, high-impact keynote that addresses why women’s leadership is vital to the future of hospitality.

Drawing from a career spanning four decades— from starting as the sole female General Manager in male-dominated boardrooms to steering major resort developments like California’s iconic Terranea Resort and South Carolina’s Wild Dunes Resort— Terri delivers a candid masterclass on executive presence, resilience, and operational equity. Grounded in the conference theme, this session explores what it truly takes to claim your space at the executive level and leverage that authority to transform the hospitality ecosystem.

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From Advice to Action: Moving from Mentorship to Active Sponsorship
Christine Motherwell, Coca-Cola Consolidated
Mentorship gives advice behind closed doors; sponsorship opens them. While women in hospitality are frequently mentored, they remain vastly under-sponsored when it comes to securing executive seats, board appointments, and major operational capital.

This high-impact breakout session moves past casual career advice to focus on the mechanics of active sponsorship. Attendees will learn how to cultivate high-level sponsors who will champion their name in closed-door succession meetings, as well as how current executives can actively leverage their own political capital to sponsor emerging leaders across hotel operations, culinary arts, and corporate leadership.

Marketing a Place People Want to Visit Panel
What makes a destination truly unforgettable? It’s more than just a beautiful view or a luxury amenity—it is the story it tells and the community it builds. In this dynamic discussion, industry trailblazers from hotel marketing, destination branding, and hospitality entrepreneurship will share how they design and execute powerful marketing strategies that convert passive travelers into passionate advocates. From leveraging authentic narrative storytelling to cultivating inclusive spaces, our panelists will explore how women are shifting the landscape of travel marketing, driving innovation, and leaving a lasting legacy on how the world experiences destinations.

Panelists Include:

• Cat Dority - Explore Charleston & Lowcountry Hospitality Association
• Catherine Woods - The Indigo Road Group
• Ashley Heine - Visit Greater Palm Springs
• Jayne Baker - South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Recalibrating Hospitality: Prioritizing Wellness & Preventing Burnout
Hospitality is an industry explicitly built around caring for others—but too often, the people doing the caring are running on empty. With punishing hours, intense operational pressures, and the emotional labor of constant guest service, prioritizing personal well-being is often treated as an afterthought. For women climbing into corporate rooms or steering high-stakes operational properties, the pressure to "do it all" creates a direct pathway to burnout. In this essential discussion, wellness advocates, operational leaders, and corporate trailblazers will break the silence on mental health, physical exhaustion, and chronic stress in the workplace. This session steps beyond basic "self-care" trends to investigate how women leaders can establish hard boundaries, model sustainable lifestyles for their frontline teams, and build corporate cultures that prioritize whole health without sacrificing operational excellence.

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Clout to Covers

Smart Money Moves 

Building a Teammate-First Culture

Pull up a chair for an intimate fireside discussion with industry visionaries.

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Leveraging Your Personality to Be a Better Leader

Consumer Behavior That's Here to Stay

Leveraging AI and Next-Gen Social Trends to Amplify Your Brand

Roundtable Discussions

• Claiming Your Space
• Boundaries as a Leadership Metric
• Mentorship to Sponsorship
• Women Supporting Women 

This keynote session will spark your imagination, inspire your confidence, and build up your will to lead.

Indulge in an extraordinary culinary showcase celebrating the women driving South Carolina’s vibrant food and beverage scene! This event brings together the state’s top female chefs and master mixologists for an interactive, high-flavor tasting experience.