Gary Hernbroth

Gary Hernbroth was a featured presenter at our inaugural Event Boss Institute for entrepreneurial meeting professionals and brought a wealth of practical knowledge about business development, marketing, and branding. Attendees left with actionable tips they could use to advance their businesses immediately, and an understanding of the actions required to build a sustainable brand. We could not have been happier with the content, and he was a joy to work with from start to finish, helping us to promote the event and engaging with attendees in the room and virtually. Gary is a winner.

"Gary spoke at our CMAA World Conference in February 2022 to our student members! He did a great job connecting with our student demographic and was able to keep them engaged during his hour-long presentation! His topic was "Make the Most Out of Your Opportunity: Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Ready", which during a time like today, couldn't be more relevant! Gary did a great job and I'm excited for a time we can have him back to speak to our members!"

"Gary is a true professional and delivered an effective and inspiring educational and coaching session. He took time to fully understand his audience in advance of our training, and customized his material to our group's needs. His style is approachable and he gave attendees an engaging educational session full of great information, tips and examples of how to bring the material to life in our everyday work tasks. Gary is a great educator and coach, focused on specific outcomes and providing a fun and entertaining experience."

I have used Training for Winners with 2 separate companies over the past 20 years in order to enhance our business. Gary is engaging and dynamic in his presentations the content of which has proven to be not only beneficial but highly effective in addressing what is important to our senior management teams. I also greatly appreciated Gary's time and effort in getting to know our specific businesses and focusing on our needs. Hans Desai Xanterra Parks & Resorts

"Thank you Gary for sharing your expertise, knowledge and leadership insights during today's webinar. The way in which you presented and the examples you used were very relatable and kept our attendees engaged. We appreciate your professionalism and the value you brought to our members! Really great job!"

Gary was a joy to work with, as he was one of our selected speakers for MPI Academy's webinar series. Gary is thorough in all of his pre-work, session execution, and follow-up. He is an engaging speaker, which was confirmed by attendee responses and thanks, as well as hearing his presentation directly. His content is fresh, relevant, and insightful, with Gary demonstrating a clear understanding of his audience's needs and tailoring his talk to provide maximum educational value. It was evident that he took the time to ensure his material was both impactful and timely. His professionalism and enthusiasm made him an absolute pleasure to collaborate with. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Gary again in the future!

I had the pleasure of attending Gary Hernbroth’s insightful webinar, “Helping Today’s Event Professionals Twist the Familiar Using the Rule of Three,” through MPI Academy on March 10th, and it was truly an eye-opening session. As event professionals, we may not always see ourselves as salespeople, but as Gary emphasized, we are constantly selling—whether it’s pitching an idea, crafting compelling proposals through RFPs, or providing solutions that lead to signed contracts. His perspective on “The Art of Sales” was especially impactful, reminding us that sales don’t end when a client says “yes” but actually begin at that moment. Another key takeaway was the concept of Return on Engagement (ROE)—a term I had previously associated with “Return on Events” in the event industry. This fresh perspective reinforced how engagement plays a crucial role in driving results, beyond just the financial return. Gary’s Rule of Three also stood out, differing from the common event design principle of grouping elements in threes for aesthetic balance. Instead, his framework challenged us to strategically present and communicate ideas in a way that maximizes impact and persuasiveness. The session provided invaluable tools for solopreneurs and event professionals alike, offering practical techniques for refining sales approaches, strengthening client relationships, and elevating the overall event experience. I highly recommend this webinar to anyone looking to enhance their sales mindset and rethink the way they engage with clients and stakeholders.

Gary recently delivered an excellent session at the Convention Sales Professionals International (CSPI) 2025 Micro Conference. From championing the gold standard of being easy to do business with to serving both internal and external customers, the session was highly engaging and well received. Gary’s ability to help us “twist the familiar” and view our roles through a fresh lens truly resonated. I highly recommend Gary for any team looking to recharge their sales approach with real, actionable takeaways.

