Hospitality Is the Job. Everything Else Is the Detail.
Written by Michael Cerbelli
As we step into a new year, I want to start by wishing everyone a healthy, joyful, and meaningful New Year.
This year marks my 49th year in the events and hospitality industry. Almost half a century of creating moments, memories, and experiences. Even now, that still gives me pause when I say it out loud.
I want to start with something personal.
Years ago, I bought a domain name. I never used it. Never built a website. It just sat there quietly, waiting. It was called wowoevents.com.
WOWO is something I’ve said to new people for years. It stands for Wax On, Wax Off.
For many of us, that phrase wasn’t just from a movie. It was a lesson. A mindset. A reminder that mastery doesn’t happen all at once. You learn by doing. By repeating. By asking questions. By trusting the process even when you don’t yet see the outcome. And one day, it clicks.
That philosophy shaped my entire career.
My path has been unorthodox. I’ve never done things exactly the way others do. I love what we create, and I love the people we create for. But early on, I learned something important. What I love isn’t a hobby. It’s a career. And careers require commitment, curiosity, and care.
Many people are drawn to this industry because of what they see on the surface. The beautiful rooms. The lights. The fashion. The energy. The glamour.
And yes, those moments are real and they’re wonderful.
But what makes an event truly special lives underneath that surface. The preparation. The intention. The teamwork. The responsibility of knowing that what you’re creating will live on in someone’s memory long after the night ends.
We’re fortunate to create experiences for influential people, families, and organizations. With that comes trust. And with trust comes accountability.
This industry will challenge you. Not because it’s unforgiving, but because it asks you to care deeply.
The moments when it looks quiet are often the moments when the most thinking, planning, and problem-solving are happening behind the scenes. When the doors open, it’s live. That’s part of the thrill. That’s also part of the responsibility.
One of my favorite things is working on multi-day or multi-wave events. You get to watch people move through a space. You learn what resonates. You refine. You improve. You make the experience better each time.
That lesson applies far beyond events. It’s how careers grow. It’s how people grow.
You never stop learning in this business. You never stop adjusting. You never stop getting better.
Hospitality is the job. Everything else is the detail.
And detail is where the real magic lives.
Detail is thinking about every moment from arrival to departure. It’s risk management, yes, but it’s also empathy. It’s how the lighting feels, how a room flows, where people naturally gather. It’s the small, thoughtful choices that make someone feel seen.
Detail is also conversation. Real conversation.
We pick up the phone. We talk to our partners. We explain who the client is and why this moment matters. Whether it’s a private home, a milestone celebration, or a once-in-a-lifetime event, the people supporting it need to understand the meaning behind it.
This industry isn’t about chasing the next photo. It’s about building trust with the people who stand beside you in the work. When everyone understands the vision, the expectations, and the responsibility, great things happen.
Balance matters too.
I have a beautiful wife, incredible children, and grandchildren I adore. I have close friends in this industry who celebrate life together, share stories, and support one another. I work alongside leaders who balance travel, family, and responsibility with grace.
What I admire most are people who build full lives while staying present to their work. People who understand that there’s always another event coming, but who approach that reality with calm, pride, and preparation rather than fear.
Because when the moment arrives, it deserves your full attention. There’s no redo. But there’s also no greater reward than knowing you gave it everything you had.
We do this work because creating memories matters.
When someone stops me years later and says, “That day is still special to me,” I’m reminded why this industry exists. Because moments matter. Because people remember how they felt. Because what we create can live on through photos, stories, and shared memories long after the night is over.
It reminds me of It’s a Wonderful Life. How you rarely see the full impact of your work in the moment. How showing up, caring deeply, and doing things the right way quietly touches more lives than you ever realize.
As we enter a new year, and my 49th in this business, I’m grateful. For the lessons. For the mentors. For the teams. And for the opportunity to continue creating.
And here’s what I want to say most clearly.
I believe deeply in the future of this industry. I believe in the next generation of professionals who want to build something meaningful together. People who value teamwork, communication, and craftsmanship. People who think about the entire experience, from the front door to the loading dock, from lighting to catering, from linens to handwritten notes.
If that level of care excites you, if curiosity and collaboration drive you, there is a place for you in this world.
Read this not as a warning, but as an invitation.
Because just as much as I hope to inspire the next generation, I’m excited to be inspired by them too.
Wax on. Wax off. Learn. Work. Care. Repeat.
Happy New Year. M