#148: Building Relationships at BITAC | with Rich Viola

In this special episode, Steve and David sit down with Rich Viola, the visionary behind BITAC, for a heartwarming and eye-opening conversation about what makes business relationships actually meaningful.

Rich shares the 21-year journey of creating BITAC—from its accidental beginnings as an online news platform to becoming a culture-shifting conference experience that’s anything but traditional. He dives into how BITAC helps people go beyond business cards and LinkedIn connections, creating an environment where real friendships are formed, personal stories are shared, and even lifelong bonds are born.

From tales of serendipitous reunions to game night rivalries and heartwarming wedding celebrations, this episode is packed with stories that prove when you build relationships first, the business will follow.

Tune in to hear:

• Why assigned seating and small groups at BITAC are a game changer
• How Rich transformed a chance meeting into a decades-long friendship
• What makes BITAC feel more like a family reunion than a business event

Get ready to rethink what a conference can be—and maybe, just maybe, be inspired to make some music of your own.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OEdMlR29FJY

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-viola-690913b/
BITAC: https://bitac.net/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/148

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.