Source: Green Lodging News
By Glenn Hasek
ATLANTA—AAHOA announced the list of speakers who will be addressing the association’s membership during the 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, August 11 to 13.
AAHOA pivoted to a virtual platform for its convention from its planned event in Orlando after the Florida Department of Health urged public gatherings to be kept to fewer than fifty people because of the surge in COVID-19 infections in the state.
“As hoteliers adjust and adapt to the new realities posed by COVID-19, AAHOA is proud to bring our members some of the best minds in the industry to talk about the road to recovery,” said AAHOA President & CEO Cecil Staton. “I am looking forward to hearing from the insightful and accomplished leaders we’ve assembled for this year’s convention.”
This year’s featured speakers include two hospitality industry legends, Harris Rosen, Florida’s largest independent hotelier and President & CEO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, and Horst Schulze, Cofounder of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Corp. Travel industry CEOs Cecil Staton, President & CEO of AAHOA, Roger Dow, President & CEO of U.S. Travel Association, and Chip Rogers, President & CEO of AHLA, will appear to discuss the industry’s response to COVID-19, advocacy efforts, and the road ahead. Other speakers include Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO, Adam Sacks, the President of Tourism Economics; an Oxford Economic company, Mit Shah, Founder and CEO of Noble Investment Group, Jamie Lane, Senior Research Director of Econometric Advisors and CBRE Hotels Research, Amanda Hite, President & CEO of STR, Cindy Estis Green, CEO & Co-Founder of Kalibri Labs, Justin Knight, President and CEO of Apple Hospitality REIT, DJ Rama, President and CEO of Auro Hotels, Kenneth H. Fearn, Founder and Managing Partner of Integrated Capital LLC, Sima Patel, CEO of Ridgemont Hospitality, Jennifer Miller of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP, JR Patel, President & COO of Helix Hospitality, Harshil Patel, Vice President of Champion Hotels, Raj Patel, Chief Development Officer of Hawkeye Hotels, Jatin Desai, Managing Principal and CIO/CFO at Peachtree Hotel Group, and Teague Hunter, President and CEO of Hunter Hotel Advisors.
“The economic impact of this pandemic is greater than 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis combined. That is why we are bringing together some of our industry’s most seasoned hoteliers and luminaries in the field of economic research,” said AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel. “I think the speakers at this year’s convention will offer valuable context and insight that may help ease some of the uncertainty that is plaguing our industry.”
To view the full list of speakers and for more information on the 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, visit http://www.aahoa.com/convention.