It is my great pleasure to recommend Gary Hernbroth to you and your organization. As a featured presenter at CSPI’s 2025 Micro Conference, Gary offered our audience a thoughtful and engaging presentation filled with fantastic ideas that resonated with our association members on approaching their work with fresh ideas to “twist the familiar” and make their message resonate in today’s market. Gary’s approach and engaging presentation offered our audience an educational program filled with fantastic strategies and practical advice. Our audience has been enthusiastically positive about the session as well as Gary’s natural ability to engage an audience. Our association looks forward to working again in the future and recommend him to you and your group as a keynote or as a session facilitator.

We were fortunate to have Gary Hernbroth from Training for Winners as a featured speaker at our annual sales, marketing and revenue conference this year. With our conference theme centered around "Stellar," Gary seamlessly integrated his unique approach from his book "Twist the Familiar" into a highly impactful session titled "Standing Out Like a Bright Star in a Crowded Sky." Gary engaged our team with his dynamic delivery, blending his "conditioning coaching" with actionable sales strategies. His focus on Emotional Intelligence resonated with our audience, providing both personal and professional insights that our sellers and general managers immediately applied to their day-to-day interactions. The feedback was unanimous: Gary's session was a crowd favorite, standing out for its high energy, and lasting takeaways. What truly set Gary apart was his ability to help our team build their own "Stellar Playbook," equipping them with practical tools to navigate both the controllable and uncontrollable aspects of sales. From enhancing prospecting techniques to mastering the art of consultative selling, Gary's session elevated our team's mindset and skill set. On a personal note, Gary and I have a long history of collaboration. We first worked together over 20 years ago when I was in a different role, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. After two decades, we finally found the perfect opportunity to partner again, and he absolutely did not disappoint. I highly recommend Gary Hernbroth to any organization looking to inspire their teams, sharpen their sales acumen, and deliver lasting value through thoughtful, emotionally intelligent training. His blend of humor, expertise, and genuine care for his audience made a lasting impression on our entire team. Please reach out if I can provide any further details on Gary or his work.

We had the pleasure of working with Gary in the past and were eager to have him present to our Lansing hospitality folks again because of his passion and enthusiasm for the hospitality industry. Gary was so thorough from our initial conversation all the way to our last leading up to his presentation. He listened intently and specifically geared his presentation to our audience. And wow, did Gary deliver! He brought energy to the room and left attendees rejuvenated and inspired to do more. Needless to say, we received rave reviews from our attendees after Gary's presentation!

For a few years, Gary and I have been trying to work together. After our schedules finally worked, I was glad they did as Gary hit it out of the park with our attendees! His session on supplier/planner relations was scheduled for 60 minutes, but could have easily gone longer. The open, honest conversations he pushed for were the perfect start to the conference. Detail oriented, Gary ensures he has all the information correct before the event and quickly follows up as applicable post event. He engaged with the attendees on site and was always willing to be present as needed.

I've had the opportunity to work with Gary Hernbroth on four separate occasions at four different hotels for sales training. The reason I keep hiring Gary? Because he is simply the best in the industry! His training is relevant, engaging and customized and that is hard to come by in our industry. My job depends on ensuring the sales teams I lead are performing at a high level and Gary helps give me job security! He's a professional that's been in the trenches and understands what challenges we face on a daily basis. I've seen him stay razor sharp and relevant throughout the years and I would recommend Gary Hernbroth (Training for Winners) to anyone looking to improve sales performance and accountability. I look forward to working with Gary many more times in the future.

Gary helped make our Smart Meetings event a huge success. Gary was great to work with over the planning process for this meeting. Gary is a true professional. He is a wonderful meeting speaker because he engages your attendees like no other. I love the way Gary gets a conversation going in a ballroom and draws out attendee passion. His discussions tackle tough issues and he gives you solutions to get the job done — that's rare! Gary is fun, approachable, and puts a rare spin on sales and meeting planning. I love to hear him speak, and you will too! We look forward to working with Gary again in the future.

