Hello Everyone,
My goodness…how has it been three weeks since the last Loop? February is traditionally a quieter month for our business, but that is not the case this year! The silver lining in my missing the deadline though, was how much it meant to be asked about it during my travels these past few weeks. Knowing that people look for this communication means the world… and inspires me to keep penning the highlights every two weeks.
While there are so many challenging and rewarding things happening across our business right now, I’d like to share some highlights from a particularly energizing visit to Texas earlier this month. A visit in which I had some of the best company, including Nathalie Bellon-Szabo who made the trip from Paris to visit our lounges team in Dallas, as well as our Sodexo Live! teams in Dallas and Austin.
Roy Sheckles, Chef David Skorka and Maria Murillo… how did it take me a full year to discover you and the Kay Bailey Hutchison team? Upon arrival, Roy had assembled his extended leadership team for a welcome event. As each member of the team shared their name, role and how long they had been with the convention center, it became clear that this team had a special superpower… they had been a family for a long time. The pandemic ripped the middle out of so many hospitality businesses, so when I hear tenures of eight, 15 and 30 years in rooms like I did that day in Dallas, I consider myself to be in the presence of unicorns. The spirit of hospitality I felt was only rivaled by their clear love and respect for one another. I always ask myself, “would I want to be a part of this team?” and “would I want to work for this person?” and my answers were an emphatic yes on both accounts.
On the theme of mythical creatures, Dallas itself is about to do the unheard of… spend almost $4B building a new and expanded convention center. When you think about the challenge that presents, both in managing the existing space, preparing for the new space, and navigating the understandable pressure on our client partner and building management team, Roy and his team are absolutely the people I would trust with the responsibility. Let’s put it in the diary… Sodexo Live! National Meeting in Dallas, 2029.
Next it was on to amazing Austin, where we had the sincere pleasure of basking in the reflected glow of what our partners at Sodexo Campus have built over a 20-year relationship. As many of you will remember from the latest Town Hall, Sodexo Live! has joined forces with the Sodexo Campus team to provide the University of Texas with a single partner solution to what had traditionally been a split athletics contract for concessions, training table and premium spaces.
I had been hearing about James Powers, Kayla Petsche and the extended UT team for months, but meeting each of them in person, including Carlos, Jason, Grace and Matt (who gives great podcast recommendations, btw), was truly inspiring. You could tell that not only was this team deeply committed to their client partner and their fan experience today, but they are always innovating for tomorrow. That’s exciting because our opportunity is now to take the best of all that has been before, and marry our talent with new capabilities and resources to deliver a future beyond all of our expectations. Hook ‘em Horns!
As I reflect on these two wonderful visits, what strikes me is how clear the relationships between the teams were much more than just a formality. There was genuine trust, respect, and enjoyment of one another’s company – but they were both very different. That’s the thing… as research continues to confirm, the behaviors and personalities within a team really don’t much matter to whether they are high performers or not. What does matter greatly though, is the sense of safety the individual team members have to take risks and be vulnerable with one another. Check one of my favorite studies out here if you want to learn more on that.
So, I will end today saying thank you to all the leaders I met in Dallas and in Austin and for making your teams great ones to be on. I’m proud to consider myself a member of your team, too.
Belinda
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Welcome, Edward Boncich!
Edward has joined the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse portfolio as Executive Chef, John F. Kennedy International Airport. With more than 25 years of experience in the culinary industry, he has worked at The Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Miami and on the island of Nevis; Pink Sands Resort on Harbour Island, Bahamas; consulting for Ladera Resort on St Lucia; and with his friend and mentor, celebrity Chef Bobby Flay at his flagship restaurant Mesa Grill both in New York City and in the Bahamas. Chef is originally from a small island off the coast of Croatia, and has a culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales.
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Welcome, Julie Napper!
Julie joins our Airport Lounges team as Senior Manager, ​Merchandising Solutions​. She has a 20+ year career in hospitality that started with managing restaurants and opening new concepts. She was most recently the Director of Banquets at the Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (UNC). She’s also worked with Utah Jazz, Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte FC sports teams as the GM and Catering Manager overseeing multiple clubs and guest experience.
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Welcome, Martin Caro!
DELTA Sky Clubs at LGA & JFK​. He previously was the Lead US Client Experience Trainer for Blueground​, and has a strong track record in designing and delivering impactful customer experience training programs​. He’s skilled in enhancing team performance, streamlining global initiatives, and optimizing business efficiency with a dedication to upskilling teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
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Congrats, Maurizio Persichino!
Maurizio has been promoted to General Manager, Vancouver Convention Centre! He’s held various positions on the team over the years, from culinary to operations, and will continue to help the VCC shine with his wide range of expertise and passion for the industry.
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New: Paris 2024 Behind-The-Scenes Web Series
550 recipes created by our chefs, 40,000 meals served daily at the Athletes’ Village, spectator food service at 14 competition venues, 6,000 employees to recruit, train, and mobilize…We’re excited to share the release of our web series “Le Goût de L’Exploit,” a deep dive with our Sodexo Live! teams preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Follow Sodexo Live! on LinkedIn and Instagram so you don’t miss out, and check out episode one here.
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New Recruitment Team Email Address
The Sodexo Live! Recruiting Team has implemented a new shared email inbox dedicated to handling general Sodexo Live! recruiting questions. This centralized inbox aims to streamline communication and ensure a prompt and efficient response to inquiries related to recruitment. Email all recruiting related concerns to sl.recruiting@sodexo.com.
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We’re Hiring! Help Us Spread The Word
We’re looking for Experiences Makers in a few key roles. Please share with anyone you think may be interested, and help us spread the word: Executive Chef, FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, TN; Director of Operations, Hilo International Airport in Kailua-Kona, HI; HR Manager, University of Texas in Austin. And, if you need a branded EVP graphic created to promote a job opening at your venue, please use our graphic design portal here.
