Featured Industry Voices ✨
Networking, A Real-World Guide to Bold, Authentic Connections, coming June 2026, features stories and lessons from hospitality professionals across the industry, including Sonya Villarreal , Director of Sales at The RK Group.
Sonya’s story highlights something many people misunderstand about networking, even established luxury brands still need to intentionally build relationships and stay connected to the industry around them.
In her chapter, she shares how networking is not simply about visibility or exposure. For her team, it is about staying accessible, building trust, creating mentorship opportunities, and continuing to grow alongside both longtime partners and the next generation entering the industry.
One of my favorite takeaways from her story is the reminder that strong vendor relationships are not transactional. They are partnerships built through shared experiences, trust, collaboration, and consistency over time.
Thank you Sonya for being part of this project and for sharing your perspective and leadership. 🖤
Read more in:
Networking, A Real-World Guide to Bold, Authentic Connections, coming June 2026.
Join the early release list through the link in bio. ✨
Networking in the hospitality industry is often mistakenly viewed as a tool solely for gaining visibility or exposure. However, from my personal experience working alongside industry professionals, I've found that successful networking is really about cultivating genuine relationships that foster mutual growth and trust. Sonya Villarreal’s approach, as highlighted in her contribution to the upcoming book "Networking, A Real-World Guide to Bold, Authentic Connections," truly resonates with me. She emphasizes accessibility and mentorship—a mindset I’ve found critical in both giving and receiving support within this competitive field. For example, maintaining consistent communication with vendors and partners over time has transformed many of my professional connections from simple business transactions into valuable collaborations. These partnerships flourish when built on shared experiences and reliability, not just occasional interaction. Moreover, I’ve seen how welcoming mentorship opportunities helps bridge generational gaps in hospitality. Connecting seasoned experts with emerging talent creates a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge circulates continuously, keeping the industry innovative and cohesive. Investing time in such relationships has enriched my career and opened doors to fresh perspectives. For anyone in hospitality or related sectors, approaching networking with authenticity and intention can profoundly impact your professional journey. It’s less about collecting contacts and more about cultivating a community through trust and ongoing collaboration. I highly recommend looking out for the full insights in the forthcoming book this June 2026, which promises to provide actionable strategies for bold, authentic networking in our field.
