In May, MGM – Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas made the decision to partner with us by implementing our Lift Your Table® folding table risers in their conventions department! And today, as I write, our risers are actively improving the ergonomics of some of their back-of-the-house chefs and service people who work standing using folding tables to keep their busy convention center operating with perfection.

To say I am excited about what this first step will mean to our business is an understatement. Since 2011, we have saved thousands of backs in hotels and convention centers over the 13 years we have been selling our risers. I know this is just the first step to help, not just the folks in the Catering Division, but also people who use folding tables in a standing capacity in other departments within the property including:

Hotels & convention centers use folding table risers to increase guest comfort and employee safety & productivity.

…wherever workers or guests use a folding table in a standing capacity, we are likely able to make the workplace safer and more productive. 

Again, to start, our risers are in use in conventions. So as I prepared to better understand the overall needs of hotels and convention centers to be a useful resource to them, I decided to start with the basics. For me, that means digging into this fundamental question:

What are the core values of hospitality industry trailblazers and leaders?

As I researched the biggest brands in the industry, I quickly discovered as diverse as these brands seem to be from one another, it is interesting to see how SIMILAR their most important values align. And while the companies I researched had several admirable values, I was really interested to find the following TOP 3 values these brands share in as I have succinctly summed below. Top brands are unified in their commitment to:

• Deliver exceptional experiences
• Promote sustainability and
• Engage with the community.

Let me take you deeper into how world industry-leading brands such as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands Corp | Convention Center, Marriott International, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, and the Las Vegas Convention Center embody these principles.

1. Excellence in Service – (Is this a surprise? I think not!)

It comes as no surprise that excellence in service is the cornerstone of success in the hospitality industry. The top hotel chains and convention centers are laser-focused on delivering outstanding service to create unforgettable experiences for their guests and for taking great care of their employees. For those who have experienced this customer service from the consumer side, I’m sure you will agree, the top brands are obsessed with customer service, PERIOD. 

Personalized Experiences: A component of this is simply making guests feel special as a collective priority. The top hotels and convention centers go above and beyond to understand and to cater to individual preferences. MGM Resorts International offers customized room amenities and tailored concierge services to ensure each guest’s stay is unique and memorable. Mandalay Bay was also recognized by the Trade Show News Network for “going the extra mile” to prepare for National Federation of the Blind’s annual convention with over 3,000 attendees, the majority of whom were blind. This preparation included extra training and even menus transcribed into braille to comfortably and safely accommodate their sight-impaired guests. Marriott International excels in personalized service through its Bonvoy Loyalty Program which offers members exclusive experiences and benefits. 

Consistent Quality: Top brands also emphasize the importance of maintaining high quality standards across all of their locations which benefits their brand reputations. Caesars Entertainment ensures that every property under its umbrella meets rigorous quality standards and guarantees a reliable and superior experience for every guest. This consistency fosters trust and encourages brand loyalty (a.k.a. repeat visits!)

Innovation: Staying competitive means continuously improving and adopting new technologies and products that enhance the guest and employee experience. Las Vegas Sands Corp integrates advanced technology to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences, from mobile check-ins to smart room features. Mandalay Bay Convention Center leverages innovative design and technology and has become known for its state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces. On the employee safety side, Mandalay Bay also utilizes folding table risers to raise the height of the tables to improve ergonomics of their chefs and servers to improve the safety and back health of their staff.

2. Sustainability

The second common core value of sustainability is a relatively newer but significant focus for the hospitality and events industry. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and hotel chains and convention centers are adopting sustainable practices to minimize their ecological footprint. (And ironically, in doing the right thing by the environment, an added benefit of these practices is cost savings in multiple areas!)

Environmental Responsibility: Leading companies like Las Vegas Sands Corp have diverse and comprehensive sustainability programs such as Sands ECO360. This initiative focuses on conserving energy and water, managing waste, and using sustainable building practices. Marriott International’s “Serve 360” initiative also stands out as bold leadership committed to reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable goals. Marriott defines its focus as: “Doing Good in Every Direction” with regards to its ESG goals in four focus areas: Nurture Our World, Sustain Responsible Operations, Empower Through Opportunity, and Welcome All/Human Rights. In the words of Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International, “At Marriott International, we take great pride in our longstanding focus on the fundamental principles of taking care of people, our communities, and the planet.”

Green Certifications: Pursuing certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is another way companies demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. An example of this is the Las Vegas Convention Center which has made significant strides in achieving LEED certification through its energy-efficient lighting, water conservation efforts, and waste reduction programs.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Sustainability extends beyond environmental practices to include broader CSR initiatives. MGM Resorts Green Advantage program exemplifies this, encompassing not only environmental sustainability but also community support and employee well-being. Mandalay Bay Convention Center also emphasizes CSR, with initiatives focused on reducing its carbon footprint and supporting local communities.

