Chris Ruane

Background

About Chris Ruane

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work. Mark Twain said it best, and it speaks to the way my team and I go about finding the ideal destination for our clients' events. We may not draw a lot of attention to ourselves, but each member of my team brings focus, passion and energy that gets the work done. As Accor's Vice President for Meetings and Events, I empower my team to create relationships with customers, to become trusted advisors. We are here to provide value: to our clients, who are looking for the ideal location for their event, and to Accor hotels around the world. I manage 13 account directors and additional support staff who liaise between our client partners and our on-property colleagues. Together we ensure that every event exceeds expectations. Whether that be 20-member board meetings or a event, all are equally important to me. My approach to keeping my diverse team all working toward the same vision is to provide them with the tools they need to succeed, then get out of the way. Don't interfere with lightning striking. We best serve our customers by: • recognizing the unique qualities of each of our 4,600 destinations around the globe • promoting Accor locations with custom-­designed incentives to suit each corporate partner • providing a best-in-class client experience Though my work has taken me to exotic locations, I'm a city person at heart. Since moving to Toronto, I've been enjoying everything this city has to offer. I can take a streetcar to work, catch a film, try new restaurants, walk everywhere and just take advantage of what life has to offer. Specialties include: leadership development | hospitality | exceptional client service