Connected Conversations

Connected Conversations

The Connected Conversations podcast features real conversations with hotel leaders who are sharing bright ideas and effective solutions. You’re a part of our unique community of Crowne Plaza hotel leaders from around the world. The goal of this podcast is simple: We’re making our community stronger...and more connected. In the show, we’re sharing our experiences and best practices, because we have so much in common, and we can all learn from each other.

Episodes

May 12, 2026 21 mins

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) and Amr Awad, General Manager at Crowne Plaza® Moncton Downtown in New Brunswick, Canada as well as Ken Knight, General Manager at Crowne Plaza® Knoxville Downtown University in Tennessee. They discuss exceptional service delivery and how to preserve the essence of human-centered service while still continuing to...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) and Sandra Dias, Director General at Crowne Plaza® Madrid as well as Yvonne Hyde, Regional Operations Manager, Crowne Plaza®  East Midlands Airport, as they discuss cultivating a culture that delivers premium experience at their hotels.

Meet Your Host & Guest 

Host: Sharon Kilmartin has been with IHG Hotel...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 30, 2025 24 mins

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) and Maurice Janssen, GM of the Crowne Plaza® Budapest as they discuss Creative Problem Handling and what that looks like in their hotels.

Resources: 

IHG Problem Handling 

Course ID# IHG056045

Meet Your Host & Guest 

Host: Sharon Kilmartin has been with IHG Hotels & Resorts for over 35 years and has a wealth of experie...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) as she discusses best practices related to recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent with Nic DiLillo, Vice President of Hospitality Relations Playhouse Square & Crowne Plaza Cleveland, OH, Christo Botha, GM Crowne Plaza® Belfast, and Kevin Hill, GM Crowne Plaza® Atlanta NE - Norcross.

Resources: 

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 16, 2025 17 mins

Description

Join Kristin Klebanov, Vice President of Loyalty Strategy & Performance at IHG, Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas), and Raffi Torikian, General Manager at Crowne Plaza® Dubai Marina as they discuss Loyalty, Enrollments and what that means for employees and guests. 

Resources:

Link for the IHG One Rewards App 

Loyalty Training & Training Resources 

Loyalty Q...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 9, 2025 24 mins

Description

Join Kristin Klebanov, Vice President of Loyalty Strategy & Performance at IHG, Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas), and Raffi Torikian, General Manager at Crowne Plaza® Dubai Marina as they discuss Loyalty, Enrollments and what that means for employees and guests. 

Resources:

Link for the IHG One Rewards App 

Loyalty Training & Training Resources 

Loyalty Q...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 2, 2025 18 mins

Description

Join Kristin Klebanov, Vice President of Loyalty Strategy & Performance at IHG, Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas), and Raffi Torikian, General Manager at Crowne Plaza® Dubai Marina as they discuss Loyalty, Enrollments and what that means for employees and guests. 

Resources:
Link for the IHG One Rewards App 
Loyalty Training & Training Resources 
Loyalty Q...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) as she discusses brand differentiators and what that means for our employees and guests. She speaks with Akemi Shapiro, Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza® Ventura Beach Hotel; Russell Sheppard, GM at ANA Crowne Plaza® Narita; Stephen Wills, GM at Crowne Plaza® Hawkesbury Valley; and Nick Stangle, F&B...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) as she discusses brand differentiators and what that means for our employees and guests. She speaks with Akemi Shapiro, Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza Ventura® Beach Hotel; Russell Sheppard, GM at ANA Crowne Plaza® Narita; Stephen Wills, GM at Crowne Plaza® Hawkesbury Valley; and Nick Stangle, F&B...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 11, 2025 15 mins

Description

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) as she discusses brand differentiators and what that means for our employees and guests. She speaks with Akemi Shapiro, Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza® Ventura Beach Hotel; Russell Sheppard, GM at ANA Crowne Plaza® Narita; Stephen Wills, GM at Crowne Plaza® Hawkesbury Valley; and Nick Stangle, F&B...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 28, 2025 31 mins

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas), Mike McCarthy, Vice President of Operations and Development at Sharcon Hotel Management and GM Crowne Plaza® Dulles and Mark Tasker, GM at the Crowne Plaza® Liverpool City Center as they discuss employee empowerment. 

Resources:
Empowerment Agreement

 

Crowne Plaza® “Connected to You” Culture Hub

Access via the Brand Services & ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 17 mins

Join Sharon Kilmartin, Regional Director of Operations at IHG, based at the Crowne Plaza® Ravinia (Americas) and Ginger Taggart, Vice President, IHG Global Marketing and Brand Management as they discuss Brand Evolution.

Resources:


Meet Your Host & Guest:

Host: Sharon Kilmartin has been with IHG Hotels & Resorts for over 35 years and has a wealth of experience to share. Sharon has a passion for sha...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices