ERIC ROIKO, INC.

09/04/2026

I love this book! 📖
CEREAL: 250 Daily Treats for the Everyday Entrepreneur by Chip Conrad is one of those books you can pick up, read a page or two, and walk away with something that makes you think.
As someone who has spent more than 30 years in the hospitality business, I’ve learned that sometimes the simplest ideas can have the biggest impact. This book is full of those kinds of ideas — practical, motivating, and easy to relate to.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to get a little better every day.
Thanks, Chip, for putting together such a great collection of daily inspiration!

CEREAL was written for those who are running a business, are about to start, or are just thinking about executing an idea. Packed with 250 short lessons on entrepreneurship and small business, Chip's daily anecdotes will uplift and inspire you every working day, for a year. CEREAL is based on con...

08/31/2026

Pioneering Leadership: The Heartbeat of Service & Safety
Long before corporate compliance and mandatory safety frameworks became standard practice in the hospitality industry, Eric Roiko understood a fundamental truth: true business leadership isn't just about managing operations—it’s about protecting people.

A Legacy of Saving Lives
In 1985, while working as a nightclub manager outside of Chicago, Eric recognized a critical gap in patron safety and took matters into his own hands. Driven by a personal mission to save lives from the tragedies of drunk driving, he designed a grass-roots, property-level framework to track car keys and incentivize sober, responsible choices at the bar.
When he joined Marriott Hotels & Resorts as a Beverage Manager in 1986, Eric brought this innovative blueprint with him to the Boston Marriott Hotel Newton. Recognizing its profound impact, Marriott operationalized his vision into a core corporate campaign: the "I've Got The Key" designated driver program.

Making Broadcast and Hospitality History
Eric’s venue policy quickly transformed from a local hotel initiative into a historic statewide movement. By anchoring a massive coalition between the hospitality sector and media giants, the program was deployed across more than 150 restaurants throughout Massachusetts.
The pioneering success of this framework captured the attention of New England's premier media outlets and industry regulators:
• September 1985: Eric appeared live on WBZ-TV4's "Live on 4" alongside the Vice President of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) to introduce the mechanics of the campaign to the public.
• March 1987: On live television, legendary WBZ-TV4 news anchor Jack Williams and the MRA officially honored Eric and the Newton Marriott's Windjammer Lounge for spearheading what was recognized as "the nation's first regional designated driver program".
• Regional Distinction: This operational triumph earned Eric the prestigious title of "Beverage Manager of the Year – Northeast Region" for Marriott Hotels & Resorts.
The Foundation of Modern Industry Standards
Decades later, the ultimate testament to Eric’s vision lives on in the very fabric of the hospitality industry. Every time a hotel manager or bartender sits down to take a mandatory corporate alcohol awareness course, they are learning the exact operational logic, safe-service strategies, and vocabulary that Eric pioneered forty years ago.
As a veteran hospitality executive, short-term interim management specialist, and author of Going Back to SIMPLE: Putting the Heartbeat Back Into Business, Eric continues to champion the same core principle that defined his early career: business is always at its best when it strips away the noise and focuses on what truly matters—the people it serves.

08/13/2026

Last week, I was sitting at home when I received a phone call that changed my plans pretty quickly. One week later, I’m now the General Manager of Elk Lake Resort in Oregon!
Sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect them.
I have to say, I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful place to begin this next chapter. Elk Lake Resort is nestled in the heart of the Oregon Cascades, along the incredible Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, surrounded by mountains, forests, and the kind of scenery that makes you stop and take it all in.
It’s a pretty amazing feeling to wake up and realize that this is now my office.
I’m excited to be working with a great team, meeting new people, and doing what I love — putting the heartbeat back into business.
Here’s to new adventures, new challenges, and another unexpected chapter. Sometimes you just have to answer the phone.

04/13/2026

I’m proud to share that my book, Going Back to SIMPLE: Putting the Heartbeat Back into Business, is officially released.
While it’s written through the lens of hotel leadership, the principles go far beyond hospitality. At its core, this book is about helping people—offering practical, real-world lessons that apply to any business where people, experience, and leadership matter.
Over time, business has become increasingly complex and, in many cases, disconnected from what truly drives success: genuine connection, thoughtful leadership, and the experience we create for others.
This book brings things back to center—simple, intentional, and human. My hope is that it helps leaders across industries refocus, strengthen their teams, and create more meaningful impact in the work they do every day.
Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. I’m grateful to share this with you.

Buy Now On Amazon: https://a.co/d/03bX4nuG