Yvette Campbell is known as a “meeting broker.” She says the title couldn’t be more apropos. An independently contracted planner working under the umbrella of Meetings Made Easy, Campbell can source and assist with contract negotiations for hotels, among other services.
“We’re actually almost like a realtor,” she says. “We go between the person selling, which is the hotel, and the client.” Meetings Made Easy recently relocated its head office from Las Vegas to Detroit. The company also just opened a destination management company (DMC) in Detroit to assist with event staffing, on-site execution, transportation, design, planning, and all the logistics.
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Campbell spent years working in hotels—in food and beverage, banquet management, group sales, and marketing—in California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. Like many in hospitality, she was thrown a curveball during the COVID-19 pandemic with a layoff that she turned into a chance to reinvent herself. After interviewing with Meetings Made Easy owner Mike Ferreira, she decided to take a leap of faith and accept the role.
Campbell stays current on properties by attending sponsored events and national and international trade shows, making connections along the way. “So, when my clients ask me, ‘Do you know where we should go in Detroit?’ I can say, ‘Absolutely, there’s a new JW Marriott hotel opening in 2027 that is connected to the convention center, the Element opening at the end of 2026, and [there are] iconic hotels like the Westin Book Cadillac.’”
Once a property has been identified, Campbell handles the nitty-gritty of contract negotiations. “Clients don’t realize how much money they’re wasting by not negotiating prior to contract,” she says, citing resort fees, audiovisual, and even parking as areas where costs can be trimmed. “If you’ve done business with the same hotel for 10 years, you think you’re getting a great deal. Probably, if I looked at the contract, I could think of 15 things you’re missing out on.”
She also works with DMCs, convention and visitors bureaus, transportation providers, and other organizations as needed. “We pride ourselves in connecting people who need to know each other,” she says.
If she has learned anything in her role, Campbell says, it is patience—and to give without expecting anything back. “I love negotiating,” she says. “And I love working with people—helping them create amazing events, choose the best properties, and making them look amazing in front of their peers.”