We call Gary our customer service and performance strength and conditioning coach, as he has helped us transform our attitudes, as well as our processes, products, and procedures. We have made measurable, across-the-board improvements...Gary did this by giving us the tools and concepts to improve... He got in the trenches with our front-line staff and worked with them as

Gary recently spoke at our industry partner Town Hall. His presentation focused on utilizing our new brand, Syracuse, Do Your Thing, in our sales efforts and how to Do Our Thing for our customers. Our hoteliers and facilities loved Gary's energy, enthusiasm and delivery! They were engaged throughout the presentation and thoroughly enjoyed the interactive exercises. I was able to take the ideas and feedback to move towards a sales plan for next year. Gary's experience in the hospitality industry and his preparation and customization of our needs made him a huge success for our destination. I would highly recommend him and will definitely invite Gary back to Syracuse for future projects!

I am the Education Coordinator for Business Opportunities for the Blind. We are a not for profit that is contracted by the State of Virginia to provide management services, training and education for blind business owners under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. I reached out to Gary Hernbroth with the intention to add some excitement to our annual meeting as well as to integrate applied business techniques to improve our current operator's business models. Gary, throughout this experience, was more than an event planner could hope for. He took the time to ask thoughtful questions, listened to what type of group I had and also tailored our event to our unique learning environment. Being that our business owners are legally blind and range from partial impairment to total impairment, he was able to add the dimension of physical experience to our seminar. He did the research of what options were out there and took the time to really dive deep for them to feel and experience. On the day of our event he reviewed the location and the points of contact just to ensure that when our time with him came it would be seamless in its transitions. Not only was he able to make sure the behind the scenes were solid; he was updating me on any potential road block or interesting additive to our seminar. It was wonderful how well he communicated things so there were no surprises. During my time planning this large event I had my share of hurdles and obstacles but Gary was able to make me feel like his area was solid the entire planning process and execution. There was no need for me worry about his part of our weekend. He truly made a potentially stressful weekend flawless and superseded the expectation of a really hard to impress group. Gary gave a group that thought he had nothing new that they did not already know from their 30+ years' experience a breath of fresh air, an arsenal of ideas, and golden nuggets to take back to their business.

As the Programs Chair for the 2015 Joint Education Conference for The Society of Government Meeting Professionals I was looking to hire a speaker, and it was the committee's lucky day when I found Gary Hernbroth! Gary customized his keynote presentation to fit our diverse membership of hospitality industry representatives. He creatively embraced our specific theme, Road Map to Education, with humor and insight. The evaluations show that Gary was a hit! He provided the attendees with great tools and resources to map out their own road map to success for a variety of personal and professional goals. Both sessions fit the national organization's Leadership core competency skill set. The interaction Gary had with attendees in both sessions helped solidify his message of reaching one's goals by being prepared for the trip, no matter what. In fact, I had lunch a week after the JEC with someone who had attended both of his sessions, and she was still gushing about what she gained from his sessions! There is no doubt that Gary's services will be requested by us again. In fact, I have encouraged Gary to be a speaker at the SGMP national education conference in order to share his great insights with our national membership. I highly recommend Gary as an effective and engaging keynote speaker, mentor, coach, and facilitator. He will deliver the goods!

While Gary bills himself as a "strength and conditioning coach," what he doesn't tell you is how strong he is at engaging and motivating a team, too. He had my team revved up and ready to sell with renewed energy and purpose. During our afternoon with clients and hotel partners he kept the conversation going and was not afraid to deal with any controversy... extremely beneficial for our hotel partners to hear - but it also helped to bond the community together to find new ways to service and "wow" our customers. Gary is a very knowledgeable speaker and hospitality and sales professional who would be an asset to any type of team either inside or outside of our industry. I would highly recommend Gary.

I am very confident and proud in writing this recommendation for Gary Hernbroth. We retained him for a program for our CVB sales team and our community partners, and found him to be very generous with his time to learn our needs prior to the training, during the actual event, and in the follow up. Gary is highly skilled and has a vast amount of experience as well as knowledge of our industry, and he presented the material in a very accessible way. It is notable how Gary goes the extra mile to make sure the audience fully comprehends the principles behind the processes. I, as well as our other colleagues, find him to be very approachable and warm. You can search out there and you'll find it's rare to have a speaker that can be as dedicated, as knowledgeable, and as passionate as Gary is. Without a doubt, I would highly recommend Gary and it is why we retained his services for a second year!

I attended an educational conference recently and thought "Oh, another round of boring speakers," but Gary Hernbroth was anything but that. Funny, warm, and engaging were just a few of the comments I heard from other attendees after his session concluded. If you are looking for someone to inspire your attendees, Gary would be a wonderful addition to any group's agenda.

I hired Gary for a short lunch general session and he hit it out of the park. The topic was customer service and the audience was a mix of hotel owners and staff from large and small lodging properties and vendors. He had them laughing and also shared entertaining stories that drove his points home. Gary is easy to work with and can take minimal direction and run with it. I recommend you check him out for your next conference!

I have had the pleasure of working with Gary during conferences in the past, yet in this particular session, "What? Me, A Salesperson?" he left our attendees energetic and enthusiastic about the tools they gained during the pre-conference session. Not only did Gary create an engaging learning environment but he captivated our audience from start to end with real world examples, relevant scenarios, and training tools that could be implemented immediately. Gary's passion and professional expertise makes him a exceptional speaker.

Gary was great to work with (SMART MEETINGS New Orleans)... the feedback we received was phenomenal. Gary was great to work with, and he is a true professional. He is a wonderful meeting's speaker because he knows so much about the industry, and engages your attendees like no other. I love the way Gary gets a conversation going in a ballroom and draws out attendee passion. His discussions tackle tough issues and give you solutions to get the job done -- that's rare! Gary is fun, approachable, and puts a rare spin on sales and meeting planning, too. I love to hear him speak and you will too!

Thank you Gary for sharing your expertise, knowledge and leadership insights during today's webinar. The way in which you presented and the examples you used were very relatable and kept our attendees engaged. We appreciate your professionalism and the value you brought to our members! Really great job!

Gary has spoken at several live Connect events before, but my first time working directly with him was last week for our fully virtual event, Connect Cyber. Gary was very organized leading up to the event. Not for one minute did I question his professionalism or the quality of material that he was going to present to our attendees. His session was seamless from the beginning to the end, and our attendees responded great to it!

After years in the hospitality industry, it truly is, "who you know." #networkingworks I had the honor of interviewing Gary Hernbroth for a virtual class presentation on hospitality traits and trends for my courses at Orange Coast College. It was fantastic to get time with Gary to reconnect and hear his industry insights for our future leaders in Hospitality, Travel, & Tourism. Gary is a skilled professional speaker, trainer, and business coach. I personally love his boots on the ground, you've got to live-it-to-know-it approach. He's inspired many professionals and students over the years and is an active mentor for his alma mater at Michigan State University. Thank you again, Gary!

I have known Gary throughout the years - we have both been in the hospitality industry 30+years. I had the pleasure of working with him as a trainer years ago when I was involved with MPI. Today I experienced Gary as a facilitator of a panel I participated on. Gary is a trained professional who is quite adept at the nuances of facilitation. He set the panel up for success with a pre-interview and a lot of good information. During the presentation itself, he was able to show his mastery by steering the conversation when it needed to be. By getting interactive with the audience and by making the panelists feel comfortable and supported. I would highly recommend Gary as either a trainer or a facilitator, his level of expertise is hard to find.

I am very pleased to provide this letter of recommendation for Gary Hernbroth and Training for Winners. Gary served as the keynote speaker for our StepStone Hospitality annual conference. Gary did an excellent job of “bringing home” our meeting in the closing session and wrapping everything together with his own unique tailored approach. He took the time in advance of the conference to speak with key members of our team to understand our theme and goals for the meeting as well as joined for the teambuilding session of the meeting to get to know members of the team personally. Gary’s message really resonated with the team, tying in real life scenarios and experiences. It was motivational and left us with takeaways to bring back to our teams. I would highly recommend Gary’s as a guest speaker and would utilize his services again.

Meeting Sites Pro would like to thank Gary Herbroth of Training for Winners for being a speaker and panelist on our once a month Live Meetings Updates webinar. Gary is a true professional and spoke well has he shared his wisdom and insight into a few in-person meetings he had recently attended and spoke at during Covid. His material was useful and current to our shows needs. Gary's presentation style is engaging, professional, focused and motivating. I welcome future opportunities to partner with Gary as I know he will deliver value and insightful information in an inspiring manner. Thank you, Gary.