BHAVESH PATEL
AAHOA Chairman (2017-2018)
Though some years have passed, I still remember the first couple of AAHOA conventions I attended. Most vividly, I recall the people I met, many of whom I still call friends and colleagues. The relationships I established back then, and the ones I’ve made at every convention since my first, have had tremendous impact on my professional and even personal life.
While I may not be able to recall the specific details, I know that the keynote speeches, education sessions, networking op-portunities and tradeshow floor experiences at these conventions helped push the trajectory of my career into the path of success.
Convention can do that for you too.
Whether you are an industry veteran, just out of college, making a career switch, or looking for ways to improve and advance your business – there is something at convention for you. Over four days, attendees can expect the kind of programming that drives connections, promises insight on new and developing industry trends, and facilitates mutually satisfying business deals and lead generation.
For example, for the first time ever, in a one-on-one conversational style with the audience, 14 hospitality executives will take to the main stage to share stories and invaluable business insight that could help you take your business to the next level.
We also have a wide variety of useful professional development opportunities scheduled, including sessions on legal and human resource issues, hotel management and operations, housekeeping and maintenance, sales and marketing, and trends in hospitality technology. Human Trafficking Awareness Training, which is completely free and satisfies state training requirements, and opportunities to attain Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics and Certification in Hotel Ownership will also be available.
With two major legislative wins for the hotel industry in 2017, the nation’s capital is a natural backdrop for this year’s convention. We would be remiss not to include a question and answer panel focused on our recent successes, what they mean for hotel owners, and AAHOA’s policy agenda and goals for 2018.
Moreover, we will be celebrating some of our biggest accomplishments from 2017, including our remarkable growth to more than 17,700 members, hosting over 200 industry events for hoteliers, and the addition of 20 new vendor partners (the most in a calendar year ever).
One major change in scheduling this year should help attendees get more out of their time at convention. Tickets will not be required to attend gala; anyone with a convention badge will be allowed entry.
Finally, you will want to take in as much of the tradeshow floor as possible. With more than 400 exhibitors, you can be sure to make connections and deals that will be beneficial to your business. And when you need a break, try one of our newest trade show floor additions – the Relaxation Station – for a restful five- to 10-minute massage.
This is your best opportunity in 2018 to network with like-minded hospitality industry professionals, boost your business acumen and learn from the sharpest subject matter experts in the industry. For specific event times and more detailed information, visit www.aahoa.com/convention.
