The world we live in is driven by buzzwords. "Synergy," "disruptor," "net net"—you hear them everywhere. But true hospitality has never been about a single word. Today, however, there's one that stands above the rest: experience. Younger consumers call it “vibes.”

I recently had the pleasure of attending SommCon at the Rancho Bernardo Inn here in San Diego County. While I’ve attended in the past, this year was unique: I joined the volunteer team to help with event execution, which offered a cool, interesting, and completely new perspective. My sincerest thanks to the Fast Forward team, especially Leslie Belenzo, for welcoming me so graciously and making me feel like I’d been part of the crew for years.

Some of my earliest memories are in my grandmother’s kitchen. Charlotte Weaver Jones was many things; chiefly among them: elegant, gracious, and loving. So many of us knew her as Mère, the family matriarch. I was so fortunate to grow up in the same small town as my grandparents—being dropped off at their house after school, sharing regular family dinners and sleepovers, and spending summers and holidays at their wonderful gathering place, Skenewood.