After 8 years of being out of the hospitality industry, I walked into a travel agency to the exclamation, "Hey! You're the Bingo Guy!" An email marketing campaign to drive sales from 8 years prior confirmed three things: 

•	The Power of Storytelling
•	The Power of Personal Branding
•	I Needed a Cooler Nickname

If you're looking to:

•	Develop creative paths to success
•	Find opportunities hiding in plain sight
•	Communicate strategic alternatives

Then let's chat!

In a world spinning with possibilities, I believe it's the genuine relationships we forge that make it go round.  And when you apply a bespoke touch to business – tailoring your sales, marketing, and personal brand to resonate with each individual – that's where the magic happens. 

Things I love talking shop about:

•	Customer service that's relationship-focused
•	Critical thinking & problem solving that gets to the root of the problem
•	Storytelling - Ask me about that bingo contest
•	Digital marketing & social media - CHDM certified!
•	Creative ideas & content development

Away from work I love spending time with my family, creating art, playing golf, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Additionally, I support the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy Association. Please message me if you’d like to share your story or need help in reaching your goals.

Don Barnett

Every hotel Salesperson when that 2-day meeting asks for space availability every day for the next 6 months...

Don't get me wrong, having alternative dates is a great thing. But not having a date in mind and asking someone to provide a large swath of availability options isn't reasonable.

Plugging a proverbial puzzle piece into the greater picture takes time.

What do you think is a reasonable number of date options to request?

Creative Solutions for Hospitality Success | Director of Sales & Marketing at LondonHouse Chicago | Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer

For a fleeting moment, I actually got some street cred at home. Then I mentioned this 30 more times and now my family is dizzy from rolling their eyes at me...

Grateful to be named to the 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀/𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 in Global Hospitality. 🙏
 
Big thanks to the International Hospitality Institute and Dr. Jeffrey O for the recognition!
 
Consistently creating content that is edutaining to the teeming masses isn't easy.

Aside from the challenge of actually creating it, you have your detractors:

• Family, friends and colleagues that roll their eyes at you
• Those who say, "this isn't how we do things"
• Those deeply committed to tradition, yet strangely allergic to visibility

Somewhere beyond all that, Don Hoteleone emerged… talking hospitality on LinkedIn like it was a good idea. Turns out, it was.
 
If it sparked a thought, a laugh, or a DM, it was worth it.

Winter Travel Tip - Stick to your hotel's restaurants instead of the random hallway sampler trays.

Someone I just met told me, “I feel like I know you.”  
Me: "Have you been reading my diary?"
Because dad jokes.
 
But that 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 they had? That's everything.
 
Because when people feel like they know you:
 
➡️ They say “Sure, let’s chat”  
➡️ They answer your emails without ghosting  
➡️ They tell their friends, “Oh! I know someone perfect for that”
 
Why?

Because consistent authentic content builds 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 
The secret sauce of inbound everything.
 
If someone’s seen your posts, chuckled at your dad jokes, or shared your spicy takes on hospitality... You’re not a cold email.  You’re 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦.
 
Familiarity breeds opportunity.
 
So post the thing. Say the stuff. Be a little weird.  
Your inbox (and maybe your career) will thank you.

Still posting pics of your beige rooms?
Congrats!
You've created digital melatonin.

I get it. You’re busy. 
The GM is covering night audit, the sales team is trying to fix their printer, and the only guest content is a blurry picture of their room service.

Here’s a better way to create content:

✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. 
“Housekeeping Heroes.” 
“Front Desk Confessions.”
“Breaking Banquet Chairs."
(Okay, maybe not that last one.)

✅ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 
Guests love your hotel. 
Your staff has personality. 
Pet friendly? Who doesn't love pooch pics?

✅ 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 
Boring posts = crickets. 
Personality posts = clicks, shares, bookings, and someone finally knowing what your hotel actually 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like.

Want to talk shop? Send me a DM. 
But please know, I have no idea how to fix a broken banquet chair.

Every hotel Salesperson when a client doesn't seem interested in the hotel and you defer to the quirky stuff.

Give me 50 seconds and I'll tell you why just showing up on social media doesn't work.
It's 𝘩𝘰𝘸 you show up. Bear Down!

Is this the year you take your personal brand seriously?
Because the payoff isn't like and comments.
It's new opportunities, new connections, and being top of mind when it matters most.

