Shortly after the pandemic, as the tourism and hospitality industries were finally beginning to gather in person again, a mountain event brought together many familiar faces. For many attendees, it was the first time reconnecting with colleagues in several years. Conversations flowed easily as people shared stories from the past few challenging seasons and began looking ahead to the industry’s future.
During the event, one conversation turned to marketing. When a fellow attendee mentioned working in the field, the discussion naturally shifted toward talented professionals in the industry. One name immediately came to mind, someone widely respected for her work, leadership, and reputation for excellence. The recommendation was enthusiastic, though with one small complication: the exact name momentarily escaped memory. Even so, her impressive career and contributions to the industry were described with genuine admiration.
The woman listened graciously, thanked the speaker for the suggestion, and the conversation carried on as networking conversations often do: easy, friendly, and full of shared professional interest.
It wasn’t until several hours later, after returning home and casually checking social media, that the moment took on new meaning. The highly recommended professional, described earlier with such enthusiasm, turned out to be the very person from that conversation: Jessica Harcombe Fleming, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications at Pursuit, previously with Tartanbond and Travel Alberta.
For a brief moment, the realization brought a wave of embarrassment. After all, part of her own career had just been described to her without realizing she was the subject of the praise. Yet throughout the entire exchange, she had simply listened with warmth and grace, never interrupting or revealing the coincidence.
The initial embarrassment quickly gave way to a more meaningful reflection. Moments like this highlight the value of speaking openly about the people doing exceptional work within an industry. Celebrating colleagues, recommending talented professionals, and recognizing excellence, even when the person being praised may be standing right beside you.
Those are precisely the kinds of conversations that strengthen professional communities.
In industries like tourism and hospitality, where relationships and collaboration play such an important role, genuine advocacy carries real impact. When professionals lift each other up, share recommendations, and acknowledge great work without expectation, it creates a culture of mutual respect and support.
Perhaps that is the real takeaway: sincere praise doesn’t need to be strategic or carefully positioned. When admiration is authentic and freely given, it helps build stronger networks, deeper trust, and a more generous professional community one conversation at a time.
Sean Horvath is a hospitality and luxury logistics leader, Les Clefs d’Or recognized, known for delivering complex, high-touch travel with event experiences at scale while combining strategic rigor with a lifelong passion for service, storytelling, and community impact.
