I am grateful every day for the busy hospitality leaders who take the time to share their success secrets with the Smart Meetings Community on the What One Thing? podcast. I have learned so much this year about everything from relationships to the power of persistence and what the next generation of event prof needs to stay engaged.
I asked these event thought leaders for their approach to gratitude during the holiday season and all year long. Sure enough, they schooled me on fresh approaches to appreciating the finer things and passing the joyful gravy.
Kate Patay, Vice President of Global Engagement with Terramar and Chair, SEARCH Foundation
I’m so very grateful to have a wonderful husband who supports me in all of my endeavors, both with work and home remodels. His love and support means the world to me.
I’m grateful to work with such strong, creative individuals at a company that takes great care of us—thanks Terramar DMC! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible trips we get to take and see friends and colleagues across the globe to collaborate on events together…we’re all pretty fortunate.
I like to practice gratitude by putting my phone down and being in the moment when I’m visiting with friends and loved ones. Time is our greatest and most valuable gift.
Edward Perotti, Edward Perotti Events & Experiences
I am grateful for many things—though it may sound cliché: my family, my health, which has been unstable over the past five years due to a stroke and cancer, and my friends. To sum it all up, I am grateful for my entire life.
I am grateful to have a career, to have found my voice, and to have been given a platform to express it. I appreciate the clients who continually seek my creativity and expertise to help their businesses grow. Although our industry has not always been kind to me, I am thankful for the opportunity to work towards making it better and more inclusive for the next generation.
I practice gratitude every day. I strive to give back to those who have not had the privileges I’ve experienced and to uplift them. Every day, I look in the mirror and thank myself for never giving up on me.
Read More: Top Meeting Profs Share Stories of Gratitude
Neen James, Luxury Expert, Author, Speaker and Coach
I am so grateful that I have the luxury to do what I love, with people I love, in places I love. That is such a privilege to know that professionally I can serve audiences in the coolest places, working with leaders who are making a huge impact in the world.
Personally, I am so fortunate to be healthy and surrounded by people I love.
My business allows me to serve some of the coolest brands on the planet with the most inspiring leaders in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. Standing in service of an audience on stage and sharing a message that could help improve the personal and professional lives of that audience is something I never take for granted.
Coaching some of the best minds in the industry and working closely with their executive teams is an honor watching them transform their organization and sometimes their industry. The business I have designed allows me the freedom to create, experience travel, and take time to see people I love around the globe—I feel very fortunate.
Gratitude is a daily practice for me and it’s the first thing that occurs. As soon as I wake up (before my feet touch the floor) I list three things in my mind I am grateful for. As part of my morning routine, the first thing I open is my Gratitude Journal, where I write three things I am thankful for and set an intention for the day. This small luxury act feels so special to have time and space to reflect on this and set my mindset for the day. I also write one thank you note every day—it’s one of the systems of elevation in my personal and professional life.
I carry stamped stationery with me when I travel to continue this system. Because I travel so much for work, I make a point of hand-writing thank you notes to front desk team members, housekeeping, the AV crew I work with, and the airline crew. This small act of gratitude can mean the world to someone else. To make it easier for myself, I have implemented systems like a gratitude journal, always having stationery and stamps on hand, and carrying gift cards with me when I travel.
Read More: The Power of Everyday Gratitude
Thomas Whelan, Director of Events, Access DMC
I am grateful for my family and friends—my greatest supporters, even when I’m a lot to handle. They could easily ask for less of me, but they never do. As a self-proclaimed yapper, I’ve found my people. Nearly every day, I’m on the phone with a loved one for hours (seriously, two-hour calls are my norm). They know my quirks, like my terrible habit of not replying to texts (maybe a 2025 New Year’s resolution?) and they still love me as I am. Every single day, I wake up grateful to be unapologetically myself—flaws, chatter and all—because they never ask me to be quieter, smaller or less. Instead, they meet me where I am, encouraging me to be the loud, loving, imperfect person I am. For that, I am endlessly grateful.
In my career, I am grateful for my mentors, leaders and industry colleagues—I don’t know if it was luck, chance or coincidence, but I’ve had the absolute honor of being mentored by so many incredible women throughout my career. As the son of a single mother, I often wonder if I was drawn to them or if they were drawn to me. I realized this a few months ago after watching Eleni Granas instruct her Introduction to Hospitality class at Boston University, where I was honored to guest speak.
So many women have turned the adversity they’ve faced in their careers into guidance that helped me embrace my authentic self. They’ve inspired me to be optimistic, passionate and proudly irreverent. These women, perhaps unintentionally, have crafted my driving force: to hold the door open behind me for someone who is different from me as I continue to grow in my career.
I practice gratitude by meeting people where they are and embracing them as their true selves. I make it a point to never accept an apology for someone being authentic—if you’re being you, there’s nothing to apologize for. Whether it’s a friend venting, a colleague showing their vulnerability or a loved one oversharing (my favorite), I remind them their feelings, quirks and truths are valid. Life’s too short to ask anyone to tone themselves down.
I stay present in those moments, listening without judgment and celebrating their unique perspectives. Gratitude, for me, is about recognizing the beauty in people being unapologetically themselves and creating a space where they feel safe to do so. It’s a gift to witness someone’s authenticity, and I’ll always choose to honor it with kindness, support, and zero “I’m sorrys” allowed.
Deborah Gardner, Performance Expert and Speaker
I’m grateful for the people who make my life richer—family, friends and colleagues who bring joy, laughter and support. I’m also thankful for the quiet moments that give me space to reflect and grow, and for the challenges that push me to become better. I cherish the little things, like a cup of coffee in the morning, a beautiful sunset or the rare moments I remember my password. I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had to learn, create and connect with others and I’m grateful for the resilience that helps me navigate life’s ups and downs with a sense of humor and hope.
As a motivational speaker and pro athlete, I’m grateful for the opportunities to work with talented, inspiring people who challenge me to grow, even if I fumble a few times. I appreciate the freedom I have to bring ideas to life, and the sense of fulfillment that comes from making an impact. I’m thankful for the variety my career brings—no two days are the same, which is great because I’m still trying to figure out what I did yesterday. And, for the chance to keep evolving. Someday I will learn how not to schedule back-to-back meetings while running on three hours of sleep. Most of all, I’m grateful for the meaningful connections I’ve made along the way and for the passion I get to bring to my work and training every day. It’s what keeps me excited and driven.
I practice gratitude the way I do most things—imperfectly, but with all the enthusiasm I can muster! I start my day by giving a silent “thank you” to the universe for the little wins, like finding matching earrings or remembering where I left my phone (a true miracle). I love a good “gratitude walk” with my dog, where I reflect on life’s blessings while imagining I’m starring in my inspirational movie montage. Most importantly, I try to remember to laugh at the chaos—because if you can laugh, you’re already winning. So here’s to love, laughter and everything in between.
