Facilitated by The Protocol School of Washington

 

With an unprecedented number of international and domestic visitors expected this summer, each and every member of the hospitality community has a crucial role to play in making Kansas City shine. It’s our opportunity to leave global audiences with lasting, positive encounters from the Heart of America.

Presented by the Visit KC Foundation, experts from The Protocol School of Washington will facilitate a series of in-person and virtual training modules to provide Kansas City’s hospitality industry with the essential insights to welcome visitors from across the world.

SESSION 1 supports industry leaders in empowering their teams to deliver respectful, appropriate guest interactions, regardless of cultural background. An exploration of five universal human expectations and four personality styles will provide a framework for delivering great service across various cultures.

Recommended for: Leadership roles at area hotels, restaurants, museums and attractions, along with property managers and regional CVB/DMO executives

SESSION 2 focuses directly on cultural awareness. This session is designed to equip hospitality supervisors with the specific cultural knowledge they need to train their staff on successful interactions with the global communities that will be arriving in KC.

Recommended for: Hospitality supervisors, food and beverage managers, team leaders for visitor centers, room service, concierge and other customer-facing services

SESSION 3 provides hands-on opportunities to put cross-cultural skills in action. Guest expectations will be diverse, and these activities will empower hospitality professionals to deliver outstanding service with confidence. Priority registration for Session 3 will be provided to individuals who attended Session 2.

Recommended for: Hospitality supervisors and customer-facing staff

In the Mix

Session 1: Heart, Passion & Pride

Tuesday, April 7

National WWI Museum and Memorial

8 to 10 a.m. or 3 to 5 p.m.

Register 

Premier League Mornings Live – Derek Byrne (7) (3)

Session 2: The Playbook

April 14, 16, 21

Virtual

Tuesday, April 14: 10 to 11:15 a.m.

Thursday, April 16: 3 to 4:15 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21: 12 to 1:15 p.m.

Register 

XR Cafe_Aaron Fuhrman_MDT

Session 3: Boots on the Ground

Wednesday, May 13

Kauffman Foundation Conference Center

8:30 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m to 12 p.m.

Register 

ABOUT THE PROTOCOL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON

For 37 years, the school’s protocol team has delivered expert, internationally accepted protocol guidance and training for today’s global hospitality, business, military, academic, nonprofit, and diplomatic communities. In a rapidly changing marketplace shaped by new technologies and shifting geopolitics, The Protocol School of Washington helps participants build the interpersonal skills and civility needed to succeed worldwide.

To address cross-cultural gaps that can undermine business relationships, leaders invest in developing employees’ cultural competence and personal leadership. The school has trained professionals from 90+ countries and maintains offices in Washington, D.C.; Dubai, UAE; and Columbia, S.C. (Headquarters).

Mark Davis Jones is an acclaimed consultant who has partnered with 30+ of Fortune’s 2025 “50 Most Admired Companies” across six continents. He draws on 26 years at Walt Disney World, where he led teams up to 1,400 and helped drive enterprise-wide improvement in operations and service.

Charles MacPherson is a global authority in butlering and household management, with 20+ years of experience across private residential, hospitality, and customer service sectors. He has set butler department standards and trained teams for clients including Queen Mary II, Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Aria Resort & Casino Las Vegas, Wynn Macau, and Taj Hotels.

Diane Brown is a pioneering protocol trainer with more than three decades of delivering seminars for Fortune 500 companies, military and government leaders, and academia. Most recently, she led a PSOW project training hospitality professionals and volunteers for the COP28 climate summit at Expo City Dubai.