The new Hospitality Show left us excited for the future of hotels everywhere!
2023 marks the inaugural year for a new and exciting event in the hospitality industry. The Hospitality Show by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) is a three-day networking opportunity and exposition for every aspect of hospitality . The conference was held inside the beautiful Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their tagline says it all “Business accelerates when the right people are in the room.” That is just the space they provided with this show. They opened the floor up to industry leaders, senior executives of hotel brands, owners, operators, management companies, developers, investors and technology partners.
The expo offers a space for like-minded individuals who are seeking ways to operate with greater efficiency to the end of generating higher profitability in hospitality oriented businesses. They boasted over 80 speakers between three stages during the event. Topics ranged from common industry problems (and their not so common solutions), new technology that will boost business, and ways to optimize your property's operational flow.
Our team was not only in attendance for this spectacular event; our CEO Paul Wegert had the honor of making an introduction for the Independent Hotel General Manager of the Year Award. AHLA had awards for five different hotel categories ranging from resort properties to select service to extended stay. Chip Rogers, AHLA's President and CEO, presented the final award of the night to Michael O’Keith Smith, GM at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, for the AHLA General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award.
Events like The Hospitality Show are integral to the spread of new ideas and advancements in the hospitality ecosystem. BHP prides itself on its continuous efforts towards being at the forefront of these crucial dialogues. We make it a priority to attend as many relevant events and conferences as possible to ensure that our team remains ahead of industry trends and is able to create the best approach for each of our luxury properties. On our horizon, we eagerly anticipate our team’s annual attendance and sponsorship of The Lodging Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona this September.
AHLA award categories and recipients were as follows:
Select Service: Harold Daniels, Travelodge by Wyndham Memphis.
Full-Service: Katie Ward, Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport.
Resort: Brian Kramer, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa.
Independent: Chris Sommers, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Extended Stay: Michelle Davis, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orange Beach.
Michael O’Keith Smith, GM at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans and 45-year industry
veteran, was presented with the AHLA General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award.