The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to shine a spotlight on Brian P. Connors in our “Community Proud” series, sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union.

A Connecticut native who recently chose Mystic as the place to raise his family, Brian P. Connors is redefining what it means to lead with hospitality. With more than two decades of experience across operations, higher education, and workforce innovation, Brian has built his career around one guiding principle: create meaningful experiences and elevate the people who deliver them.

As Managing Partner of Connors Davis Hospitality, LLC, Brian develops transformative strategies and partnerships with leading hospitality and beverage brands around the world. His portfolio includes consulting for Royal Caribbean International, Sandals Resorts International, and Bacardi North America work that blends operational insight with innovative training and leadership development.

Through Accelerating Leaders, where he serves as Managing Partner and Facilitator, Brian partners with industry and academia to design forward-thinking programs in leadership, workforce development, and modern learning. Currently, he is the Lead Facilitator of the Restaurant Leadership Institute (RLI), a partnership with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association that delivers employer-driven leadership programs focused on financial literacy, people systems, and technology for hospitality operators.

Before returning to Connecticut, Brian served as Senior Director of Global Food & Beverage Innovation and Founding Faculty Director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. There, he launched the Bacardi Spirits Management Major, the Future Proof and BacardiTeach learning platforms, and the BacardiTalks series—helping bridge academia and industry on a global scale. His work also introduced Cecilia.ai, the world’s first AI robotic bartender, through the Bacardi Innovation Fund and received national media attention on NBC’s Today Show, FOX & Friends, CBS News and international media coverage.

Today, Brian teaches in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Salve Regina University, helping prepare the next generation of hospitality professionals for a rapidly evolving industry.

In 2023 and 2024, Brian was named among the “30 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality” by the International Hospitality Institute. His TEDx talk, “Be Curious & Take Risks,” captures the curiosity, and courage that define his leadership approach.

Here in Mystic, Brian is already giving back. He helped the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce launch the Mystic Hospitality Lab, a hands-on professional development series designed to strengthen the region’s restaurants, hotels, venues, and beverage programs. True to his teaching roots including more than a decade at Johnson & Wales University Brian’s proudest achievements are the students and professionals he’s mentored who now lead across the industry.

“Approachability and empathy come first,” he says. “Trust is built one relationship at a time.”

Brian’s path to hospitality started young cooking family dinners turned into his first kitchen job at age 14. He went on to earn degrees from Johnson & Wales University, Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), International Bordeaux Wine Educator (IBWE), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), and sommelier-trained at the Culinary Institute of America and is certified by Court of Master Sommeliers. As the Wine Consultant for Celebrity Cruises, he helped develop award-winning beverage programs and trained one of the largest sommelier teams at sea.

When asked what anchors him to Mystic, Brian’s answer is simple: “The people, the sense of belonging, and the support system.” After years traveling the world from the Mediterranean to Alaska home is where he most wants to be. Outside of work, you’ll find him being “Super Dad,” boating on the river, restoring his classic boat, cooking for friends, and exploring local vineyards with his wife Lauren and their children, Patrick and Lily.

Brian Connors embodies the spirit of “Community Proud” innovative yet grounded, globally accomplished yet deeply invested in the place he calls home. We’re grateful for his leadership in launching the Mystic Hospitality Lab and for the energy, expertise, and generosity he brings to our community every day.

Brian’s advice to aspiring hospitality pros and educators is that you have to love people and creating experiences. He says that genuinely caring about that will take you far.