HPN Global Santa Barbara Master Class Recap

The HPN Global Master Class returned for its West Coast edition, hosted at the breathtaking Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, California.

At its heart, the HPN Global Master Class is a curated relationship-building experience, unique to HPN Global. Thoughtfully designed to bring clients, partners, and HPN Global together, this event surrounds participants with like-minded individuals to broaden relationships, share insights, and drive growth in the hospitality industry. Attendees learn from one another, exchange ideas around emerging trends, and explore the future of the meetings and events environment—all while forming personal friendships that extend beyond the workplace.

Attendees included meeting planners, HPN Associates, and our CEO Bill Kilburg . Moderators Stacey Crivello and Harold Batiste led engaging sessions covering key industry topics like emerging meeting trends, the value and alignment of partnerships, budget strategies, and the evolving definition of meeting spaces.

The Master Class reinforced the value of in-person collaboration. Attendees forged new relationships, deepened their expertise, and shared best practices in inspiring conversations around all things events-related. Being together in the same room sparked spontaneous brainstorming and creative collaboration, enabling real-time problem-solving and better decision-making. In-person gatherings offered undeniable benefits: stronger relationships, effective communication, heightened focus and engagement, and greater creativity. This year’s Master Class highlighted HPN Global’s dedication and its active role in driving the industry forward.

A big thank you to Kelly Josephson and Karen Sheldon from The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara for their exceptional hospitality. We also extend our gratitude to Sydney Kilburg , Melissa Griffin, and Courtney Miller for ensuring the event’s smooth execution behind the scenes.

The HPN Global Master Class is more than an event – it’s a platform for growth, connection, and leadership in hospitality. We are excited to continue building on the success of this year’s Master Class and look forward to welcoming even more industry leaders to our future events.

Stay tuned for updates, and join us next time as we continue shaping the future of meetings and events.

For more information about our master class, please click here.