The hospitality industry represents a wide variety of service industries which include event planning, restaurants, cruise lines, theme parks, lodging, etc. Within those industries are specific workers, such as restaurant servers, housekeepers, bartenders, human resource specialists, etc. One of the ways to bring the hospitality world together is with conferences and conventions. A hospitality keynote speaker should be the highlight of your hospitality conference or convention. Often conferences have an opening keynote speaker and a closing keynote speaker.

The difference between a guest speaker and a keynote speaker is not especially significant. However, a keynote speaker’s purpose is to draw attendees to the specific agenda of the event and to set the tone. He or she is not just a general speaker. The hospitality keynote speaker that you choose should be chosen from the best list of candidates. He or she will be the highlight of your conference if you make the right choice. In other words, the person can make or break your event.

1. Your keynote speaker or speakers should be 100 percent relevant for your conference.

You don’t want attendees wondering why a person was chosen. You want them to know immediately why a person was chosen.

2. Your keynote speaker or speakers should have a strong sense of persuasion.

The person or persons you choose should be powerful with motivational speaking. The best way to guarantee that is to spend the resources to hire the best.

3. Your keynote speaker or speakers should have strong communication skills.

You don’t want attendees falling asleep. The person or persons you choose must have the “gift of gab.” They must be able to keep people awake and interested throughout the speech.

With the right hospitality keynote speaker, your conference will get the kind of reputation that draws people every year.