The second annual Independent Lodging Congress, held September 29 to 30 at the Rittenhouse hotel in Philadelphia, brought together a mix of hotel owners, management companies, developers, lenders, and suppliers to explore the future of independent hotels. Andrew Benioff, Managing Partner at the Llenrock Group and the founder of the congress, set the tone: "Each independent hotel asset offers its stakeholders the opportunity to create a product on their own terms, unencumbered by brand, tailored to its local and the discriminating tastes of the 21st century hotel guest." Representatives from international hotel companies and independent properties weighed in on the advantages and challenges of going without a brand, and discussions at the congress went on to show how the hospitality landscape has shifted—in favor of and away from— the independent hotel.

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