Convene’s Ryan Simonetti on Premium Workspaces, IRL Experiences & the Future of Business Travel

In this episode of The Layover, we sit down with Ryan Simonetti, president and CEO of Convene Hospitality Group, to explore the evolving intersection of hospitality, work, lifestyle, and travel. From his early roots around restaurants and hospitality through his father’s Martin’s potato roll delivery business to building one of the leading platforms for premium meetings, events, and flexible workspaces, Ryan shares how Convene is redefining where—and how—people come together.Ryan unpacks how Convene Hospitality Group is building spaces designed for a world where the lines between business travel, lifestyle, community, and experience are increasingly blurred.Ryan breaks down how CHG is:Turning meetings and conferences into experience-driven gatheringsDesigning premium workspaces through a hospitality-first lensUsing human-centered design to support productivity, connection, and brand identityReimagining third spaces for entrepreneurs, creators, and modern teamsBringing NeueHouse into its next chapter as a home for the curious and creativeScaling thoughtfully across markets while preserving high-touch service and local nuanceThe conversation also explores the rise of IRL experiences in an AI-driven world, the transformation of business travel, the importance of design in workplace culture, and why the future of conferences may look more like festivals, private dinners, wellness breakouts, and curated cultural moments.Whether you’re a founder, hospitality operator, event strategist, business traveler, or someone thinking about the future of work, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how premium spaces can help people gather with more purpose, creativity, and connection.🏢 Learn MoreExplore Convene Hospitality Group, Convene, and NeueHouse, or follow Ryan Simonetti on LinkedIn for more on the future of hospitality, work, and experience.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/convenehospitalitygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convene-hospitality-group/ Ryan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-simonetti/