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!

Feeling overshadowed by hotels that are more “influencer-friendly”?

You know the ones, where every corner is designed for selfies, and even the towels have a bigger following than you.

Fear not! Here’s how to create your own influence (without hiring a TikTok star to dance in your lobby):

➡️ Hospitality on Steroids
Treat your guests like celebrities (minus the outrageous demands). A surprise room upgrade? Free dessert? A welcome beverage? Make them feel special, and they’ll brag about it online.

➡️ Make Headlines (For Good Reasons)
Do something so amazing that your local news station covers it. “Hotel offers guests unlimited free waffles” is way better than “Hotel pool bleaches guests' hair.”

➡️ Befriend the Big Shots
Is there a famous concert venue or sports team nearby? Partner with them. Offer discounts, create events, but start that relationship today.

➡️ Be Unapologetically YOU
Your brand isn’t just a logo, it’s a personality. Consistency wins. If your vibe is “luxurious tranquility,” own it. If it’s “quirky and fun,” lean in. Just don’t be the hotel that tries to be everything and ends up looking like a carnival from hell.

And for the love of free WiFi… post about it! If it’s not on social media, did it even happen?

Which of these will you try first?

Marriott International

- Proactive lead & demand generation: Group & Business Transient.
- Strategically plan daily solicitations to meet hotel's business needs, especially over hotel's "need" days.
- Attend multiple monthly networking events.
- Volunteer: Choose Chicago, the Chicago Loop Alliance and Meeting Planner's International - CAC.
- Successfully represent the hotel at trade shows & customer appreciation events.
- Generate leads and assign to the proper Sales Manager.
- Weekly front-facing (outside or TEAMS) sales calls to create & maintain customer relationships.
- Site inspections & customer appointments. 
- Special Corporate: daily BT Inquiries, BT evaluations and Rate Service Agreements.

Executive Sales Manager

Vinayaka Hospitality

- Assisted with the hotel ownership & management transition within the Sales department. 
- Recruited Sales team members. 
- Developed sales training initiatives. 
- Weekly reporting.

Assistant Director of Sales Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O'Hare

- Created and executed a specific well-thought-out Action Plan to book all-segment group leads with 9-100+ guestrooms on-peak, with or without events.
- Adapted to unprecedented industry changes by removing barriers. 
- Re-qualified and re-established pre-covid relationships with past clients.
- Determined, re-focused, planned, and executed post-covid Sales efforts recognizing that the Hotel and the client’s needs, staffing, budget, contracting, and booking windows have changed.
- Maximized group room rate, occupancy, and revenue by confidently qualifying, quoting, and successfully booking a higher-than-average group rate (compared to the comp set).
- Lead the comp set in RevPar, consistently maintaining the 1st or 2nd place (out of 8) on STAR RevPar, 28 days & quarterly.
- Increased 2022-2023 catering, rental, and audio-visual revenue by successfully re-familiarizing myself with our direct competitors’ past and new strengths, weaknesses & pricing.

Group Sales Manager

- Strategically re-booked past clients, at a higher ADR, than last year, and sold to new all-market business 
with 20+ room nights on peak, with or without meetings, with a primary focus on the Catering needs of the hotel, during the week & guestroom blocks on the weekend.
- Daily guest interaction, high-touch customer service and problem resolution.
- Met or exceeded all weekly prospect, site-visit, face to face appointment and networking goals.
- Participated in weekly, monthly, and quarterly review of Sales actuals vs Budget goals.
- Utilized CRM systems effectively for managing leads, tracking communications history, and generating reports as needed.
- 1st Quarter, 2020: I had accomplished $390,000 to my goal of $387,000 (Current and Future).

Senior Sales Manager, Marriott Suites O'Hare

TPG Hotels and Resorts

- Retained existing and captured new Association and SMERF group business for 26+ room nights on peak & meetings, with a primary focus on need dates/days.
- Daily, weekly, and monthly sales & activities data entry and reporting
- Exceeded booking + actualized goal for Quarter 4 2018 (108%) and Quarter 1 (140%)!
- Attended local networking events.
- Created customized packages tailored to meet specific client needs or budget constraints.
- Conducted site visits for potential clients to showcase venue features and amenities.
- Monitored sales performance against targets and provided regular updates to senior management.
-Trained junior sales staff on product knowledge, selling techniques, and customer service best practices.

