More Than Lunch: Celebrating the Members Who Open the Right Doors

Our quarterly VIP Lunch is always a special occasion, but it is about far more than enjoying excellent food in good company.

It is our opportunity to pause and properly thank the members who have taken the time to introduce five-star guests to Opendoorz: people who have experienced our community, recognised its value and gone on to become members themselves.

Inviting a guest might seem like a simple gesture, but we know there is much more behind it. Our members think carefully about who would benefit from the experience, make a personal introduction and help that guest feel comfortable walking into a new room. That takes time, thought and a genuine generosity of spirit, and it deserves to be recognised.

An invitation can open more than one door

At Opendoorz, inviting a guest is never simply about increasing membership numbers. It is about bringing the right people together.

A thoughtful invitation can help a trusted connection discover a community in which they can share experiences, learn from other established business owners and build relationships beyond their usual circle. For someone experiencing the loneliness of leading a business, that introduction can be particularly valuable.

It benefits the member too.

Inviting someone into Opendoorz creates another shared point of connection and can deepen an existing professional relationship. It shows that the member has listened, understood where that person may benefit from greater support or perspective, and made an introduction with their interests in mind.

Guests also bring fresh energy and experience into the room. Their questions can prompt different conversations, their knowledge can help another member, and their presence can introduce possibilities that would not otherwise have emerged.

That value extends beyond the individual guest and the member who invited them. Every well-considered introduction adds something to the wider Opendoorz community. It creates new relationships across groups, encourages the exchange of ideas and gives members access to a broader range of experiences and perspectives.

That is how a strong community grows, not through collecting contacts, but through people opening doors for one another.

Taking the time to say thank you properly

This quarter, we gathered at the Redesdale Arms, a venue connected to one of our valued venue partners.

In the warmth of a glorious late-summer day, we enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch and the opportunity to spend unhurried time together. The conversations were every bit as enjoyable as the food and the weather.

Members from different groups were able to meet, reconnect and discover more about one another away from the usual meeting format. New conversations began, existing relationships grew stronger and experiences were shared across the wider network.

This cross-group connection is another important part of the VIP Lunch. Opendoorz may meet in individual groups, but our community reaches far beyond the room members attend twice each month. Bringing people together from across the network helps everyone see the depth of experience, generosity and opportunity that exists within it.

Relationships deserve recognition

Our VIP Lunch is not a reward for generating a transaction. It is a thank you for demonstrating what Opendoorz is all about: recognising good people, making thoughtful introductions and contributing to a community built on trust.

To every member who has invited a five-star guest who has gone on to join us: thank you.

Thank you for sharing your experience of Opendoorz. Thank you for considering who might value the community. Thank you for helping your connections walk into the room with confidence. And thank you for continuing to strengthen the network for everyone within it.

It may have looked like a lovely lunch in the late-summer sunshine, and it certainly was, but its real purpose went much deeper.

It was about taking time out to celebrate generosity, connection and the members who continue to open the right doors for others.