NEWS: Atrium Hospitality’s Annual SPIRIT Leadership Conference Unites 400 Leaders to Celebrate Success and Drive Future Growth

Atrium Hospitality recently brought together nearly 400 leaders from across its portfolio for its annual SPIRIT Leadership Conference, held at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas – Hotel, Spa & Convention Center.

The multi-day event united general managers, directors of sales and marketing, human resources leaders, finance directors and corporate executives to celebrate the company’s 2025 achievements, strengthen alignment around its core values and invest in the future of its people and communities.

Grounded in Atrium Hospitality’s SPIRIT core values: Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork- the conference focused on elevating performance and culture across the organization. Attendees participated in sessions centered on the company’s leadership model, reinforcing its commitment to developing agile thinkers, fostering an achievement mindset and cultivating people-focused leaders.

The conference featured keynote speaker Colette Carlson, who delivered a presentation on activating “The Human Edge”, strategies designed to strengthen trust, foster connection, and elevate performance in an increasingly automated, fast-paced world. Her session provided practical insights to help leaders enhance relationships, improve team performance and lead with greater influence.

“Atrium Hospitality’s continued success is driven by the passion and dedication of our leaders and associates,” said Rob Mangiarelli, CEO of Atrium Hospitality. “The SPIRIT Leadership Conference is an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments, invest in our people and align on how we continue to lead with purpose, both within our hotels and in the communities we serve.”

A highlight of the conference was the annual awards celebration, recognizing top-performing hotels and teams for operational excellence, guest satisfaction and commitment to Atrium’s values. The event also honored recent graduates of the AtriumRISE General Manager Development Program.

As part of its ongoing commitment to community impact, the event featured a large-scale service initiative in partnership with Kellogg's. Through a “School Supply Stampede,” volunteers packed and donated 1,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies for children served by the Samaritan Community Center.

Building on its commitment to developing future hospitality leaders, Atrium Hospitality also introduced a new scholarship program tied to the SPIRIT Leadership Conference. The program awards scholarships to local students pursuing degrees in hospitality or related fields. This year, three students from the University of Arkansas were selected as recipients for their outstanding submissions, highlighting both leadership potential and commitment to service.

“Our partnership with Atrium Hospitality exemplifies how industry and academia can come together to meaningfully shape the future workforce,” said Dr. Kelly Ann Way, associate professor of hospitality management at the University of Arkansas. “This scholarship creates real opportunity for our students while strengthening the pipeline of talented, service-driven leaders.”

“A defining part of our culture is investing in people, both within Atrium and in the communities where we operate,” said Kimberly Furlong, president of Atrium Hospitality. “From supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders to giving back locally, this conference reflects who we are and how we lead.”