Everyone agrees! The 2022 WITH National Conference was a fantastic success.
We gathered together September 8-9, 2022, at the 2nd annual WITH National Conference to focus on women leading with resilience and charting their future. We spent 2 days with the more than 280 conference attendees who came from near and far to be with us at the beautiful Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina. The attendees included students and young professionals, influential industry leaders, C-suites, industry professionals, partner supporters, corporate sponsors and elected officials.
All of us felt the conference was especially important and immensely valuable. We were able to celebrate our resilience in making it through the COVID-19 pandemic and learn how to bounce forward to tackle the industry’s most difficult conditions and challenging problems. We received wisdom and we received 8-hour training certificates too!!!
Our extraordinary start, was the Hakuna Matata “no worries” Welcome Networking Reception. For starters, we attended the Networking Reception, sponsored by US Bank and Union Bank, where our guests were all dressed up in animal print attire. We enjoyed amazing entertainment, sponsored by Broadway San Diego and Disney Entertainment, we enjoyed each other and delicious food and drinks in a fabulous setting with an affirming and friendly atmosphere. We were able to handle some “serious business” forming partnerships, networking, and leveling up our professional knowledge while having fun.
The next day we got down to the serious business of discussing how to break down existing barriers and move the industry forward to a better future for the next generation.
Esteemed thought leaders came from all over the nation to speak to us. The conference exhibitors and topics were exactly on point and the conference schedule enabled everyone to learn from each other.
We were honored to hear from expert speakers representing many industry segments and three levels of city and state government. They all covered their topics and shared their experience, knowledge, and insights in a friendly, straightforward, candid and confidence building way.
In two exclusive sessions “C-suites” and young professionals were able to discuss their business goals and challenging situations they face, and get answers. In the general sessions open to everyone, attendees learned about current trends and innovations, overcoming organizations toughest obstacles under the most difficult conditions, and how to work more efficient, more profitable and how to turn challenges into opportunities. The specific economic realities we face, the challenges we must address. We learned how to tell our stories and audaciously chart our futures and implement actionable solutions.
For the sixth year we were honored to celebrate and present WITH Awards to women leading the way in tourism and hospitality. The Awards Honorees in their moderated panel discussion, shared so much that was relatable and appreciated. They made us all confront the biases that impact our reality and look inside ourselves to examine our notions and our goals.
Each of the keynote speakers, presenters, panelists and WITH Award Honorees provided practical information. In presentations, discussions, and conversations, they told us exactly what we needed to know and do to keep our industry thriving now and into the future.
The main conference takeaway: Our path forward is clear. We must collectively shift our focus from resiliency to reinvention. We must come together now more than ever to evolve our industry, elevate one another’s knowledge base, and reimagine our career and life goals. We must work individually AND collectively to achieve a new reality: A vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and equitable world so that women everywhere are “not only invited to the party but asked to dance and do their own dance moves”!!!
Many attendees told us they made exciting connections at the conference that they want to maintain and grow, and they are looking for ways to interact even more closely and more frequently with us and each other. They learned at the conference that as challenging as the last two years have been, there is no doubt that they have created space for change. Many of them said they want to be a part of that change. If you also want to be an active part of that change, we have exciting news for you.
At the conference WITH announced four new initiatives and our new status as the nonprofit organization WITH, INTERNATIONAL. WITH’s new four year-around initiatives are BUILD, CONNECT, LEARN AND IMPACT! WITH offers many ways to get involved in our work, our industry, and our community both in-person and virtually. You can ask questions, share ideas and knowledge, get answers, get involved with the WITH International organization, find mentors and proteges, seek out new partnerships, and take advantage of new sponsorship opportunities.
The sdwithit.com website will contain additional information about the future direction of WITH International. The 2022 conference e-Program book has the announcement, the complete list of conference supporters and participants, and is available on the sdwithit.com website. Some photos and videos from the conference will be added soon. Please use the e-Program book as a tool to support learning retention, facilitate peer connections, and increase your WITH engagement.
Clara Carter, conference producer, WITH founder and new CEO of WITH International, stated “I am delighted to say that we achieved all of our conference goals, and so much more. I am proud of everyone who helped make this year’s event such a record-breaking success. I am truly honored by the leaders who gave of their time to speak and engage at the WITH Conference this year. Between them, they inspired everyone attending from all around the country.
We are certain that with your help, and our new status as a nonprofit corporation, WITH International will increase our capacity and our access to the resources we need. Then we will have a more far-reaching impact and our industry will become known as a great choice for ambitious women at all levels who are interested in leading and serving people and their communities.
Note: the WITH conference will continue to be produced by our for profit corporation, the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN).
Plans for the 2023 WITH Conference is currently underway and we look forward to sharing further details and ways you can participate soon.
We know many attendees of the 2022 WITH Conference truly enjoyed their experience because they took the time to tell us so. They also enthusiastically shared their conference experience with their “tribe” on social media. We are grateful.”
Thank each of you again for your unwavering support of Women in Tourism and Hospitality and for being WITHus!
Yours in hospitality,
Clara Carter