Congratulations to Heike Strohmann, one of nine Global Conference scholarship recipients.
Heike will be attending our 2026 Global Conference in Abu Dhabi thanks to the generous support of SITE Foundation.
Here is Heike’s winning essay, focused on turning dreams into reality.
The hum of machinery was supposed to be my future.
In my small German hometown, everyone expected me to take over my mother’s precision instruments factory. Yet, while others heard the rhythm of industry, I dreamed of chandeliers shaking during a Phantom of the Opera gala in Paris.
Impossible dream? Every incentive professional knows the power of transformation!
This is the story of how a chance encounter with incentives turned that impossible dream into my life’s purpose.
From a factory floor in Germany to ballrooms in Paris, they did more than give me a career — they gave me transformation taking me from factories to five-star ballrooms, from employee to entrepreneur, and from dreamer to SITE leader. And how now, as SITE France President, I have the privilege of giving that transformation back.
From the hum of machinery to the spark of a dream
I grew up in a small German town whose rhythm was set by the textile industry.
My path seemed clear: I would follow in my mother’s footsteps and take over her company producing textile precision measurement instruments.
My childhood was filled with trade shows, factory visits, and the hum of machinery—an orderly, precise world that shaped my work ethic but never matched my inner aspirations.
While I respected that heritage, I secretly dreamed of a different life: international glamour, elegant cocktails, and the magic of global encounters.
To me, it seemed distant and almost unattainable. Yet even in those days, I searched for ways to escape the boundaries of my small-town destiny.
Parallel to my studies, I immersed myself in cooking competitions, pouring my energy into creativity rather than precision.
To my surprise and delight, I won several awards for best German workmanship and culinary talent.
These victories gave me a taste of recognition and opened a door I could never have imagined: a sponsorship for a fast-track program in hotel management with Hilton in London.
The escape hatch: from small-town precision to discovering incentives in London
Leaving Germany for London was the true beginning of my international life.
At Hilton, I discovered the grand world of hotels and, most importantly, a segment I had never heard of before: incentives. These groups seemed different, more vibrant, more creative than any other.
I volunteered to support them, offering extra assistance and learning by doing. I quickly became known as the “incentive specialist” at the hotel. It was my epiphany—this was where I belonged.
From precision instruments in Germany, I had transformed into a hotelier with a passion for incentives.
Finding my stage: Parisian nights and US friendships
My career soon brought me to Paris, to the legendary Le Grand Hôtel (IHG). There, I polished my French and began welcoming US incentive groups.
It was exhilarating. I was part of building structures tailored for the American incentive market, making sure every detail reflected both Parisian elegance and American expectations.
Some of my longest-standing friendships with US clients began in those years—nights when I was literally running across the ballroom floor, making the crystal chandeliers tremble for a Phantom of the Opera gala dinner, or working hand in hand with decorators to create a “Welcome to France” extravaganza.
These moments were more than hospitality. They were about creating unforgettable experiences, and they marked me forever.
The constant in my career: US incentives at the heart
Yet challenges came too: navigating demanding clients, balancing cultures, keeping up with ever-rising expectations.
From IHG to Starwood and then to Marriott, my career advanced from operations to sales, but one constant remained: my true love for US incentive business.
Incentives were not just a professional path; they had become my identity.
COVID and the industry on pause: building a SITE chapter in the storm
Then came COVID. Overnight, the world of incentives—the heartbeat of my career—came to a halt. No events, no travel, no celebrations. For many of us, it was a period of uncertainty and silence.
But COVID also became the spark for something new. For years, a few colleagues and I had talked about reviving a French SITE chapter, but the idea had never materialized. During the pandemic, we decided: now or never.
It was not easy. Convincing even 20 French professionals to join this “unknown association” called SITE during a global shutdown felt impossible. But we persevered. We believed in the mission. And we did it.
Today, SITE France has grown to 55 members, organizes at least four events per year, and enjoys strong visibility in the French market.
For the past two years, I have had the honor of serving as its President. Beyond France, I also contribute to SITE’s European Task Force, helping to strengthen the association’s presence across the continent.
Through SITE, I discovered not only a network but also a community — a place where passion, creativity, and collaboration converge. It became the perfect home for someone like me who had once left precision instruments behind to follow a dream of international connection.
A leap of faith: from hotelier to entrepreneur
In 2025, another transformation arrived.
With the closure of The Westin Paris Vendôme for renovation, my position — like many others — was phased out. After decades in global hotel companies, I faced the challenge of reinvention.
Rather than see it as an ending, I chose to see it as an opportunity. I launched my own consultancy. My mission is twofold:
- To guide US incentive clients bringing groups to France, ensuring they experience the very best of my adopted country.
- To advise French and European suppliers seeking to access the US incentive market, helping them understand the expectations and nuances of that world.
Facing new challenges with confidence
This leap into entrepreneurship is a personal challenge, but it also feels like a natural continuation of my journey.
Incentives have always taught me resilience, creativity, and adaptability. Now, I am applying those same qualities to my new role as an independent consultant.
And through it all, SITE continues to be my anchor. Remaining active in the association allows me to stay connected, visible, and engaged in the global incentive community while navigating this new chapter.
Incentives don’t just reward — they transform
When I look back at my life, I see how deeply incentives have shaped me. They transformed me from a young girl in industrial Germany into a cosmopolitan professional in Paris. They gave me lifelong friendships, a career full of extraordinary moments and now, the courage to start anew.
Incentives are not simply about travel or events. They are about transformation—of people, of teams, of careers. I am living proof of that transformation.
Resilience, reinvention, and new beginnings
Today, I stand at a crossroads. I have the honor of leading SITE France, contributing to SITE Europe, and representing our industry in my home city of Paris.
At the same time, I am embracing the challenge of entrepreneurship, building a consultancy that bridges US clients with the richness of French incentive experiences.
It is a moment of change, but also of opportunity. My story is proof of the resilience and the passion that define the incentive industry.
I believe that, just as incentives shaped who I am, they will continue to guide me into this exciting new chapter.
From transformation to legacy: sharing the power of incentives
From the textile factories of Germany to the ballrooms of Paris, from Hilton trainee to SITE President, from employee to entrepreneur—this is the journey incentives have given me. And so I give back: through SITE, by mentoring young professionals, by growing our French Chapter, and by strengthening SITE awareness around Europe.
My journey is no longer just mine: it belongs to the industry that shaped me.
And if there is one message, I want to leave with you, my colleagues and friends in the global SITE community, it is this: incentives don’t just reward people. They transform them. They transformed me — and they will continue to shape who I become in this exciting next chapter.
And now, as SITE President France and independent consultant I have the privilege of giving that transformation back — proof that what once seemed an impossible dream can become a legacy that inspires others.
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