The Hotel Whisperer, Bloomington, IL (2026)

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵: 𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 🌟

Ever felt like something was missing, even at the peak of your career? That was me, in an executive role at a Fortune 50 company. I realized there had to be more, leading me to refocus on my core values and passions, redefining my life to align with what truly matters. Growing up, my Grandma Gail taught me the power of authenticity and acceptance. Her adventurous spirit inspired me to embrace my true self, a lesson that has guided my journey ever since. Today, I dedicate myself to helping others through two distinct yet interconnected paths: 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴. As the founder of Down-To-Earth Insights, I empower women leaders to embrace authenticity and lead with confidence. My coaching is rooted in values-based methodologies, emphasizing honesty and genuine connection. Also, as an independent licensee with HelmsBriscoe, I leverage my extensive experience to assist clients in finding the perfect venues for their events. Whether it's a corporate meeting, a coaching retreat, or a special celebration, I ensure the site selection process is seamless and stress-free, all at 𝗡𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗧 to you. My services include site research, sourcing, and negotiating favorable contract terms.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗠𝘆 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 📚

I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming book, set to release in April 2025. Writing has always been a dream of mine, inspired by my grandfather, who was a writer himself. This book delves into themes of self-empowerment and authentic leadership, offering insights and inspiration for those navigating life's challenges. It's about the kind of growth that comes from choosing yourself and redefining your path. And the ripple effect of following my passions? My 11-year-old niece was so inspired that she's writing a children's book alongside me, also releasing in April 2025.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 🔗

You might wonder how coaching and hotel sourcing fit together. Remarkably, both require keen listening, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to fulfilling others' needs. Let's embark on this journey together. Whether you're looking to enhance your leadership skills or plan a memorable event, I'm here to support you. Click the ‘Book an Appointment’ button on my profile for a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 or 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

07/31/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯.
You need one because you’ve got bigger things to handle.

I led a Fortune 40 event team for years. Thousands of events. Big incentives. High-stakes conferences. We thought our relationships meant we were getting the best deals.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵?
We were getting comfortable deals.

When we started working with HelmsBriscoe, everything changed:
• Stronger contracts
• New venues we’d never considered
• Negotiation leverage we weren’t using
• Measurable savings for the first time

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗜’𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗺𝘀𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗲—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀:

I don’t replace you.
I make you look brilliant.

While you lead strategy and stakeholders, I handle:
• Venue research
• Negotiations that protect you
• Contract follow-up and timing
• The details that quietly eat your week

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯: Vision, experience, outcomes
𝗠𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗯: Everything venue-related

And yes—my services cost you nothing. Hotels pay me.

You’ve got too much on your plate to be Googling hotels.
Let me take that off your list.

🎯 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱?

📲 DM me or book a call—let’s simplify this.

07/26/2026

💡 "𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗯."

I hear this from event planners all the time.

Me: "I help planners find venues."
Them: "That's literally my job."

Then I explain how it actually works…
And 💡 — the lightbulb goes on.

"Wait… you do the research, negotiations, and site visits… I make the final decision… and it costs my company NOTHING?"

Yes. Exactly.

𝗜'𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯.
𝗜'𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

✔ More venue options (without more hours)
✔ Negotiated rates without endless back-and-forth
✔ Fewer surprises and hidden fees
✔ Your evenings back

As one planner said: "You help me work smarter, not harder."

Because every hour spent comparing room blocks is an hour not spent on strategy, creativity, and guest experience.

Yes, you already do this.
But should you be doing ALL of it?

💬 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳?

06/26/2026

🌿 Whispered Again: A Retreat That Welcomes Every Generation

Year after year, same group, same mission, same hotel. That's not an accident.

Just whispered the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport again for a spiritual family retreat of more than 200 people — and once again, it proved to be the perfect fit.

This retreat spans generations — kids, teens, young adults, parents, seniors — all together, with programming for each. That's what makes it special. And why the venue choice really matters.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲:
• Expansive, flexible meeting space to support multiple programs simultaneously
• Allows outside catering — essential for this group
• Minutes from the airport for those flying in
• Easily drivable from several major East Coast cities

I know this hotel well, as it's about five miles from my old house. I've seen firsthand how consistently it delivers for large, meaningful gatherings like this one.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁:
✔️ Continuity for a beloved annual event
✔️ Logistics for a large, diverse audience
✔️ Flexibility without sacrificing accessibility

This is what long-term sourcing partnerships look like. When the venue fits the mission, you don't have to start from scratch every year.

Planning a retreat or recurring event? Let's talk. 💛

📅 Book a call ⬇️

🎯 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 "𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲" 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲?

06/19/2026

🌍 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱: 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗱

Madrid is a city I know well.

But this event? It needed more than just me.

One of my large corporate clients came to me with a program in Spain: international attendees, a tight price point, and space requirements that couldn't be fudged.

So I called in reinforcements.

I partnered with HelmsBriscoe associates on the ground in Europe. Local eyes. Real-time market intel. The kind of insight you only get from people who know the city inside and out.

We explored multiple options. Pressure-tested the details. Took our time to get it right.

The result? 𝗡𝗛 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

What my client actually gained:
✔️ The right venue at the right price
✔️ Local expertise without juggling multiple contacts
✔️ Confidence that nothing slipped through the cracks

This is the power of HelmsBriscoe. When you work with me, you don't just get one expert—you get access to over 1,600 associates worldwide, collaborating to find the best solution for your event. Wherever it's happening.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲? Global reach with local knowledge.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲? There isn't one. 😉

Planning a global meeting, conference, or incentive? You don't have to know every market. That's my job. 💛

🎯 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻?

05/29/2026

🌸 Whispered & Secured | May Fridays

Bridal Week Hotel #3: Martinique New York on Broadway

The third courtesy block was held at one of my favorite boutique-style options for events like this.

The Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton, offered something a little different.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲:
• Boutique feel with personality and style
• A great option for smaller teams looking for something less traditional
• Central location with character that fits the creative energy of Bridal Week

This hotel rounded out the strategy perfectly. Three very different properties. Three distinct experiences. One smart approach that protected the client while giving designers a real choice.

This is why I rarely recommend a one-size-fits-all solution during citywide events. When you understand what your attendees actually need, you can build something better than "here's your hotel."

🎯 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘀, 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻?

05/28/2026

Event planning is basically improv.

8pm the night before our annual conference. Phone rings.

"Our keynote's father just passed. She can't make it."

My client's face went white. 1100 people arriving at 8:30am. No keynote.

I said the only thing that mattered: "Yes, and..."

Yes, our keynote can't be here. And we're creating something to replace it — a panel of your own experts who've been sitting in the audience this whole time.

Yes, the panel isn't aware of this yet. And we're doing it as "Ask the CEO" instead — raw, real, unscripted.

Yes, this wasn't the plan. And it became the highest-rated session we've ever done.

The CEO crushed it. The audience loved the authenticity. Three subject matter experts became company heroes that day.

Behind the scenes: chaos.
On stage: calm.

After 30+ years, I've learned the events people talk about aren't the perfect ones.

They're the ones where we all held our breath and made it work anyway.

That's not chaos. That's the job.

What's your best "yes, and" moment?

Address

Bloomington, IL
61705

Website

https://kristenchimack.com/, https://www.helmsbriscoe.com/associates/kchimack

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