Group Sales Manager, Chicago Renaissance Suites O'Hare

The Dow Hotel Company

- Developed the sports, military, education, religious, and fraternal markets to ensure the profitability of both hotels during low demand and shoulder  dates.
- Created SMERF specific quarterly promos. 
- Identified target accounts, created awareness, and built loyalty by meeting with area venue partners, potential clients and SMERF segment influencers / decision makers. 
- Participated in daily business reviews with the DOS and Revenue Management to determine if & when each lead is the best fit for the hotel.
- Secured new and repeat group guestroom blocks, meetings, and events.
- Built the Tour and Travel segment through creative solutions to past obstacles.

SMERF Sales Manager, Doubletree & Embassy Suites Complex, O'Hare

Waterton

- Proposed and booked Association, Medical and Government group rooms,  conferences, and meetings with budgets ranging up to $100,000.
- Strategically planned meetings and special events including hotel rooms, catering, special amenities, and contract negotiations.
- Attended and presented at multiple networking and trade shows.
Managed key existing accounts.
- Increased sales by $80,000 YOY by acquiring new target Association accounts.
-  Used professional sales techniques to negotiate best possible terms and conditions to satisfy customer requirements.

Senior Sales Manager at Doubletree by Hilton Chicago North Shore-Skokie

SMASHotels

Oversaw and directed the operations of the 117-room hotel including Sales, Catering, (Housekeeping, Engineering, Front Desk, Breakfast and Sales). Managed monthly budgets, accounts receivables and accounts payables.

General Manager

Assisted in the management of hotel operations including managing budgets, policies and standards, and employee performance for the 184 rooms and suites hotel located in the heart of downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile.  Trained and mentored staff in hotel operations.

•	Developed and transformed the hotel culture to a “Healthy Culture” by teaching healthy conflict resolution, daily meetings and working together as an entire hotel team. By the end of my year there, every forty-nine employees knew each other’s name, were able to resolve conflict and helped team members with duties that weren’t their own. Thus, increasing the bi-annual Employee Satisfaction Survey results
•	Successfully managed and motivated staff during an extensive hotel renovation while maintaining high level service to the hotel guests.
•	Collaborated with General Manager and Department Heads to achieve and exceed all Fairfield Brand standards, local, and state safety regulations.

Assistant General Manager

Hilton Garden Inn

Strategically planned sales and marketing initiatives to increase new business and expand current business.  Established a large network of clients and community partners.
•	Provided high-touch service and support to ensure successful client events including negotiating contracts, meticulous event planning, and accurate invoicing. 
•	Championed social media marketing by managing hotel Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
•	Effectively utilized Newmarket/Meeting Broker, OnQ Solicitation Management and Helms Briscoe to successfully bid and win request for proposals.

Corporate Meetings and Group Sales Manager

White Lodging Services

HOTEL OPENING
•Ordered brand specific in-room collateral, amenities, supplies, uniforms and housekeeping items
•Directly Led and Managed the Housekeeping Department-Scheduling, Inspections and Training
•Set-Up Hilton’s PMS training room and conducted all Hilton Garden Inn brand training
•Final pre-opening Q/A Inspection with Hilton Garden Inn, prior to opening-Outstanding score!
•Opening Job Fair, interviewing, hiring, orientation and Human Resources paperwork

•Developed proven guest service practices that would ensure a high level of customer satisfaction
•Led and managed a department of 25+ Front Office team members, including Front Desk Manager and Supervisors
•Prepared and conducting daily, monthly, and quarterly training/meetings
•Sourced, hired, and coached positive guest service agents, supervisors and shuttle drivers-reduced turnover

taplio

The Battle

Don Barnett

Tasci Gibson

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDon Barnett's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Don Barnett

Tasci Gibson

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Don Barnett's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDon Barnett's LinkedIn Performance