Inside EventCamp 2025: Can’t-Miss Speakers and Sessions to Ignite Your Events Business
Get ready for EventCamp 2025, the most anticipated, premier conference designed exclusively for hospitality sales and event management professionals like you and featuring an unprecedented lineup of learning sessions. Hosted by the industry leaders at Tripleseat, this is more than just another conference; it’s hailed as a “must-attend,” “exclusive,” and genuinely “transformative” gathering where the best in the business converge. Celebrating its 8th successful year, EventCamp has proven its longevity and value, consistently delivering insights and connections that matter.
Mark your calendars for August 12-13, 2025, and prepare to be inspired at the luxurious Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA. The choice of such a prestigious venue underscores the caliber of this event, providing an optimal setting for learning and connection.
Exceptional Speakers Delivering Incredible Sessions
This year, prepare for a truly unforgettable keynote experience with Tom Colicchio. An eight-time James Beard Award recipient, head judge of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, and a celebrated author, Colicchio is more than a culinary powerhouse – he’s a visionary actively shaping the future of hospitality. His journey and insights promise invaluable lessons on leadership, resilience, and innovation.
EventCamp 2025 will showcase a diverse range of speakers and sessions, including visionary presenters offering big-picture perspectives on the future of the event industry. Attendees can also anticipate learning from seasoned event professionals and industry leaders like Paula Bernstein, Founder of PB Events, with over 25 years of experience, and Chef Carmine Di Giovanni, Founder of TPG Consulting, bringing culinary and hospitality expertise. The event will feature directors of events from prominent hospitality groups, such as Amanda Kehr of Union Square Hospitality Group, focusing on restaurant events and guest experience, and Shauna Lederman from Carver Road Hospitality, with a strong background in hotel event sales. The lineup will also include innovative thinkers and technology disruptors such as Caleb Avery, CEO of Tilled, a leading PayFac-as-a-Service platform, and the team from Tripleseat, including VP of Product Nikki Perry, showcasing the latest trends and tools shaping event planning. Alongside them will be specialized practitioners focusing on niche areas like sustainability, represented by consultants like Cecilia Cuff, Founder of The Nascent Group, known for experiential curation, virtual events, and experiential design, with insights from directors like Amira Gertz of The New York Academy of Medicine, experienced in managing diverse stakeholder events. This blend of voices, including experts from unique venues like Carrie Campbell of Fenway Park Events and Craig Howard of The Ballroom at Bayou Place, aims to provide valuable learning opportunities for event professionals across various segments of the hospitality industry, from restaurant and hotel management to catering and event technology.
Experience Our All-New EventCamp 2025 Session Format
EventCamp 2025 also unveils a reimagined, two-day immersive format, putting you in control of your learning journey. This new structure seamlessly integrates practical Tripleseat University (TSU) topics directly into the main conference schedule, blending platform mastery with broader event strategies for a comprehensive experience.
This preview offers a sneak peek into the dynamic EventCamp 2025 sessions and unparalleled learning opportunities meticulously designed to help you elevate your craft, accelerate your career, boost your business, and ultimately redefine success in our fast-paced industry. While the full, minute-by-minute schedule is being finalized with even more exciting details, the core themes and confirmed sessions highlighted here showcase the immense value awaiting you.
EventCamp 2025 Quick Glance
| What | EventCamp 2025 | |
| Who | Hospitality Sales & Event Professionals | |
| When | August 12-13, 2025 | |
| Where | Encore Boston Harbor, Everett, MA | |
| Keynote | Tom Colicchio | |
| Key Themes | Revenue Growth, Leadership, Tech, Networking | |
| Format | 2-Day Immersive, Customizable | |
| Host | Tripleseat |
Kick Off with Inspiration: Leadership, Growth & Vision
EventCamp 2025 starts strong, immediately focusing on your professional trajectory. The Welcome/General Session, kicking off the event, is centered around the powerful theme of “Elevate.” This opening panel dives deep into professional development, career advancement, and actionable strategies for making the leap from a management role to a true industry leadership position. This focus right from the start underscores EventCamp’s commitment to fostering significant career progression, targeting ambitious professionals aiming to reach the next level in their careers. Led by Tripleseat’s own Chelsea Langner (Manager of Account Management), the panel features a diverse and accomplished group of industry leaders ready to share their journeys and insights: Mary Hettinger (Director, Events and Catering Sales at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar), Lou Canakes (VP of Sales, Events at Electric Shuffle), Bobbi Jo Ballard (Private Events & Off Premise Support Manager at Maggiano’s Little Italy), Amira Gertz (Director of Events & Conferences at The New York Academy of Medicine), and Michelle O’Hala (Freelancer / Strategic Director of Events). Their varied backgrounds—spanning fine dining, entertainment venues, large restaurant chains, non-profit organizations, and strategic consulting—ensure a rich tapestry of perspectives on leadership growth.
