A Winning Partnership: The Rise of Engage! Summits in the Luxury Wedding Industry

Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce, two prominent figures in the wedding industry with over two decades of experience, first crossed paths in the early 1990s at The Walt Disney World Resort. During their time there, they significantly contributed to the growth of Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, transforming it into a $100 million annual enterprise. Reflecting on their collaboration, Grinnals remarked, “It was a little bit like lightning in a bottle the first time that we had the chance to work together,” evoking the powerful synergy they felt during those formative years.

From Disney to Consulting

After their tenure at Disney, the duo ventured into consulting, working with hotels, resorts, and tourism boards globally to enhance their wedding and honeymoon offerings. In this role, Grinnals and Arce identified a significant void within the luxury wedding sector—a lack of events uniting various industry players, including buyers, suppliers, and vendors.

Introducing Engage! Summits

This realization sparked the genesis of Engage! Summits, a conference aimed at fostering meaningful dialogues among luxury wedding professionals. Launched in April 2008, the first event was organized in just six weeks and hosted 75 attendees at Orlando’s Celebration Hotel.

Notable speakers included celebrity wedding planners Preston Bailey and Marcy Blum, who shared invaluable insights on entrepreneurship and the challenges they faced throughout their careers. The event was met with enthusiastic feedback, underscoring the need for such a platform in the industry.

Building Momentum Over the Years

Encouraged by the initial success, Grinnals and Arce continued to host Engage! Summits as a side venture while maintaining their consulting business. Over the next decade, they held one or two events annually, transitioning to focus on the summit full-time in 2018. “In many cases, [we had one business] serve the other in a very organic and natural way,” Grinnals noted, explaining how their consulting experience enriched their summit brand.

Through strategic connections, such as collaborations with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Engage! Summits has grown tremendously. The conferences have successfully taken place in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe, with recent events attracting diverse international audiences.

Statistics and Global Reach

Since its inception, Engage! Summits has organized 43 sold-out events across 50 luxury properties, drawing over 7,500 attendees from 45 states and 35 countries. The brand has achieved more than 100 million impressions across social media and various media outlets.

Fostering Community and Connection

The essence of Engage! Summits lies in cultivating a supportive community for entrepreneurs in the wedding sector. Grinnals emphasized the isolating nature of entrepreneurship, saying, “Being an entrepreneur is really exciting but can also be very isolating.” This sentiment resonates with many, highlighting the importance of real-life interactions as opposed to virtual communication. At their gatherings, professionals from numerous countries collaborate to navigate common challenges, jointly aspiring to serve their clients more effectively.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Grinnals and Arce encourage emerging entrepreneurs to pursue their aspirations, even if the journey is daunting. “We wanted to dream bigger and better with each event,” expressed Arce. They stress the value of meticulous planning and adaptability while surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. Grinnals further suggests creating networks or advisory councils outside of one’s specific industry for broader perspectives. “It’s really powerful to create a network of different people who understand the nuances of your business,” she said, underscoring the strategic importance of diverse connections.

Conclusion

The story of Engage! Summits exemplifies how vision, collaboration, and community can lead to remarkable achievements in the entrepreneurial world. As they prepare for their 50th landmark event in London next July, Grinnals and Arce continue to inspire others to dream big and foster connections that drive success.