Turn up your music, open your mind, and get ready for this... Mmmmmm DROP:

🎤 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝗺𝗶𝗻’ 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻’

You don't have to reinvent the wheel with content. 
Study successful professionals in your industry.
Borrow what works, remix it, and make it your own.

🎤 𝗡𝗼 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗶𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗹𝘆𝗻

Building a brand takes relentless consistency. 
Show up daily, share your voice in posts and/or comments, and keep your audience engaged.
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop!

🎤 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲

Forget blending in. The loudest, boldest, 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 are the ones that stand out. Lean into your personality.

Are you ready to move the crowd to the break of dawn?

Need a few more tips? Hit me with a DM.

Sales used to be a game of volume. Smile, dial, repeat until someone buys or files a restraining order. 

I’ll take 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 over volume.

Nobody remembers the 57th sales email that starts with “Hey [First Name], just circling back...”

But they 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 remember:

🌟 A GIF instead of a PDF
🌟 Some swag mailed to them
🌟 A consistent presence on LinkedIn
🌟 The help you provide with no quid pro quo

There are a lot of human templates out there.
Be the custom work of art.

Know someone who embodies this? Tag them in the comments and make their day 😁

OTA's have you where they want you.
Running marketing circles around you.
Your hotel's response? DO NOT DISTURB

You can't out-promote OTAs on ad spend......but you can out-charm, out-human, and out-wow them with a single Instagram Reel of:

✨ Your bartender making your signature margarita 
✨ Your book drive to benefit a local charity
✨ Your GSA's tip for best local theatre

Social media gives your hotel the unique opportunity to make guests feel like they already know you before they arrive.

It builds trust with no middlemen, no commission fees, no pop-up circus.

That’s your competitive edge. And you’re letting it collect digital dust.

💡 Pro move: Invest in a social media partner who can turn everyday hotel moments into magnetic content. Because while OTAs sell rooms, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

And experiences start with connection.
Need a referral? I know people.
Or as they say in Chicago, "I gotta guy/lady."

Do you think influencer marketing is just duck lips and discount codes?

That skepticism is good!
It leads to better strategy.

👉 Influencer marketing 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. But only if it’s treated like a relationship, not a free brunch.
 
✅ Pick partners who fit your brand and audience. 
✅ Set expectations.  
✅ Measure beyond likes.

With the right fit, influencer marketing is brand storytelling on steroids (minus the roid rage and acne).

__________________________________________________________

Want to compare notes or need a few tips? DMs are open.

I hate to be the one to say it, but your hotel isn’t cut out for influencer marketing.
 
Not because the property doesn't have a story.  
Not because your team lacks personality.
 
It’s because… 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮.  And influencers can’t tag thin air.
 
What's the 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 side of influencer marketing?

It's their ability to create FOMO.
It's visibility in front a new audience.
It's visibility in front of an engaged audience.

And then seeing things like bookings, F&B reservations, or tickets to events POP.
 
Still not convinced this stuff works?  DM me. I have receipts.

An influencer reached out to work with your hotel?
Here are some 🚩🚩🚩🚩 that you should politely turn them down.

🚫 "Me make good post!"
Grammar? Spelling? What's that? If they can't make words good in an email how can you trust them to professionally represent your brand?

🚫 "Hey there!"
If they open with a generic, impersonal "Hey there!" sent to your general sales inbox, it's not a heartfelt proposal, it's a mass email disguised as a love letter.

🚫 "Can't wait to film an epic sunset reel by your pool!"
But you don't have a pool. And you haven't seen the sun in months (okay, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 seen the sun in months which explains my milky complexion)

🚫 "I have a great following."
But doesn't include social media links. The pros will share their profiles and perhaps a media kit.

What's a lesson you've learned from working with influencers?

My first thought was, "No way."
But it was true.
A free book, no strings attached. And what a book it is.

This book is a philosophical deep dive into wealth, health and happiness

Some great takeaways:

🔖 Play long-term games with long-term people. Invest in relationships.
🔖 Happiness is a state of mind, not a destination. Stop saying, "I'll be happy when..."
🔖 "If you can't decide, the answer is no."
🔖 Quantity of books read is a vanity metric. It's better to read 100 great books over and over to deeply understand them.
🔖 "Facebook redesigns. Twitter redesigns. Personalities, careers, and teams also need redesigns. There are no permanent solutions in a dynamic system."
🔖 "Forget rich versus poor, white-collar versus blue. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱." (my personal favorite takeaway)
🔖 Build specific knowledge that you can use to create leverage.
🔖 This one I already knew - "Don't take yourself so seriously. You're just a monkey with a plan."

