Summary:
Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce transformed Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings into a $100 million business.
They identified a gap in the luxury wedding industry and founded Engage! Summits.
The first summit attracted 75 attendees, featuring celebrity wedding planners.
43 sold-out events held in 50 luxury properties with over 7,500 attendees.
Emphasizing the need for community, they offer a platform for entrepreneurs to connect.
The Journey Begins
Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce, wedding industry veterans with over 20 years of experience, first crossed paths in the early '90s while working at The Walt Disney World Resort, where they successfully expanded Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings to a staggering $100 million per year. Grinnals recalls, "It was a little bit like lightning in a bottle the first time that we had the chance to work together."
Image Credit: Courtesy of Engage! Summits. Kathryn Arce, left, and Rebecca Grinnals, right.
Identifying a Gap in the Market
After their time at Disney, the duo ventured into consulting, aiding hotels, resorts, and tourism boards in developing their wedding and honeymoon offerings. During this period, they identified a significant gap: there was no event uniting buyers, suppliers, and vendors focused on luxury weddings.
Bringing the Industry Together
They envisioned a conference that would foster meaningful connections among entrepreneurs and small businesses within the wedding industry. Thus, Engage! Summits was born, evolving into a multimillion-dollar brand.
The First Summit
In April 2008, Grinnals and Arce decided to host their inaugural event just two months later. With limited time, they relied on their extensive industry contacts to attract 75 attendees, featuring celebrity wedding planners as VIP speakers.
Growing the Brand
The success of their first event confirmed their vision, and they continued to grow Engage! Summits alongside their consulting work for nearly a decade before committing full-time in 2018. Their events have since expanded globally, hosting conferences in Italy, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with their upcoming event marking the 50th summit in London this July.
Image Credit: Corbin Gurkin. Engage! in Paris, 2023.
A Thriving Community
Throughout its 17-year journey, Engage! Summits has hosted 43 sold-out events at 50 five-star luxury properties, attracting over 7,500 attendees from 45 states and 35 countries. The brand has also garnered more than 100 million social media impressions.
The Importance of Community
Grinnals emphasizes the need for community among small business owners, stating, "Being an entrepreneur is really exciting but can also be very isolating." Engage! Summits provides a platform for entrepreneurs to connect, share best practices, and support one another.
Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The co-founders encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions, highlighting the importance of dreaming big and surrounding themselves with supportive individuals. "There's no limit to anything you can create and dream," Arce states.
Final Thoughts
Grinnals and Arce's story exemplifies how identifying a gap in the market and fostering connections can lead to the creation of a successful business. They continue to inspire others in the industry with their commitment to building a supportive community for wedding professionals.
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