AH&LA Fall Conference Provides Development Programs For Women, Future Leaders In Hospitality, And Greening The Industry

Washington, D.C. | The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) 2008 Fall Conference features more than 30 educational sessions with focused programs on strategies for success uniquely tailored for females in hospitality, cross-generation workplace communication and career development for young lodging professionals, and eco-savvy hotel operation tactics. The 2008 Fall Conference, November 7-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, is held in conjunction with the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS), the industry’s premier trade event.

On Monday, November 10, the AH&LA Women in Lodging Executive Council (WIL) will feature Susan Steinbrecher, Embassy Suites’ youngest general manager in history, who will discuss why women are uniquely qualified to lead in the lodging industry, and ways attendees can capitalize on their gender-specific traits. Following this session is a Women in Lodging Luncheon, which will provide attendees one-on-one mentoring opportunities with C-level hospitality professionals comprising the WIL Executive Council.

The AH&LA Under 30 Gateway, the association’s new membership program designed to provide connectivity and career development opportunities to hospitality professionals under age 30, will also host two back-to-back educational sessions on Sunday, November 9. The Professional Bootcamp is for young employees only, and will consist of a series of roundtable discussions led by industry experts offering advice on salary negotiation, business etiquette, building your 5- and 10-year plans, branding yourself, and handling change in the workplace. The 5 Decades in the Workplace session immediately after, co-hosted by AH&LA’s Multicultural & Diversity Advisory Council and recommended for all ages, will feature specialists providing psychographic overviews of the varying generations and strategies for effective management and communication. Additionally, one bright young member of the AH&LA Gateway – winner of the Gateway to CEO Contest – will also be presenting their idea for the next big industry initiative to AH&LA’s board of directors for possible implementation into the 2009 strategic business plan. The Gateway will host an Under 30-only Networking Event in the evening of Monday, November 10.

With going green on top of mind for AH&LA executives and members, the conference’s other keynote seminar will focus on sustainability when Christine Ervin, environmental leader and former CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, addresses the need for hotels to become environmentally-friendly in the face of today’s global economy. The keynote will be held on Sunday, November 9, and is complemented by two related sessions. On Saturday, November 8, Glenn Hasek, editor of Green Lodging News, breaks down the nuts and bolts of green operations with chief hotel engineering developers during Energy Miser All Stars: Conservation Lessons From the Best. Additionally, on Monday, November 10’s session, Eco-Friendly meets Eco-nomic, a panel of high-ranking corporate hotel executives present action-oriented solutions that appeal to hotel guests and work for a property’s bottom line.

Other 2008 highlights of annual Fall Conference events include:

The AH&LA Hospitality Leadership Forum, featuring a keynote luncheon address by Doris Kearns Goodwin, world-renowned political historian and best-selling author, is a special one-day educational session on Saturday, November 8. Also on the agenda are speakers from across the industry offering both well-rounded and niche perspectives on their respective fields and discussing various factors shaping the future of lodging.

The invitation-only Incoming Chairman’s Reception hosted by the AH&LA HotelPAC, on Saturday, November 8, at The InterContinental The Barclay New York, brings hoteliers, allied members, and AH&LA executive staff together to support the industry’s only political action committee which helps elect members of Congress who support the lodging community.

On Sunday, November 9, AH&LA will celebrate the inauguration of Joe Martin, CHA, owner/operator of Stillwater Hospitality, LLC, as the 2009 AH&LA chairman at the Mandarin Oriental New York.

Online registration for the Fall Conference is now available via the AH&LA Website at . AH&LA members registering for the Fall Conference automatically receive a complimentary badge for the IH/M&RS. For further information and questions about the Fall Conference, contact Katie Hais, manager, AH&LA conventions & events, at (202) 289-3114 or [email protected]. Press interested in attending IH/M&RS or Fall Conference events can contact Jessica Soklow at [email protected].

With an expanded program in its 93rd year, the IH/M&RS is sponsored by AH&LA, the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, Inc.; and the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. The trade show, which attracts approximately 35,000 attendees, features more than 1,400 exhibiting companies and a comprehensive lineup of educational programs focusing on topics such as technology, design, and foodservice. Information on all IH/M&RS events and for attendees is available by calling (914) 421-3206 or visiting the IH/M&RS Website, . For IH/M&RS exhibitor information, contact Lynn White at (914) 421-3296.

Serving the hospitality industry for nearly a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.