3. Community Engagement

The 3rd common core value these trailblazers share centers around highlighting the community. Clients expect hotels and convention centers to be concerned about the well-being of the communities in which they operate. People want the businesses they patronize to be actively involved in supporting the local economies, promoting diversity and inclusion, and engaging in philanthropic/volunteer activities.

Local Community Support: Most major hotel chains encourage initiatives that support local communities. Caesars Entertainment is known for its extensive community support programs, including charitable contributions, partnerships with local organizations, and encouraging and supporting volunteer efforts by employees. Companies are finding their support of local communities enhances their reputations AND fosters goodwill and loyalty among residents.

Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a diverse and inclusive environment has also become an important and common key value. Companies like MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have strong diversity and inclusion programs to ensure all employees and guests feel welcome and respected and to leverage the competitive advantages that are intrinsic in assembling a diverse team. 

This commitment to diversity extends to making goals to diversify their supplier base by providing diverse enterprises economic opportunity, and even developmental guidance to support the growth and success of these companies. I, in fact, am a benefactor and alumnae of MGM’s Supplier Diversity Program. In this executive program, I was given the opportunity to learn what I needed to know as a small business to scale up to be able to do business with large corporations like MGM. The training was extensive and covered everything from sustainability to cyber security and more. It also included giving me the opportunity to be paired with a mentor to help me navigate the intricacies of working in a large corporate culture. 

Philanthropy and Volunteering: A common value of leading companies is they also actively support and encourage their employees to volunteer. The Las Vegas Convention Center supports local education through multiple scholarships and workforce development initiatives, while also participating in community service projects. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center also emphasizes giving back to the Las Vegas community, with numerous initiatives supporting local charities and organizations.

Common Values of the world’s leading brands impact the entire industry and even the global community!

I think it is easy to understand how hospitality leaders impact the hospitality industry as a whole. What these leaders emphasize, spills over to influence other brands in the category. As a result, not only do their initiatives improve the experiences of their own valued/repeat guests, but they also impact the guest experience of their competitors which creates a “win/win” impact on the category. 

What occurred to me is something that is NOT as obvious. These companies don’t only influence the category, but they also impact the GLOBAL community. Let me give an example:

A top hotel may host thousands of visitors per day. This gives them the ability to make impressions on hundreds of thousands of people or even millions of people over the course of a year. If this hotel makes trash sorting and recycling a priority, this emphasis is likely to influence many of their guests. A percentage of these guests may return to their homes, schools, communities, and countries, with a new perspective on the importance of being sustainable – and not just during their hotel stay, but on-going! 

Another example is this: When leaders recognize, celebrate, and ultimately leverage the strength and resulting benefits that comes from creating a diverse and inclusive team in both their work forces and their supplier networks, they put themselves in a growth position. A growth position is important to their shareholders and guests, and it also establishes progressive corporate leadership as a whole!

The Success Secret at Major Hotels and Convention Centers…is NOT such a secret after all!

The secret is officially out: The top values of service excellence, sustainability, and community engagement translate into the success of major hotel chains and convention centers. Putting guests first, being good stewards of resources and supporting a diverse community are the right things to do for both profits and for being good corporate citizens.

For me, as founder of a company that supplies an innovative safety product (and custom tablecloths) to the hospitality industry, this is perhaps the most exciting news I’ve discovered to date! Why? 

MGM’s Mandalay Bay is the first of the MGM brands to corporately implement our folding table risers to help keep their workers safer AND more productive. As this safety product is evaluated, we have high expectations that we will soon be helping other MGM brands, like Bellagio, ARIA, The Mirage, Luxor, and New York – New York Hotel & Casino. It will not stop there…

As we have seen from our dive into their collective values, we have discovered when an industry leader like MGM adopts a new safety protocol in their operating procedures, it will not be long before there will be collateral impact as other industry-leading brands like Marriott, Caesars, the Las Vegas Convention Center and others… follow suit!

Hospitality brands where our folding table risers are already in use!

We are obsessed with saving backs, and we are beyond excited to be on our way to becoming a standard safety product with so many fine companies.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve and grow, industry-leading brands will continue to influence innovation and positive changes in a diversity of ways across the hospitality landscape. What I’ve learned from looking into the practices of the world’s most successful brands is these companies are committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of their guests, employees, and communities. These companies have emerged as global leaders in literally hundreds of ways. The result of this leadership is an overall more equitable, healthier, and sustainable future …essentially for the entire world!

Hugs,

Bethany Smith, Co-Founder | CEO

If your workplace uses folding tables and you’d like to learn how we can help your workers be safer and more productive, let’s connect! Schedule a Call with Bethany Smith

Lift Your Table® folding table risers, founded in 2011, is the innovator of the folding table riser category, and has helped save thousands of backs all over the world. Also by helping many people-first companies—including hotels, convention centers, retailers, and more—assisting to create more ergonomic working environments for their employees and guests. Lift Your Table® folding table risers are fast becoming a staple in every home, school, and work environment and will soon be as commonplace as the folding table itself.

Learn more at LiftYourTable.com/businesses

Lift Your Table® & Save Your Back!

S.D.G.