AAHOA's HYPE Ownership conference draws 200 hospitality professionals

AAHOA's "HYPE OWNERSHIP—Helping Young Professionals Evolve" conference held recently in New Orleans attracted around 200 members. The event focused on fostering the growth of new hospitality industry professionals, offering educational opportunities like panel discussions, roundtables and keynotes to equip emerging hotel owners with the tools for success, AAHOA said in a statement.

“The HYPE Conference allowed us to hear first-hand from our young members about their ideas and concerns regarding the future of our industry,” said Tanmay Patel, young professional director for AAHOA’s Western Division. “It was enlightening to hear from so many young people about their hopes and dreams for taking the work started by their parents, in many cases, and how they hope to better position the industry for future success.”

“The feedback we received from attendees and the interaction we saw illustrates there is a great need for our industry to nurture our connection to future leaders,” said Dylan Patel, Young Professional Director Eastern Division. "Their commitment to elevate the industry to new heights is evident.”

The conference provided networking opportunities within a supportive community of industry leaders, facilitating connections among AAHOA’s diverse group of young professionals, AAHOA said. AAHOA also organized the "Retro Rendezvous Reception: A Night of Networking Among Classics" at a private classic car museum.

“The energy and enthusiasm at our inaugural HYPE Conference exceeded expectations, and AAHOA Young Professionals are clearly eager to learn, grow, and excel in their careers,” said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. “AAHOA’s HYPE Conference is a first-of-its-kind initiative for our industry, and we are proud to lead the way in nurturing and shining a spotlight on the incredible talent of our next generation of leaders.”

Keynote Speaker Michael Hyatt, a serial entrepreneur, investor and executive chairman of DataStealth, discussed the impact of technological evolution on workforce efficiency. He emphasized the importance for future industry leaders to embrace these changes and encouraged attendees to explore opportunities for leveraging technological advancements within their respective industries.

"AAHOA is thrilled to bring to the industry a game-changing initiative that will truly support and evolve the future of hospitality,” said Bharat Patel, AAHOA chairman. “Our intent was to create a platform to give a stronger voice to young professionals, who play a crucial role in shaping and driving innovation within the hospitality industry. This week showed us that our future is in good hands with the next generation of hoteliers!”

In December, AAHOA announced the launch of "HYPE Ownership: Helping Young Professionals Evolve" to support the growth of emerging hoteliers within the association and the broader industry.