A link to the free download is in the comments.
No strings attached. 🤯
Have a great day!

ivrygold

Your path to a better business and life starts here | Empowering and Equipping Entrepreneurial Women, who've experienced Trauma, Triggers, and Mental Health Challenges, to thrive in business and life.

ivrygold is now Inc. verified!

ivrygold works with Women & Survivors of Trauma who are current and aspiring business owners, turning vision and goals into long-term revenue growth through 1:1 and Mastermind Small Group Coaching.

We also help growing businesses during growth stage to plan and establish recruiting processes, employer branding and talent attraction strategies, and onboarding and training systems. 

Launch Business Bootcamp was put together to make launching your new passive stream of income or business idea simple. This step-by-step intensive 1:1 coaching experience will help you build the foundation of your Business, Brand, and Offer and Launch with confidence in just 3 working sessions.

The Womanpreneur Lab, our flagship program, was designed for Entrepreneur Women with Trauma and Triggers, to help them streamline their businesses and passion projects, setting them up with the right foundations to scale… All while keeping Mental Health top of mind 💙

Let’s work together and collaborate! Visit ivrygold.co to schedule a quick intro chat or email ashley@ivrygold.co




Revenue Growth Partner | Execution Strategy | Project Management | Marketing | Brand Strategy | Brand Marketing | Personal Brand | Fractional and Interim Employment Services | Business Mentor | AI Workshops | Marketing Workshops | Business Workshops | Community Mentorship

Founder, Consultant, Coach

Founder Mental Health Pledge

Founder Mental Health Pledge is an coalition of startup investors, founders, and leaders coming together to destigmatize and encourage mental healthcare for founders and the greater startup community as a business imperative. Visit FounderPledge.com to learn more and take the pledge.


________________________

Founders make countless sacrifices at the expense of their mental health.

They are more likely to suffer from:

2X Suicidal Thoughts & Depression 
10X Bipolar Disorder
3X Addiction
6X ADHD

My company, ivrygold's mission is Empowering and Equipping Women, with Trauma, Triggers, and Mental Health Challenges, to Thrive in Business and Life.

And rightfully so,

That's why I have committed to the "Founder Mental Health Pledge" - To make mental health a business priority.

Join me and 677 others in dedication to a better focus on Mental Health for Business Founders, leaders, and teams 💙

Member

WhiteFlag

As a WhiteFlag Ambassador, I am an advocate and voice for a unique and groundbreaking platform dedicated to fostering support, connection, and empathy within its community. 

WhiteFlag is a free, anonymous, peer-to-peer support app designed to offer a safe space for individuals seeking support, understanding, or simply a listening ear.

Learn more and join the community at https://www.whiteflagapp.com

Ambassador & Investor

Free Skin Co

This brand took a road of its own, going down a beautiful philanthropic path with high demand that was never expected 💙 Closed temporarily for rebrand — Will announce the relaunch when we’re there! 

Free Skin Co combines our founder, Ashley's, love and passion for skincare with clean ingredients that work for sensitive and acne-prone skin with her drive to improve the mental health.

Though our Self Care Packs for Survivors Program, 30% of all profits are donated to improving the mental health and healing process for survivors of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, trauma, and PTSD 💙

Founder

Protis Global

For over 25 years, Protis Global has been recognized as a leading global search firm in the Consumer Goods industry. Our years spent understanding the professional, personal and financial motivators for candidates allows us to deliver against the needs of Fortune 500’s and start-ups alike.

Key Industries Served:
Consumer Package Goods (CPG), Banking, Global Food & Beverage, Food Tech, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Adult Beverage, Cannabis, Hospitality, Media and Beauty

Director, Brand and Marketing

Portobello America

At Portobello America I was responsible for leading all aspects of brand positioning, product marketing and creative development. 
These responsibilities included creative strategy, development and execution of new product lines and special programs, planning and executing 2-3 annual brand events, development of department and project SOPs for cross-functional internal team and eternal vendors, lead product photography, videography and 3D rendering development, vendor onboarding and management, new client onboarding and more.
Assisted with development of website, digital product apps, and customer apps to enforce brand integrity and proper content strategy
Reported directly to the CEO.

