New Chapter: How Convene Plans To Scale Its Global Experiential Footprint

The future of meetings isn't defined by space alone but also by the experiences people remember and the ideas they inspire.

At the forefront of this evolution is New York-based Convene Hospitality Group, or CHG. The multibranded hospitality company, which includes Convene, etc. venues and NeueHouse, designs, develops and operates premium meeting, event and flexible office spaces. 

CHG hired Jonathan Ojany in April as its new chief financial and operating officer.

Ojany’s career uniquely prepared him to lead CHG. Combining an architectural engineer’s appreciation for the built environment with leadership roles at McKinsey & Co., The Coca-Cola Co., Yum Brands and InterContinental Hotels Group, he brings a distinctive blend of strategy, finance and operational expertise across consumer and hospitality sectors to accelerate CHG’s growth and enterprise value.

At the heart of Ojany’s leadership philosophy is W.I.T.C.H., or Where Is The Customer Here? It is more than an acronym, he said — it is an unrelenting discipline and a nonnegotiable standard.

“Every decision begins by seeing the world through the customers’ eyes and ends with a singular objective: to deliver an experience worthy of their trust, loyalty and advocacy,” Ojany said.

By staying relentlessly focused on evolving customer needs, Ojany sees a powerful opportunity ahead for CHG. He said that conviction reflects his belief that technology is reshaping how we live and work, but it doesn’t replace the need for human connection — it amplifies it. 

“As digital experiences become more interactive and individualized, the value of coming together becomes even more meaningful and essential, and that’s where CHG leads,” Ojany said. “It is a vision grounded in the enduring human desire to connect, collaborate and belong.”

Investors share that conviction. CHG’s multibrand platform has attracted $230M in strategic financing to support the continued expansion of its experiential events, flexible workspace and lifestyle brands, reinforcing confidence in the company's long-term growth trajectory and category-defining potential.

Ojany’s ambition for CHG extends beyond meetings, events and workplaces. He envisions a portfolio of hospitality brands that transform how people connect, creating destinations where ideas flourish, collective genius is amplified, relationships deepen and communities thrive.

“As technology continues to reshape how we live and work, CHG is harnessing it to elevate human connection and create experiences that inspire collaboration, unlock creativity and bring people together in meaningful ways,” he said.

Bringing that vision to life requires a deep understanding of both the client and attendee experience. While others provide meeting space, CHG begins with a more fundamental question: What outcome is the customer trying to achieve, and how can we help bring it to life?

Whether clients arrive with a fully developed vision or simply a goal they hope to accomplish, CHG partners with them to design and deliver the right experience. The company’s turnkey hospitality platform seamlessly integrates inspiring spaces, chef-curated culinary experiences, state-of-the-art audiovisual production and exceptional service to create gatherings that are purposeful, memorable and effective, Ojany said. 

“Our people-first approach — meeting planners and attendees where they want to be — is paramount to our success,” Ojany said. “From the moment a client shares an idea, we commit to helping transform it into an exceptional experience.”

That focus on outcomes rather than transactions has enabled CHG to build enduring client relationships and industry-leading loyalty.

“Our clients return because we consistently deliver what they need — whether that’s a straightforward meeting or a fully produced event,” Ojany said. “Success is not defined by the scale of the gathering but by how effectively we help our clients achieve their goals.”

For Ojany, staying relevant means continuously evolving alongside clients and communities. Every CHG venue is designed not only to meet changing customer needs but also to reflect the character and spirit of its surroundings.

That philosophy is embodied at Convene’s newest venue at 555 Broadway in the historic SoHo neighborhood of New York City. Rather than imposing a new identity, CHG embraced the neighborhood’s rich “ink and iron” heritage, creating an inspired space in the historic Scholastic building known for its cast-iron architecture and SoHo’s artistic legacy. The result is a destination where people can gather, collaborate and connect in an environment deeply rooted in place.

Speaking at the opening of 555 Broadway earlier this year, Ojany reflected on the significance of the address. “Angel number” 555 is associated with transformation, growth and adaptability, qualities that mirror CHG’s evolution and future ambitions. For Ojany, the symbolism reflects a broader commitment: to evolve alongside the communities CHG serves, to anticipate changing customer needs and to create spaces that inspire connection, creativity and meaningful experiences.

That vision extends far beyond New York. In the UK, CHG recently announced Convene Rathbone, a 54K SF, technology-enabled venue opening in London’s West End in 2027. Located near the city’s thriving technology corridor, the venue will feature immersive innovations including 180-degree projection mapping and street-facing LED walls, demonstrating how CHG uses technology to enhance storytelling, engagement and human connection.

Ojany sees technology, including artificial intelligence, as a powerful enabler of CHG’s next chapter. 

“We can leverage it to make human interaction better,” he said. “Everything from in-venue audiovisual to back-of-house processes, marketing, sales and contracting, and leveraging data and analytics to better understand what our clients want, will help us leapfrog into the next chapter of growth.”

Seventeen years after founder and CEO Ryan Simonetti launched the company, the vision that inspired CHG’s founding continues to guide its future. While the world has changed dramatically, CHG’s commitment to bringing people together remains constant. Today, the company is entering its next chapter: evolving into a global portfolio of hospitality brands that seamlessly combine technology, space and service to create exceptional experiences and unlock the power of human connection.

“The commitment to inspire creativity through collaboration is unwavering,” Ojany said. “We aspire to create meeting experiences that ignite ideas and drive meaningful progress for organizations and communities. At the same time, we seek to create events that leave a lasting impression — experiences that become cherished memories for a lifetime.”

This article was produced in collaboration between Convene Hospitality Group and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.