Tuesday Talk: Renae Ouellette
April 13, 2021
Featuring Renae Ouellette, Director of Catering with the Conrad Washington
REBECCA: Hi, everyone. So we're with Renae from the Conrad. And today we're just really want to talk about, kind of, in reflection of what we've all experienced in the last year, the global pandemic, all the battles for human rights with racial injustice. Renae, what is something about our industry that maybe has surprised you?
RENAE: Gosh, it has been a year, hasn't it? Literally one year ago, today was kind of the end of end of things here at the hotel. So it's ironic that we're chatting now. But um, I mean, I would say, just the resiliency of our industry, and how much people have come together, around the fact that we're, we're all in this together and really have made it made so many efforts to, like, stay united as an events community and really speak out for, you know, our friends and anyone else who has been affected by these things that have happened, which is, you know, ranged from, as you mentioned, in the questions, several things this past year. They've been very difficult; difficult conversations to have and difficult situations to be in. But I feel like the events industry as a whole has really kind of embraced it, whether it's, you know, events that, you know, we've seen you ladies at Beyond the Blackout, which was a great one. And just the live events coalition that was formed here in DC to really kind of fight for, you know, gatherings to come back to the city. I just think it's been amazing to see people really just go beyond their norm day to day and just really stand together as, as an events industry, as one whole, no matter what you do, no matter if you're, you know, an entertainer or a director in a hotel, or, you know, we're all, it's, it affects all of us so much. And it just makes me very proud to be part of such an amazing group of people.
LAUREN: I totally know how you feel. You know, previously, we can tend to kind of stay in our boxes and with the people that we know, and it has kind of allowed us to all connect with people maybe we hadn't connected with before, because everyone is online, and everyone is digital. And so someone is just, you know, an Instagram message away or an email away. And with all this time that we've also had, prior to now we're getting a bit busier, thankfully, but, you know, people have had the time to sit and respond and to make new connections, and to really get to know people more and, you know, get to know them as people and really find their tribes and new people, which I think is the best part. You know, because it is hard to just get set in your ways or to not really think about branching out actively, which I think is really important. We've made so many incredible partnerships with Lucy Black, just throughout this pandemic that maybe we hadn't, maybe we wouldn't have without it. And I'm personally so thankful for that, because we've made some really amazing friendships and partnerships that way.
RENAE: Yeah, I mean, without having the ability to meet in person, I was just sitting here thinking like, I've met so many new people, like it's, it's kind of crazy. But it's great, you know, and it's some really great connections that I'll have forever now, you know? It's it's been, it's been different. But I think we've all adapted way better than I ever could have expected anyway, so. Yeah.
REBECCA: Is there anything, I know that this is not something we talked about in advance, but I was just thinking, is there anything that you've seen, that you hope maybe our community, either hold on to or build on as we open up? Because I think that that's one thing we haven't been hearing people talk about as much as when the pandemic started is like, how are we going to hold on to the good things? But I think now it's time to define what that could look like. Like, is there anything that stands out in your mind?
RENAE: I mean, I think that I don't know if there's one thing to be honest. I think everyone needs to always remember this last year. And what it felt like to know that we were all going through the same thing. Regardless of our number of years, we've been in the business or our stature and like names in the business, but that we're all dealing with the same thing. It's been very humbling. For many, I mean, even including myself. So, I think not so much like one thing, but just people to remember what that felt like. And that's what brought us all together. So, yeah.
LAUREN: That's so important. I do feel like it's easy to go through something like that and then forget and not really remember those lessons and continue that work. I think that's one thing that's so important that we all continue in this.
RENAE: Exactly.
LAUREN: It's, it's felt so much more collaborative and so much more like a community. So we've all had kind of our individual communities, but to be able to feel more one as a whole, no matter who you are, no matter what your statuses, has been really nice. And you know. I agree. I totally hope that that continues.
RENAE: Yeah.
REBECCA: Well, thank you so much for joining us today, and we'll talk soon.
RENAE: All right. Thanks, ladies.