Remembering Bob Gilbert for His Humanity

Ever since I acquired the information of the passing of Bob Gilbert, HSMAI’s President and CEO for 30 years, I’ve discovered each consolation and inspiration within the tributes that others have shared on social media, LinkedIn, and the tribute wall arrange in his honor. I’ve liked studying about all he achieved in his profession, first on the lodge administration facet, then by rescuing HSMAI and main it to its monumental successes.

For weeks now I’ve sought the headspace to share my very own recollections, as I’m nonetheless processing his loss. First, I’ll do my greatest to focus on simply how wonderful his accomplishments are, however most significantly, recollections of Bob’s humanity.

I first met Bob Gilbert when he was the VP of Advertising and marketing for Richfield Hospitality, which on the time was the world’s largest lodge administration firm. The primary time we spoke was after I cold-called him to promote hospitality coaching companies after I was the President of Hospitality Providers of America (HSA). I bear in mind him being well mannered, skilled, and type after I referred to as him, which was fairly uncommon these days when busy executives obtained dozens of telephone solicitations every week. Nicely, Bob by no means purchased something from us, however that was largely as a result of proper after we related he left to take the helm of HSMAI, which again then was often known as the HSMA, the Hospitality Gross sales and Advertising and marketing Affiliation.

Now, from what I bear in mind again then, HSMA was fighting a shrinking membership and relying totally on the decentralized mannequin of native chapters. Sadly, and unfairly, after I talked up HSMA to purchasers and contacts, I discovered it had someway gained the status as a resume change membership; many GM’s had been beginning to discourage participation. Being an energetic member of one of many strongest native chapters, and being within the state of Florida, which had many robust chapters plus our personal Annual State HSMAI Convention, I knew in a different way and noticed the potential, particularly for schooling and coaching.

Due to this fact, I used to be tremendous excited to listen to from Bob on one in all his first days on the job, when he reached out to specific curiosity in partnering with our coaching firm to offer extra instructional assets for its membership. And accomplice we did! Through the late 1990’s I set to work intently with Bob as our firm organized, promoted, and managed what Bob named HSMAI College, which again then was a roadshow sequence of coaching workshops that includes numerous subjects and audio system from our firm’s crew in addition to different trade leaders. Bob at all times was a future-casting chief, and so within the 12 months 2000, working collectively, we started the trade’s first webcast coaching occasions. I bear in mind how reassuring Bob was after I was sitting in my workplace about to current the very first within the sequence. These had been nothing greater than narrated screenshares of slide decks introduced on WebEx, however the sequence was an enormous success.

4 years later, after I had offered and exited my firm, Bob instantly reached out once more about his newest ingenious brainstorm, which was a Income Administration Advisory Board he had simply began, and he needed me to take the lead because the official HSMAI Advisor. This was one in all two teams he referred to as SIGs (particular curiosity teams), with the opposite being the Digital Advertising and marketing Committee, led by different trade leaders equivalent to Andrew Rubinacci and Cindy Estes Inexperienced. I bear in mind our first Income Administration Convention held in Dallas, in June of 2004, the place we proudly introduced having one thing like 120 contributors, however I’ve to confess that the rely in all probability included 10 HSMAI workers and even a number of waiters! These income and digital advertising and marketing teams grew extraordinarily quick, and shortly merged right into a powerhouse occasion attracting the highest minds within the professions of promoting and distribution, recognized in the present day because the Income Optimization Convention (ROC). Extra lately, once more because of Bob’s management, the ROC has expanded right into a two-day Industrial Technique Convention.

Nudged gently ahead by Bob’s imaginative and prescient, within the three years I used to be advisor, our income group printed Defining Income Administration, piloted by Tim Wiersma and authored by Caryl Helsyl and Kathleen Cullen, and beneath the management of Elizabeth Cambra, additionally launched the income administration certification program now often known as CRME.

However Bob’s accomplishments didn’t cease with our teams. Beneath his management HSMAI significantly expanded its worldwide presence, forming robust chapters in Asia/Pacific, Europe, and the Center East and added skilled certifications for different hospitality professions equivalent to gross sales (CHSL), advertising and marketing (CHDM), enterprise (CHBA) and others.

Nicely, I’m 735 phrases into this and nonetheless haven’t begun to seize all of his accomplishments, however most significantly I need to speak about Bob’s humanity. What I bear in mind most about Bob was that he was at all times totally current with whomever he was speaking to at that second, even whereas talking to you at large conferences the place he was the rock star everybody needed a selfie with. As Kathie Stapleton wrote on his wall, “Whenever you had a dialog with him, he made you’re feeling as if you happen to had been a very powerful individual within the room!” Srikanth Beldona, PhD., wrote “As an individual, he was magnanimous, considerate and an exquisite pal.”

 What was really wonderful was how he managed to recollect key particulars about so many individuals! Many instances I witnessed conversations he had with others when he requested about their partner, little one, pet, or another private element. For me, he at all times remembered to ask for my spouse by title, and about our youngsters. I’m so grateful my very own daughter Julia Kennedy, who’s now our Advertising and marketing Coordinator at Kennedy Coaching Community, acquired to satisfy Bob at a current convention, and the way particular he made us each really feel at that assembly. The image is from the HSMAI ROC convention, held on June 29, 2023, which is the final day I noticed him

However most of all, I bear in mind Bob’s light, variety demeanor. Not solely to these on the “buyer” facet of his world, equivalent to HSMA members and vendor companions, but additionally to the HSMAI workers, and even to the waitstaff at HSMAI occasions. His kindness, loyalty, and humility ought to function a beacon for us all.

After I first noticed his put up about retiring on account of a sequence sickness I had simply left for a protracted journey however supposed to achieve out and test on him upon my return. Proper after I acquired again, I noticed an image he posted on Fb of him together with his household, and he regarded effectively, so I suppose I misplaced my urgency. Satirically, the day I lastly acquired round to reaching out to him by telephone was September 19, the very day of his passing. However after all! Even in his passing, Bob taught me one ultimate lesson, there’s no higher time than in the present day to achieve out and test on those that are dealing with challenges in life.

I encourage readers to go to Bob’s memorial wall, learn extra about this wonderful man, and to share your personal recollections and tributes for his kids and household to learn. Actually, a life effectively lived.

Hyperlink to Bob Gilbert’s Tribute Wall

Doug Kennedy is President of the Kennedy Coaching Community, Inc. a number one supplier of lodge gross sales, visitor service, reservations, and entrance desk coaching applications and phone thriller procuring companies for the lodging and hospitality trade. Doug continues to be a fixture on the trade’s convention circuit for lodge firms, manufacturers and associations, as he has been for many years. Since 1996, Doug’s month-to-month coaching articles have been printed worldwide, making him some of the broadly learn hospitality trade authorities. Take a look at his month-to-month webcasts at www.KTNwebcast.com or go to www.kennedytrainingnetwork.com.