Member Spotlight - Lori Wagner, DES

Name and Designations: Lori Wagner, DES 
Title: Director of Sales
Workplace: Fairmont Château Laurier

Contact information:
Linked In: Lori Wagner, DES | LinkedIn
Twitter: @lori_wagner
Email: lori.wagner@fairmont.com

How have you benefited from having a membership with MPI Ottawa? 
Having a membership with MPI Ottawa has provided me with many opportunities over the years, both personally and professionally. I’ve had the chance to meet so many people who have not only become colleagues and clients but more importantly, lifelong friends. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles and many of my opportunities came as a result of my involvement with MPI.

What is your favorite event organized by MPI Ottawa? 
My favourite event is The Prix Prestige Award Gala (although I enjoy them all!) Recognizing our deserving members for their involvement has always been so rewarding to watch. We get to celebrate the people in our industry who have made a real impact and have gone above and beyond. In 2010, I was very proud to be recognized as Volunteer of the Year. I was due with our son around the date of the awards gala and luckily he was born a week early so that I could attend! The evening was a blur, however; I do remember thanking him for arriving early and understanding how important MPI was to his Mom!   

What would you say to someone that was unsure about joining MPI Ottawa? 
If you are looking to join a group of passionate and like-minded individuals, MPI Ottawa is for you! MPI offers amazing education and networking opportunities. Volunteering on a committee provides the chance to really get to know other members and the opportunity to learn and grow. The more you put into your membership, the more you will get back. There is something very special about our industry and the people who are passionate about it. The connections you make will last a lifetime!

What makes you good at what you do?
Building authentic and genuine relationships with others has always been very important to me. It has helped me to build trust with clients and industry colleagues over the years. I moved from Banff to Ottawa 22 years ago and joined the Fairmont Chateau Laurier as a sales coordinator. Since that time, I’ve had an opportunity to work for hotels, tourism, airlines and as a planner which has given me a well- rounded perspective and diverse background. In October 2021, I began my new role as Director of Sales at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier and feel that I’ve come full circle. The support from the industry has been overwhelming and I feel like I have returned home, where I belong.

In a post COVID19 world, is there anything you would change about our industry?
I think we all have learned in the past 20 months the importance of relationships. Conversations were more meaningful as we all checked in on each other and relationships grew stronger as people showed support for their industry colleagues and friends. What we went through was traumatic for so many people in our industry, however; the one silver lining is that it made us slow down and take stock of what is important in life. I hope that this will continue as we return to a busier time as our industry gets back to business.

Last words

Get involved with MPI Ottawa Chapter: Overview | LinkedIn! Become a volunteer as the more you put into it, the more you will get out of your membership. Being on the Board, especially over these past two years has been very challenging however it has also provided many learning opportunities that we will never forget. We had to make some very tough decisions and take on many extra roles as we worked hard to keep our Ottawa chapter going. As a board, we grew very close and I’d like to especially recognize Ashley Craven, Nancy Bradshaw, Allison Collins and Karen Wiersma for their support and their friendship. 

Article edited by Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services