The Independent Lodging Congress today announced that registration is officially open for the organization's first event focusing on hospitality start-ups, INDIE Cultivate. Taking place on July 9th in New York City at the Standard High Line hotel, INDIE Cultivate: A Start-up Pitch Event, serves to help recognize hospitality, lifestyle and travel related start-ups who are making waves, or who want to make waves, in the industry.

The one-day event will host a series of pitches and comments from panels of well-respected judges. A number of panels will also be held to encourage further industry thought-leadership in addition to ample networking time, lunch, cocktails, and a VIP dine-around.

Confirmed speakers/judges for this year's event include to date: Rami Zeidan, Co-Founder and CEO of Life House Hotels; Rama Chanani, Global Product Lead, Google Travel; Josh Wyatt, CEO of Neuehouse; Bennett Thomas, SVP of Finance and Sustainability of Hersha Hospitality Trust; Elizabeth Sigety, Esq., Fox Rothschild LLP; Kurien Jacob, Principal at Highgate Venture; Chris Hemmeter, Managing Director, Thayer Ventures, and Eric J. Weiner, attorney, Lowenstein Sandler LLP.

Andrew Benioff, the Founder and Chairman of the Independent Lodging Congress said, "In addition to exploring different communities at our other ILC events, we are now examining the world of startups which are changing the hospitality, travel and lifestyle industries. Our events have become known as the gathering place for those who lead the way in generating change in hospitality and travel, and the Cultivate event will offer us the opportunity to learn what the next generation of the best and brightest are working on to disrupt our industry."

Located at The Standard High Line in New York City, the 2019 INDIE Cultivate event will offer attendees the opportunity to present their start-up concepts to an esteemed panel of hotel industry executives, who will offer advice, ask questions, and maybe even sign up to invest. Participants will also have a chance to listen, learn and engage with industry powerhouses as they share stories of success, failure and their predictions for the future of the independent hospitality business.

INDIE Cultivate will be one of three Independent Lodging Congress events in 2019. INDIE Confab: Miami was held this past February and connected creative provocateurs and disruptors from Miami's hotels, food & beverage, design, and finance worlds. On October 16th & 17th, the annual INDIE Congress will take place, this year in downtown Los Angeles. More details will be released regarding speakers and events soon.

Supporting sponsors of INDIE Cultivate include Presenting Sponsor Fox Rothschild LLP; INDIE Sponsors Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Screen Pilot, and Founding Partners Llenrock Realty Partners and Eagle Point Hotel Partners.

Members of the media who wish to cover INDIE Cultivate can apply for press credentials in advance by contacting [email protected].

To learn more about INDIE Cultivate and the Independent Lodging Congress, register or to become a sponsor for the 2019 event, please visit: www.ilcongress.com.

About Independent Lodging Congress

The Independent Lodging Congress is a place of discovery, collaboration and idea generation for owners and operators of independent hotels. Through meaningful and relevant panels, deep dive breakouts, and unique industry accessibility, the Independent Lodging Congress strives to connect visionaries and thought leaders inside (and outside) the independent lodging sector for the betterment of the industry and the guests they serve.

Visit www.ilcongress.com for more information and follow ILC on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Tatiana Swedek
+ 1 720 982 7212
Independent Lodging Congress®