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Sustainability in Action: Meet Our Fischer Farms Partner in Indiana
Sodexo Live! partnerships with regenerative farms like Fischer Farms in Indiana allow us to explore ways to help mitigate climate change and boost ecosystem health and resilience—all while providing delicious, top-quality beef and other homegrown products. Learn about how we work with them at the Indianapolis Zoo.
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Celebrating Black History Month
This Black History Month we sat down with two of our leaders and Experience Makers, Virginia Beach Convention Center Executive Chef Desiree Neal, and VP of Operations, Airport Lounges, Barbara Calloway, to better understand what this month means to them. Hear from Desiree here and Barbara here.
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Sodexo Live! Connects: Celebrate Your Team With Printed Certificates
Did you know you can print team recognitions and certificates from Sodexo Live! Connects to take the celebrations from virtual to in-person? Follow the steps here to learn how to do so. If you have any trouble accessing Connects, email Sarah Bradley-Boyd.
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PB&J For The Community at Pasadena Convention Center
The Sodexo DEI team recently hosted the National EBRG Leadership Forum at the Pasadena Convention Center. In a collective partnership effort (in alignment with the CSR GOALympics & Stop Hunger initiatives) between the on-site Sodexo Live! team and the Sodexo EBRG leaders, 1,000 PB&J sandwiches were made for food insecure people in the community!
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Revamped Lineup of Food & Beverage Offerings Unveiled For 2024 BNP Paribas Open
A slate of enhanced dining options that includes more than a dozen new food and beverage offerings will greet fans at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. The tournament will offer an unparalleled culinary lineup that mixes local eateries with original concepts to create a holistic hospitality experience with a special nod to Southern California cuisine.
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NBA All-Star Weekend Was A Slam Dunk In Indy
Team Indianapolis served hundreds of thousands of fans for NBA All-Star weekend during the fan Crossover event at the Indiana Convention Center, including multiple concerts, and the All-Star Celebrity game and All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium! Specialty menu options highlighted the offerings at Lucas Oil Stadium, while the convention center shined with delicious bites from Executive Chef Blake Clevenger and our many local partners. And, following the busy weekend, ~2,000 lbs of prepared but unused food was donated to community members in need through Second Helpings.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Opens Largest Centurion Lounge
Our Airport Lounges team recently helped to open Amex’s largest Centurion Lounge in Atlanta. At about 26,000 square feet, it’s nearly double the size of the next biggest Centurion Lounge at New York’s JFK airport. It features a whiskey bar, 4,000 sq. feet of patio space, and food from a James Beard Award Semifinalist partner. Read more here.
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FIFA 2026 Schedule at Hard Rock Stadium & BC Place Announced
Hard Rock Stadium is set to host seven games for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, including four group stage matches, as well as the Bronze Final. BC Place in Vancouver will also host seven, including the round of 16 in the knockout stage.
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How the Ronald Reagan Library Is Redefining Corporate Events
The iconic venue is using the historic character of the space, responsibly-sourced food and beverage with a focus on sustainability, and tech-forward solutions to wow corporate event guests, setting the venue apart from its competition. Read more.
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Canada Life Centre Celebrates Black History Month With A Special Menu Collaboration
On Feb. 20, Canada Life Centre and the Winnipeg Jets hosted a Black History Month Game, in partnership with Black History Manitoba, featuring a special menu made by Sodexo Live! Executive Chef Richard Duncan and local Chef Rob Thomas. With Caribbean roots, Chef Rob brought dishes from Jamaica, the Caribbean, and eastern Africa to hockey fans.
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Wellness Trends to Expect at Large-Scale Events in 2024
BizBash looked at wellness trends that will be front and center at large events this year, including food waste reduction at convention centers. In a conversation with Executive Chef Ismael LaSalle, he shared more about our composting program and onsite garden at Miami Beach Convention Center and Rum Room.
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Tracey Jenkins Featured on Diversity Women Media
Diversity Women Media pays tribute to Black women who are disrupting the status quo in executive leadership across industries both inside and beyond corporate america. Our SVP of HR Tracey Jenkins was featured in their fourth annual Elite 100 list of women who are setting the pace. Read here.
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2024 Miami Open Announces Updates to This Year’s Tournament
The Miami Open will welcome more than 30 of the area’s leading restaurants and bars this year to infuse tennis with the iconic culture of Miami. Pop-ups include David Chang’s Fuku Chicken, Cheeseburger Baby and Ella’s Oyster Bar. Favorites returning to the campus include Sushi Maki, Kiki on the River, and Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, while The Grove delivers the regional Florida flare featuring local Miami food truck options.
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Sustainability and Local Sourcing at the Virginia Beach Convention Center
Smart Meetings spoke with our team with the Virginia Beach Convention Center about our sustainability initiatives, and how incorporating local produce and products helps to both support those efforts and offer a delicious taste of the area for visiting guests.
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Need to make a graphic design request? Submit here!
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For the appropriate venues, always use Spark for the latest documents and updates. All vital resources are also provided on Sodexo_Net.
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Contacted by a reporter? Reach out to Paul Pettas at 203-898-0632 or Paul.Pettas@sodexo.com.
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Have insights or feedback? Share via the Voice of the Field Insight form.
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Need help managing anxiety, health, finances or more? Contact LifeWorks 24/7, 866-675-6566.
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HR questions about benefits, time off, company policies, etc.? Visit Sodexo LINK 24/7, or call 855 Sodexo HR (855-763-3964) 8am to 6pm EST.
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Belinda Oakley