Complementing this focus on career strategy is the highly anticipated keynote address by Tom Colicchio. His talk is positioned as far more than just a celebrity appearance; it’s framed as a masterclass drawn from his evolution from restaurateur to industry trailblazer and fierce advocate for food systems reform. Expect invaluable lessons on leadership, innovation, and navigating the ever-changing hospitality landscape with resilience. His presence signals EventCamp’s dedication to providing high-level, forward-looking perspectives designed to challenge attendees, spark bold ideas, and offer strategic vision alongside practical skills – essential for thriving in today’s dynamic market.
Craft Your Experience: The “Choose Your Journey” Breakouts
One of the most exciting enhancements for EventCamp 2025 is the “Choose Your Journey” format. This innovative approach empowers you to fully customize your conference agenda. Across the two days, you’ll have the opportunity to select from a variety of concurrent panels, breakout sessions, and expert-led discussions, tailoring your learning path to perfectly align with your specific professional goals, interests, and venue needs. This level of personalization ensures that every attendee, regardless of their role or experience level, can maximize their time and gain the most relevant, impactful knowledge.
Based on preliminary agenda details and thematic outlines, here’s a taste of the learning tracks you can explore:
| Learning Track 1: Elevate | Learning Track 2: Connect | Learning Track 3: Innovate |
| Maximizing Revenue Through Upselling, Cross-Selling, and Rebooking Strategies Learn actionable techniques to boost your revenue by effectively upselling, cross-selling, and encouraging repeat bookings. | Leveraging Social Media to Drive Event Sales Explore effective social media strategies to promote your events, engage potential attendees, and ultimately drive sales. | Michelin Stars & Local Bars: Customizing Tripleseat for Unique Business Needs Discover how to tailor Tripleseat to meet the specific and unique needs of various types of hospitality businesses, from high-end restaurants to local bars. |
Superfans: Turn Data into Dollars & Delight Your Best Guests Discover how to leverage data to identify and cultivate your “superfans,” turning them into loyal customers and revenue drivers. | Networking 101: Building Meaningful Connections This session will provide practical tips and techniques for building genuine and valuable connections at networking events. | Creating Seamless Client Experiences: Streamlining the Journey with Tripleseat Learn how to leverage Tripleseat’s features to create a seamless experience for your clients, from initial inquiry to post-event follow-up. |
Interactive Report Building: Tools for Everyday Success This session will provide hands-on guidance on utilizing reporting tools to gain valuable insights and improve daily operations. | Yes, Chef! Communicate More Effectively with Culinary and BOH Team Members Learn strategies to improve communication and collaboration between front-of-house and back-of-house teams. | Optimizing Tripleseat Workflow for Hotels This session will focus on best practices for hotels to optimize their Tripleseat workflow for efficient event management. |
| Owning Your Brand – Personally & Professionally Explore strategies for developing and maintaining a strong personal and professional brand that aligns with your career goals. | Finding the Fire in Your Team When Facing New Challenges Discover how to motivate and inspire your team to overcome new challenges and maintain a positive and productive environment. | Tripleseat’s Newest Features Get an exclusive look at the latest and greatest features within Tripleseat and how they can benefit your business. |
Tripleseat PartyPay & Quickbooks – a Powerful Partnership for Seamless Payments Learn how the integration between Tripleseat PartyPay and QuickBooks can streamline your payment processes and improve financial management. | From Kudos to Culture: Building Strong Teams through Recognition Learn how to cultivate a strong team culture through effective recognition programs and positive reinforcement. | TripleseatDirect: How FB Society Automated Bookings to Drive Revenue and Efficiency Learn how FB Society successfully implemented TripleseatDirect to automate their booking process, leading to increased revenue and operational efficiency. |
| Optimizing Your Selling Space: Creating an Irresistible Environment Gain insights into how to design and optimize your physical or virtual selling space to attract and engage potential clients. | Tripleseat Tickets: A Seamless Experience for Selling Venue-Hosted Events Discover how Tripleseat Tickets can provide a smooth and efficient experience for selling tickets to your venue-hosted events. | Crafting Standout Proposals with Tripleseat Documents Discover tips and tricks for using Tripleseat Documents to create compelling and professional proposals that win more business. |
