LAS VEGAS (June 29, 2023) — Today, Wednesday, June 28, The Hospitality Show (The Show), taking place at The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas, held its first full day of programming, welcoming thousands of attendees and featuring and over 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest in hospitality operations and technology solutions.
The Show is a brand-new operations and technology event, created in partnership by The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex, uniquely designed for the entire hospitality ecosystem to help hotels operate more efficiently and profitably.
The Show keynote speaker and Athletic Greens COO and President Kat Cole led a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the inaugural opening of the event. Cole was joined at the ceremony by AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers, Questex Group President of Hospitality, Travel and Wellness Alexi Khajavi, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus, and members of The Show’s advisory board.
Before the ceremony, Cole delivered her keynote address on the main stage, where she discussed the most significant stories and lessons about leadership and innovation she has learned throughout her career.
Cole followed her remarks with a one-on-one conversation with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts President & CEO Geoff Ballotti that focused on maintaining strong franchisee/franchisor relationships.
The event featured a special focus on anti-trafficking efforts, with Polaris CEO Catherine Chen and Marriott International President and CEO Anthony Capuano exploring the evolution of the hotel industry’s efforts and messaging in this area.
Next up, Hyatt Hotels Corporation President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian joined Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO and President, Steve Hill, on stage to discuss the variables driving decision-making for leisure and business travelers. A full list of The Show speakers and programming can be found here.
On the Spotlight Stage, AHLA’s technology committee, HTNG, hosted the TechOvation Awards, where 10 semifinalists were recognized for the most significant innovations in hospitality technology. PolyAI’s Guest-Led Voice Assistant was selected as the winner during the live awards ceremony, which is a product that uses conversational AI to understand any voice, quickly and accurately resolving the most common front desk and contact center calls. PolyAI offers a remarkably human experience for guests.
During the TechOvation ceremony, AHLA and HTNG announced the winners of the Technology Acceleration Award, which recognizes companies that are advancing innovation in hospitality technology. The winners are:
- Actabl
- Agilysys
- Belmond
- BOUNTE, INC.
- BlulP
- Clairvoyix
- Directful
- Hapi
- Instio Expericences, Pvt Ltd
- iOpen Innovations
- Logistics
- Phonesuite
- TigerTMS
- TipQwik
- Visual Matrix
Also today, AHLA hosted the General Managers Summit at The Hospitality Show, where attendees connected with fellow general managers, gained insights from industry leaders on issues facing general managers, and celebrated AHLA’s 2023 General Managers of the Year via an awards ceremony. AHLA’s 2023 General Managers of the year are:
- Harold Daniels, Travelodge by Wyndham Memphis, AHLA General Manager of the Year – Select Service
- Katie Ward, Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, AHLA General Manager of the Year – Full Service
- Brian Kramer, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, AHLA General Manager of the Year – Resort Property
- Chris Sommers, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, AHLA General Manager of the Year – Independent Property
- Michelle Davis, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Orange Beach, AHLA General Manager of the Year – Extended Stay Property
- Michael Smith, Hyatt Regency New Orleans, AHLA General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award
At The Show, sponsor and exhibitor, Oracle Hospitality, shared that they have seen a 75% increase in properties using the OPERA Cloud Property Management System in the past fiscal year. Additionally, the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform now features more than 700 partners who have built or are actively building integrations, making it one of the largest libraries in the industry. Brands selecting or extending their use of OPERA Cloud this past year include Wyndham, Pestana Hotel Group, Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, Cinnamon Hotels & Resort, Meliá Hotels International, BWH Hotel Group, and more. Oracle’s latest enhancements provide hoteliers the complete integrated platform and intelligence they need to deliver exceptional guest experiences while increasing efficiency and growing revenue across their operations. From upselling and loyalty programs to events management capabilities and hundreds of partner integrations, OPERA helps hoteliers meet their margins while maximizing customer satisfaction. Read the Oracle Hospitality Blog for the latest news.
Both yesterday and today, The Show organized for attendees exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of two of Las Vegas’ most prestigious properties, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and The Bellagio Resort & Casino. The tours showcased the properties’ operating procedures, sustainability efforts, culinary offerings, rooms and suites, and the world-famous Bellagio Fountains.
Last night, attendees were invited to a secret-agent themed reception at TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub, sponsored by DIRECTV HOSPITALITY. The event featured Las Vegas-style games, cigar-rolling, signature cocktails, food, networking and more.
The Show continues tomorrow, Thursday, June 29, with another full day of programming, networking and exploring the expo floor. For a full schedule of programming and events, please visit www.thehospitalityshow.com.
