The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association to Select "Person of the Year 2012" at Inaugural Symposium in Los Angeles

WEST HILLS, Calif. -- Buzz is building for the first annual International Boutique & Lifestyle Leadership Symposium, which kicks off next month at the prestigious Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Among the highlights of the event will be the announcement of the industry's "Person of the Year 2012," an award bestowed by the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA).

The winner of the Person of the Year award will have demonstrated remarkable accomplishments or shared a touching life story. Anyone can be nominated, even non-BLLA members, and there are no subdivisions between hotels, suppliers, tourist agencies or any other hospitality or travel sector. Individuals can even nominate themselves. Online nominations for the Person of the Year award are still being accepted here: http://www.cvent.com/d/4cqqk7

A short questionnaire is the only hurdle in the nomination process. A panel of industry experts will carefully review each entry and select a winner and three finalists. Symposium organizers encourage everyone to participate. Even a seemingly minor point of accomplishment or distinction may be enough to position one on the "short list" of nominees.

The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (http://www.blla.org) is the organizer of the symposium, which runs from October 22 to 24. The event features three days of speakers, panels, live entertainment and exhibits. Attendees will have ample opportunity to network, share ideas and inspiration, and learn about the latest trends in various sectors of the hospitality industry. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, site of the first Academy Awards in 1929, provides a regal backdrop to any event.

The Person of the Year Award will be presented at the Gala Dinner on day 2 of the symposium, October 23. The winner will have an opportunity to present a video or speech outlining his or her life and achievements. Representatives of the media will be on hand to announce the winner and provide timely write-ups of the evening's events.

"Distinction, credibility and prestige are three compelling reasons to winning an industry award," said Frances Kiradjian, founder of the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association. "An award like 'Person of the Year' will position one as a market leader, a true professional, and someone who makes active, vital contributions to the hospitality and or travel industry sector."

Association members are excited about this year's gathering which is only the first of many. If the excitement surrounding the Person of the Year Award is any indication, then the Boutique & Lifestyle Leadership Symposium is set up for success.

Sponsors of the Symposium: Alioscopy, Clean the World - charity, Concept Amenities, Digital Alchemy, eReleases, Frontgate (gala dinner), Greenberg Traurig LLP, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Lather, LodgeNet Interactive Corporation, NEWH, Northern Feather, Oliphant Films, Restoration Hardware, Sferra Fine Linens, Standard Textile & SK, STR, Suite Life (Venture Insurance), UNIQ Print, Vizergy, Yo! Dog Marketing

Media sponsors: Boutique Design, Hospitality Design Magazine, Hospitality Net, Hotel Business Magazine, Hotel-Online, HOTELS Magazine, Hotel News Now, Travel Weekly

About the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association
The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association () is the first and only association dedicated to uniting the world's boutique and lifestyle properties. Created to be the unifying voice of this distinctive subset within the hospitality industry, its goal is to unite the world's collection of boutique & lifestyle properties and the suppliers that sustain them, offering them the opportunity to successfully compete on a level playing field with major hotel companies, as well as market themselves to meet the ever-increasing demand from discerning boutique-seeking clients.