On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Lisa Conarton, CEO of LC Elevated Hospitality, who shares compelling examples of what it means to be a leader in the hospitality and tourism industry. We discuss the importance of building trust, why collaboration is key to success, and the difference between ROI and 'return on experience' (ROX). Lisa also shares how people can be proactive rather than reactive and why understanding how to go with the flow is so important.

• How Lisa built her career path in hospitality and tourism, moving from convention operations to launching her own destination management consultancy
• Why earning trust is necessary for leadership and success in hospitality
• How networking and partnerships have been essential in driving growth for Lisa
• How Lisa differentiates between ROI (return on investment) and ROX (return on experience), and why focusing on experience benefits both travelers and businesses
• Why championing creativity encourages authenticity
• What real-life crisis taught Lisa about letting go, going with the flow, and relying on cultivated partnerships to execute successful events
• How Lisa approaches partnerships and collaboration, and her examples of coopetition within New York State destination marketing

From full-service hotel management to destination marketing and now as she builds her own consultancy, Lisa has consistently sought out growth opportunities. Her experience has shown that there are three key areas you have to prioritize:

1. Earning Trust

Trust has to be earned, particularly in hospitality, where seamless service and reliability are so important. Lisa emphasizes that trust is built over and over and over again, and needs consistency and integrity in every interaction.

1. Networking and Collaboration

Networking is the avenue to future collaboration and partnerships, which are the real engines behind growth. Not only do great relationships provide support in crisis, but they also lead to opportunities for greater collective achievements. The very definition of coopetition.

1. Return on Experience (ROX)

While return on investment (ROI) is a familiar metric, Lisa also values "return on experience"—the transformative impact of meaningful, memorable interactions that benefit both guests and the businesses serving them. Planning and execution are vital, but so is the focus on creating memories that resonate long after a trip or event ends.

Lisa shares the story of a last minute challenge, when with only 24 hours, she had to move a 150-person event when the venue became unusable due to heat. Through her well-established industry relationships, the move was seamless. While meticulous planning is crucial, so is the ability to let go and trust your partners.

From her involvement with New York State's Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to local industry partnerships, Lisa's success stories center around shared values and transparent communication. She explains why it's so important to figure out where each partner fits, recognize strengths, and build collaborations that play to everyone's best qualities.

• Website: lcelevatedhospitality.com
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaconarton/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lc-elevated-hospitality/

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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I'm joined by the dynamic Neelu Kaur, organizational psychologist, self-advocacy champion, author, and keynote speaker.

Neelu dispels the myth that self-advocacy is boastful, and we discuss how advocating for yourself can actually be a generous and empowering act. She shares how leaders and teams can create environments where all voices are heard, exploring the innovative concept of "generous exclusion," and the importance of dialing up the "I" or the "we" when the moment calls for it. Neelu also suggests some great practical strategies for promoting authentic self-advocacy in any organization.

• Why self-advocacy is often misunderstood as boastful and how to reframe it as essential for innovation
• What "generous exclusion" means, and how being intentional about who participates can lead to more creative outcomes
• How different processing styles impact participation in meetings, and what leaders can do to create safer spaces for all voices
• Why structure is necessary for big, creative thinking, and how frameworks borrowed from organizations like Disney help teams brainstorm and dream without self-censoring
• Understanding what energizes individuals creates a more productive, collaborative environment
• What practical steps you can take to build self-advocacy skills

So many people, particularly women, introverts, or those from cultures that value humility, see self-advocacy as something selfish or boastful. Neelu turns this assumption on its head, describing self-advocacy as the most generous act you can do. By speaking up, you model positive behaviors for others, making it easier for those who follow in your footsteps to do the same.

When you advocate for yourself, whether it's sharing an idea in a meeting or negotiating your role, you're not just advancing your own interests. You're opening doors, encouraging diversity of thought, and paving the way for colleagues who may face similar barriers.

For years, Neelu thought her professional setbacks stemmed from a lack of skills, but she realized she just hadn't learned to advocate for her ideas. Her silence was frequently misread as disengagement, and fast-paced meetings left her behind.

To overcome the hurdle of seeing speaking up as boastful, she recommends self-reflection and practical steps, such as practicing self-advocacy in low-stakes situations, like choosing a restaurant for dinner with friends. Leaders and organizations also need to adjust by building meeting structures that allow quieter voices to contribute and encouraging follow-up dialogue beyond real-time meetings.

Collaboration is praised as the ideal. But as we discuss, simply adding more people to a meeting doesn't guarantee creativity—or even productivity. Neelu highlights the concept of "generous exclusion" by Priya Parker, sharing why being selective about who joins which meetings lets people focus, minimizes inefficiencies, and leaves room for deep work.

Organizations often over-index on collaboration, with endless group meetings that crowd out the time needed for innovation. Instead, leaders need to be strategic, invite the right mix of creative minds, give space for diverse strengths, and allow those who need extra processing time to contribute asynchronously.

• Website: https://www.neelukaur.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelukaur/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neelu-kaur/

We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more o​f. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!