ACG Minnesota Monthly Luncheon - Trends in the Hospitality Industry

David Benowitz is President and Co-Owner of Craft & Crew Hospitality, a growing restaurant group in the Twin Cities. After graduating from the business school at the University of Kansas, David quickly realized that the corporate world didn't move fast enough for him - so he joined his father in the restaurant business. Over the last 19 years, he has opened or re-concepted nine unique bar/restaurants while building and establishing the Craft & Crew brand as a leader in this community. David's commitment to intentional leadership, corporate culture, and employee growth has created an organization in which both salaried and hourly employees are aligned with the mission and success of the stores they serve

Steve has always been an entrepreneur and designer at heart, so he created a hospitality enterprise, Entourage Events Group, that provides end-to-end singular hospitality-driven events and productions with my seasoned team of experts and resources. Steve thrives on growing his business in collaboration with his team, clients and communities. Steve wants your experience with Entourage Events Group should reflect his passion to deliver the highest level of service and hospitality.

From the national, expansive and complex to bespoke customized weddings, our venues provide the perfect setting for our team to imagine your unique event. Hark is particularly proud of Entourage’s production division, EDG Productions and its specialty in producing large, "A-List" level events in some of the most unique and historic locations throughout the Twin Cities and across North America. Hark added Event Production capabilities to the Entourage portfolio as blue-chip clients continually asked for more... the experience beyond premium food and beverage hospitality.

Steve has his degree in Construction Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has been designing and building out well-designed and eye-catching spaces specifically created for hosting singular events for the last decade. In 2019 he introduced his latest culinary design innovation is a 53 foot fully decked travelling culinary operation aptly named The Kitchen. This capable kitchen facility allows Entourage to truly provide food and beverage hospitality anywhere in North America.

Chris Mumm is a business lawyer at Monroe Moxness Berg PA (MMB) where he represents many entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the country. Chris and his firm have established a strong reputation for helping clients navigate the complex and dynamic hospitality industry: For more than 30 years, many of America’s best-known concepts and emerging brands have relied on the team at MMB for their legal and financial acumen. Chris has deep experience with ever-changing and challenging business issues facing the hospitality industry, from single-location operators to large, multi-unit, multi-jurisdictional companies. In addition to being an attorney, Chris has prior experience as a licensed investment banker, which affords him the opportunity to pair his legal background with his financial expertise. Chris resides in Minneapolis and has been blessed to work with some of the most creative and influential restauranteurs in the region, including serving as a Board member of The Charlie Awards (an annual awards ceremony for the Twin Cities-area restaurant, food and beverage industry).

As the Director of Residences at Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis, Mark James Syputa is responsible for the property’s stylish residential living spaces, including a unique collection of 34 Private Residences. In this role, he provides operational oversight on all aspects of the intuitive, intelligent services provided by a dedicated team of professionals. After starting his luxury hospitality career nearly two decades ago in Chicago, Mark pursued his passion to explore new places and cultures and moved overseas in 2008 to open Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita as the Residences Manager. Shortly thereafter, he went on to serve as Regional Director of Residences, offering oversight for Four Seasons Private Residences in Seychelles, Marrakech and Sharm El Sheikh.

An Illinois native, Mark saw Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis as a special opportunity to return to his Midwestern roots, now with almost 20 years of international luxury experience. “It is my both my unique pleasure and my proud responsibility to build the Minnesotan values of honesty, integrity and character into every aspect of our Residential services,” he says.

 “Anyone can learn the latest luxury trends or memorize the finest wine list, but you have to whole-heartedly embrace the Golden Rule – to treat others as you wish to be treated – to be successful with Four Seasons.”

Mark graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.