AAHOA’S NEXT ANNUAL conference and tradeshow, set for April 11 to 14 in Los Angeles, already has set a record for the number of booths sold. It will be the largest conference in 34 years, AAHOA said.
The association has sold 81,900 square feet of exhibit space for the upcoming AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, exceeding the 77,500 square feet sold for the 2019 conference, which was previously the record holder. In addition, as of Feb. 8, AAHOA has nearly doubled the registration total of lifetime members compared to AAHOACON22, and the organization is still on pace to exceed 2019 registration totals of more than 8,000 attendees
“I’ve been in the exhibition business for a long time, and I’m so impressed to see the enthusiasm, excitement, and response from vendors who are looking to do business with AAHOA Members,” said Dennis Smith, AAHOA vice president of business development. “Our team is thrilled to reach this historical milestone, with the ultimate goal of connecting as many AAHOA Members as possible with the product and service providers who can help them make money, save money, protect their investments, and better serve their guests.”
AAHOA’s 20,000 members spend $50 billion with suppliers attending the event each year.
“I always look forward to the industry’s Super Bowl event, and this year, as I conclude my term as AAHOA Chairman, I’m proud of the work our association has done to prepare for the event and connect even more vendors directly with decision makers,” said Nishant “Neal” Patel, AAHOA chairman. “AAHOA Members spend billions of dollars each year with suppliers, and AAHOA plays an important role in connecting hoteliers directly with those who can help them run a better, more profitable, and more efficient business – AAHOACON is where deals are made.”
AAHOACON23 also will feature 14 educational sessions, three general sessions with keynote speakers along with nightly entertainment and networking. The conference also will feature speeches and debates from the candidates running for the AAHOA board of directors.
“Our team has been working around the clock to ensure AAHOACON23 is one of our most successful conventions to date, and I applaud the entire AAHOA Team for helping our organization reach this historical milestone,” said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. “We have a passionate group of team members, board members, and volunteer leaders who bring this event to life each year. As the first AAHOACON in my role as president and CEO, I have directed the team to ensure it is spectacular. I am so looking forward to meeting all of our members and industry partners, and making AAHOACON23 one for the record books.”
More than 5,000 people attended last year’s AAHOACON in Baltimore, Maryland
