THE AMERICAN HOSPITALITY & Lodging Association and Questex concluded The Hospitality Show at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on June 29 after drawing more than 3,500 attendees and 300 vendors for its inauguration. The attendees experienced two days of main-stage sessions led by industry leaders, programming and profitable operations case studies, along with more than 13 hours of networking opportunities.
“We set very high standards for what we wanted to achieve with the first year of The Show, and the industry responded in a resoundingly strong way,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers.“With an all-star lineup of speakers, who’s who list of attendees, and unparalleled networking opportunities, The Show proved itself as one of hospitality’s most important events. We are excited to continue growing and improving it year after year.”
Attendees were shown content across three stages, including a Main Stage that opened the event each morning with insights from leaders in the hotel industry and beyond, AHLA said in a statement.
Speakers included Kat Cole, COO and president of Athletic Greens; retired U.S. Navy admiral William H. McRaven; Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International; Larry Cuculic, president and CEO of BWH Hotels; Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation; and John Murray, president and CEO of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.
According to AHLA, the content was also presented on two Solutions Stages, providing discussions on significant industry topics related to ownership, operations, emerging trends, and technology. The Spotlight Stage showcased technology-driven demos and case studies from vendors, such as ADP, Belden, Nomadix, Sage, Shiji, and more.”
During presentations at The Hospitality Show, AHLA also announced the winners of the 2023 General Managers of the Year, TechOvation, and Technology Acceleration Awards.
Prior to its opening, The Show achieved an important milestone by selling out every available vendor space on the expo floor, a remarkable accomplishment for a first-year event of this magnitude.
“The sold-out status of The Show’s vendor space in its inaugural year is a remarkable accomplishment that motivates us to continuously innovate and reimagine what’s possible,” said Alexi Khajavi, Questex Hospitality, Travel & Wellness Group president. “Next year and into the future, The Hospitality Show will be an unforgettable event, delivering unmatched opportunities for growth, learning, and networking.”
As part of a 10-year partnership between AHLA and Questex, the event is touted as a new operations and technology expo designed to enhance hotel operations and profitability across the entire hospitality ecosystem. The upcoming edition of The Hospitality Show is scheduled to be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio from October 28-30, 2024.