| Hotel Sales Forecasting 101: Predicting Revenue & Operational Needs This introductory session will cover the fundamentals of hotel sales forecasting to help you predict revenue and plan operational needs effectively. | Branding for Success: How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market Learn key branding principles and strategies to help your business stand out and attract your target audience. | Enhancing Event Planning with Tripleseat Floorplans Learn how to effectively utilize Tripleseat Floorplans to visualize and plan your event layouts for optimal space utilization and guest experience. |
| Maximizing Event Profitability: Budgeting, Scaling, and Operational Efficiency Discover key strategies for maximizing event profitability through effective budgeting, scalable practices, and operational efficiency. | Mastering the Art of Client Retention & Loyalty Explore proven techniques for building strong client relationships, fostering loyalty, and ensuring repeat business. | |
| Smart Sales Strategies: Transitioning from Order Taker to Sales Leader Learn how to move beyond simply taking orders and develop proactive sales strategies to become a true sales leader. | Unlocking the Value of Lost & Repeat Business with Tripleseat Reporting Learn how to utilize Tripleseat reporting features to analyze lost business and identify opportunities to encourage repeat bookings. |
Updated Agenda can be found here.
Network and Collaborate: More Than Just Sessions
While the educational content is world-class, EventCamp understands that the connections you make are equally valuable. Networking isn’t just a side benefit here; it’s a fundamental pillar woven into the very fabric of the event. This is your prime opportunity to connect with hundreds of fellow event professionals – peers, leaders, and potential partners – hailing from across the United States and even internationally.
The event design intentionally incorporates numerous structured and informal opportunities to facilitate these crucial interactions:
Networking Breakfasts: Start your days making connections. Both Day 1 and Day 2 feature dedicated breakfast times perfect for mingling and setting a collaborative tone.
Moving & Refreshment Breaks: Forget rushed transitions. Strategically placed throughout the agenda, these breaks are specifically designed to encourage stepping away from sessions, grabbing a coffee, and engaging in spontaneous one-on-one conversations or informal group discussions. This deliberate scheduling highlights the importance placed on peer-to-peer interaction.
Networking Lunch: Tuesday and Wednesday feature a dedicated networking lunch, offering a relaxed setting to connect more deeply with peers and speakers you’ve heard from.
Tripleseat Exhibitor Showcase: Running concurrently during lunch, this showcase is positioned as a “central networking hub”. Here, you can explore the latest innovations and technological solutions from leading hospitality-related vendors while continuing your conversations. This efficient combination creates a dynamic environment, allowing you to refuel, network, and discover potential partners all within the same timeframe, likely boosting engagement across all activities.
The value derived from these interactions is immense. It’s your chance to share ideas, discuss common challenges, build relationships that extend far beyond the conference, uncover potential mentorship opportunities, gain fresh perspectives from professionals facing similar hurdles, and even spark future collaborations or business ventures.
Don’t Miss Out: Your Invitation to Elevate, Innovate, and Connect in 2025
EventCamp 2025 will be an unparalleled opportunity for growth, connection, and inspiration. You’ll leave armed with actionable strategies to drive revenue and boost sales, insights to enhance your leadership capabilities, practical skills to master your Tripleseat platform, fresh perspectives from industry titans like Tom Colicchio, and a significantly expanded network of valuable industry contacts. The emphasis throughout is on actionable takeaways and real-world solutions that you can implement immediately upon returning to your venue. Ready to dive deeper? We encourage you to explore the developing agenda for more specifics on sessions and speakers as they are announced. Keep an eye on the official agenda page for the latest updates.
This is more than just a conference; it’s an investment in your career and your venue’s success. It’s a chance to step away from the daily grind and immerse yourself in a high-energy environment brimming with creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge ideas.
Spaces for this exclusive event are limited, and given the excitement already building, early registration is highly recommended to secure your spot. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation shaping the future of hospitality and events.
Join us in Boston to connect, learn, grow, ignite innovation, and be part of an industry revolution! Register today for EventCamp 2025!
