By Rick and Jodi Bella – Bella Photography
We recently returned from another unforgettable Strategic Hotels & Resorts annual “Conversation,” held at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, California. This isn’t your typical conference, convention, or business meeting- it’s an immersive event hosted by Strategic Hotels to bring together leadership teams from 13 of their hotels and resorts across the country for a unique exchange of ideas and inspiration.
Strategic CEO Andre Zotoff set the tone from the start, promising there would never be a PowerPoint presentation – and after four years, he’s stayed true to his word. The result? An event that’s as engaging and visually dynamic as it is professionally valuable.
The creativity behind the scenes comes from the talented team at Kaleidoscope Vue Consulting, led by Wayne Harth and his business partner, Drew Stacy. Their vision for this event goes far beyond logistics. They craft an experience designed to inspire hoteliers to reimagine what’s possible at their own properties, encouraging them to think beyond the ordinary and deliver the extraordinary.
We’re always honored to be among the professional vendors invited to contribute to this event. Wayne and Drew work only with the best in the industry, and being chosen to capture the magic is a privilege we don’t take lightly.
Below are the highlights from this year’s Conversation. We have shared just a few of the images to help tell the story of this fantastic event, but we certainly captured hundreds of photos and video per event to document the efforts and dreams of the event.
Monday kicked off with a dramatic opening session featuring a massive LED wall that appeared to be filled with bookshelves. As Andre introduced each hotel and its management team, books “flew” off the shelves in a dynamic visual display to reveal the name of the next hotel. The Welcome Reception that evening transformed the space with high-energy dancers and nightclub-style music, creating an electric party atmosphere. Various food stations surrounded the guests offering unique food prepared by the hotel’s master chefs.
Tuesday began with a team-building challenge inspired by the hit show The Traitors, followed by a mind-bending performance by renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman. The day concluded with a Black-Tie Awards Gala in a custom-built, 7,000-square-foot structure – the Crystal Palace – constructed solely for this event on the hotel grounds.
Wednesday started with collaborative conversation sessions, including a presentation from the Fairmont Scottsdale team about their new innovation, Studio F—an in-house service for designing fully customized, branded event spaces. A thought-provoking hotel brand leader panel followed, with special guest appearances from journalist and TV personality Giuliana Rancic and actor-turned-entrepreneur Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). Paul shared insights on launching Dos Hombres, the artisanal mezcal brand he co-founded with Bryan Cranston.
That evening, guests dined at Sam’s Chowder House, a local favorite with stunning ocean views and a rustic fishing-boat ambiance. Strategic Hotels reserved the entire restaurant, allowing us complete freedom to document the experience from every angle.
The night wrapped with the Tide & Tonic After-Party, where Wayne and Drew turned the hotel’s spa area into a full-blown nightclub. It was the perfect send-off for the attendees, ending the “Conversation” with style and energy.
Thursday morning brought everyone back to the Crystal Castle building for a Farewell Breakfast. Andre delivered a heartfelt recap of the week, recognizing all who contributed- vendors included – and then revealed the location of next year’s gathering: New York City. With Strategic Hotels owning both the Waldorf Astoria and the JW Marriott Essex House, we’re looking forward to another stunning setting and, hopefully, another opportunity to be part of this extraordinary event.