Portobello America is a solutions-oriented innovator and leader in the tile industry. Portobello America is part of Portobello's internationalization strategy in the US based in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Brand and Marketing, North America

Robert Half

Recruiting Manager with Robert Half Finance & Accounting, the world’s first and largest specialized financial recruitment service. 

Full-desk recruiting role included high volume B2B cold calls for client job orders, as well as responsibility to source, interview and prep candidates for matched positions.

Recruiting Manager

Septic Maxx

I was hired with this company to lead the IT partner to develop an inbound marketing and EDI system to increase company revenue and productivity, and decrease payroll overhead.
I additionally spearheaded the company's brand overhaul: Rebranded all product packing, logo, website, social media, SEO and internal training to coincide with the new EDI and inbound leads project 
In this role I also oversaw all day-to-day operations of the business and was responsible for a complete branding overhaul for the company. 
Directly managed leadership team of 4 and oversaw 65+ employees 
Leadership development and mentoring of managers and department leads
Management of manufacturers and distributors to create and manage products for multiple lines and sister companies (residential telemarketing, retail, and commercial products)

Director, Marketing and Operations

Visionary Brand Management, Inc.

Tactical brand management for internal teams and external messaging for product and talent marketing, inbound marketing, social media and ad management, SEO development and monitoring, website design, graphic design for small-medium sized companies. Hubspot Inbound Certified agency. 

In this role I was responsible for managing a team of four, customer life-cycle management, defining and building brand guidelines and playbooks for clients, establishing KPIs and brand strategy, overseeing client account progression, project management, creative development and GTM execution over my team.   

ABOUT VISIONARY BRAND MANAGEMENT
Visionary Brand Management is a full service digital branding agency committed to providing a pleasurable & results-oriented experience for our clients. We were designed around creating marketing that people love.

Founder, Head of Brand Strategy & Marketing

Cydcor

The Brand Operations Manager (BOM) role was a concept I was lucky enough to assist in the development of. During my time as a Recruiting Manager, Social Media for business was just coming into existence and I started experimenting with building websites, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and blogs from a Talent Marketing perspective. It was so successful at our local office that I began to also assist our 30+ other franchise locations in the USA and assisted in the development of this new program for 300+ locations with the corporate office in California.

Brand Operations Manager

Award-winning and pace-setting recruiter. Responsible for making 100-150 cold and warm calls per day in order to recruit new employees for multiple sales locations throughout the country. Regular keynote speaker at national meetings/conferences with over 5000 attendees. Assisted in development and launch of innovative ATS used at hundreds of sales offices in North America. Creating, posting & managing job ads. Conducting in-person and telephone interviews, hiring new employees, and training new employees. Preparing teams for new location openings, office management, large-scale team management and leadership development training, payroll, social media management. Created and assisted in launch of new promotion structures and business opportunities for future employees.

Direct, face-to-face sales and marketing account manager. Worked with B2B customers, handling new account acquisitions, customer retention, and marketing. Trained new employees, conducted interviews, led meetings and business trips, and managed a team of 3. Promoted to Recruiter & HR Manager after exceeding sales goals and setting nationwide company records in the field.

B2B Account Manager

Empowering & Teaching Women and Trauma Survivors to transform passions & experiences → From triggers to 6+Fig business & career they love | Mental health first 💙 | Mastermind & 1:1 Coaching, Personal Brand, Skincare

My name is Ashley Pereira, and I am the woman talking about the things "you aren't supposed to talk about." Like Abuse, Assault, Trauma, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, and Women’s Empowerment. 

As a survivor of abuse and failed suicide, my mission is to empower women and trauma survivors to elevate their confidence, achieve balance, and thrive in business and life. 

While I am an accomplished Brand and Marketing Leader by profession, helping new businesses to launch or enter the US market, expand their programs and solutions, align internal teams for better Buyer Experience, streamline for scalability, and lead CRM implementation,

I am also the . . .

▪️Founder of ivrygold — Coach to Entrepreneur Women & Survivors of Trauma 
▪️Co-founder and co-host of The Worthy Woman  
▪️Co-creator of Sell Me Your Story Workshop

I'm a little obsessed with my kids, enjoying life, laughing as much as possible, curiosity, and Business, Recruiting, Brand, and Marketing Strategy, with a heavy emphasis on Personal Brand and Mental Health, and the common skincare-obsessed chat.

__________________

To book me as a guest for a podcast, speaking engagement, or to work with me please email: hello@ashleypereira.me

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Don Barnett

Ashley Pereira

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