Bruce Himelstein Speaker Biography
Former CMO of Loews Hotels and Dynamic Leader Behind the Revitalization of The Ritz-Carlton Brand
An award-winning 30 year veteran of the hospitality industry, Bruce J. Himelstein is a recognized authority on innovative brand marketing and creation of a luxury lifestyle image for the highest quality services and consumer products. As a speaker, his range of experience qualifies him to cover topics from the importance of developing a culture of service, sales intensity, brand innovation and disruption.
The New Gold Standard
Bruce Himelstein spent many years as the dynamic leader behind many highly successful campaigns for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. As Chief Marketing Officer, among his most notable accomplishments were his campaign to “Blow the dust off the Lion and Crown” at Ritz-Carlton, a company once known for its classic design and conservative approach to marketing the brand. He is prominently featured in Joseph Michelli’s New York Times Bestseller… The New Gold Standard.
Award-Winning Advertising
Mr. Himelstein introduced a highly acclaimed global print advertising campaign to update the Ritz-Carlton image with customers. The campaign was recognized with multiple awards and moved both market share and hotel occupancy. He also assembled a team of award-winning Hollywood talents to produce a trio of cutting edge short films, featured as a highly successful web campaign. They were hailed for their quality and creativity from The Wall Street Journal and won the Platinum Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association (HSMAI). He has proven change and disruption into an organization is always a challenge, yet achievable.
Marriott International
Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, he was the Senior Vice President, Sales for Marriott International. From a beginning career as a hotel bellman to a recognized expert on sales and marketing breakthroughs, Himelstein brings candor and experience to the discussion. Since 2012, Himelstein was selected to lead the S&M strategies for Loews Hotels & Resorts as Chief Marketing Officer. Loews first campaign in five years was recognized with five HSMAI Adrian Awards, including Creative and Social Media efforts.
Affiliations
An active and involved professional, Bruce is on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association, a member of the Luxury Institute Advisory Board, sits on Florida Atlantic University’s Advisory Board and is a former Global Chair and current Executive Board member of HSMAI. He was inducted into the American Marketing Association Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named one of HSMAI’s Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in 2006.
Media
Recently, Himelstein has been featured on The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Sirius radio channel discussing his experiences in marketing lifestyle brands. Additionally, Forbe.com’s Jennifer Rooney interviewed him as part of her CMO video series, which showcases CMO’s from all different industries.
Natural Storyteller
Himelstein’s presentations embrace a natural gift for story-telling, and are filled with case studies of brands that embraced change, made strategic decisions quickly, and prospered in a rough economy. Creative, stylish, and savvy, it’s easy to see why Himelstein was named “One of The Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association. His perspective is relevant, educational, and receptive to the challenges of the changing marketplace.
Bruce Himelstein Speaking Topics
Blowing the Dust off the Lion and Crown: The Ritz-Carlton Brand Journey
How do you make your brand relevant? Bruce Himelstein, the man behind the Ritz-Carlton’s journey to the top of the luxury world, reveals the secrets behind his award-winning and groundbreaking strategies to revitalize the brand, while staying true to its roots. From harnessing the talents already within your organization to embracing new ways of thinking, Himelstein reveals the secrets to brand success.
Build (or re-build) Your Brand.
How do you flip the switch and make your brand more relevant? Bruce Himelstein, the brains behind Ritz Carlton’s award-winning campaign to “blow the dust off the lion and crown”, reveals strategies to elevate your brand while staying true to it’s core character. How do you sell change internally? How do you harness the talents of your team, and find the most talented vendors? And how do you garner the guts and resiliency to stay the course? Himelstein uses the gift of a natural storyteller to give solid solutions and inspiring ideas for any organization.
Create a Customer Experience
Why do travelers chose Ritz-Carlton? Because the customer experience at the Ritz is unmatched by any other hotel. But customer experience is not just a concern of the luxury sector. Any organization looking to win loyal customers and convert brand evangelists must pay attention to this concept. Bruce Himelstein, former SVP of sales and marketing for Ritz-Carlton, is an authority on using customer experience to elevate a brand and capture market share. His case studies and influential techniques are vital for bolstering any kind of brand.
Sales and Marketing in a Slump
When the economy ground to a halt, “luxury” became a dirty word. Bad news for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, who immediately faced declining occupancy. Good news for Bruce Himelstein, former SVP of sales and marketing for Ritz-Carlton, who proved his mettle by quickly reacting with smart strategies. He’s been praised by The Wall Street Journal for helping Ritz-Carlton be the first luxury brand to reveal a solid marketing plan after the economic collapse. How did he do it? And how can his strategies work for your company? This presentation is not about luxury, but about gathering a talented team, making swift decisions, and staying true to your brand.
Thriving During Market Change in Healthcare
How does an organization manage and excel in a market where demand is growing, patient expectation are changing, and resources are shrinking? Bruce Himelstein, globally recognized former CMO of Ritz Carlton, Loew’s hotels and former hospital board member will show you how to survive the market disruption in healthcare and succeed in today’s landscape. An expert with deep understanding of the nuances in a complex and competitive healthcare environment, Himelstein explores with audiences how capturing the process, use of data and trends is imperative to remaining relevant in a constantly changing environment. Audiences will see why hospitality in health care matters and how using empathy can bring about an exceptional experience for your patients. Himelstein will reveal how the same secrets he used to make Ritz Carlton the top luxury brand can add patients and improve patient satisfaction for hospitals and healthcare organizations.
Marketing Change
During his tenure leading the sales and marketing division at The Ritz Carlton Company, Bruce Himelstein drove initiatives for the $3 billion company among 70 properties and 32,000 associates in 23 countries, and transformed one of the world’s most global and recognizable luxury brands from classic icon to contemporary trend. As chief marketing officer at Loews Hotels, he has been integral in spearheading the implementation of strategic campaigns and activating key initiatives to employ innovative technologies. In this informative and thought-provoking presentation, Himelstein reveals the strategies used to propel these organizations forward through growth by reinvention. Service has been at the heart of Himelstein’s experience and career DNA. An expert with deep understanding of the nuances in a complex and competitive business environment, Himelstein explores with audiences how capturing the process, use of data and trends is imperative to remaining relevant in a constantly changing environment. Attendees additionally takeaway lessons on how organizations can enjoy a price premium, the importance of branding and use of its equity in an ever-shifting marketplace, and how organizations can and should use their existing culture to work towards necessary change.
