Icon-o-meter was off the charts! “A perfect conference” touts an attendee.
Los Angeles, CA, June 10, 2015 – Icon-o-meter was off the charts! “A perfect conference” touts attendee after attendee. BLLA hosted its 3rd Annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference on June 3, 2015 at the SVA Theatre, New York City, New York. Over 275 attended this one day event with industry influencers and top panelists focused on what’s impacting today’s boutique hotels. The event included the boutique lifestyle hotel sector’s most influential industry icons who shared their knowledge, insight and vision for the hospitality industry’s most coveted segment.
Frances Kiradjian, BLLA Founder & CEO, stated “We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of this conference. We stand for what is different and what is outrageously correct for what guests want from their boutique experience and this event held onto that by delivering something different and unexpected throughout the day.”
Hotel Design
BLLA welcomed back Ian Schrager, CEO of The Ian Schrager Company for a rare Spotlight interview. He wowed the audience with his vast outtakes of his impactful years of experience. In discussing design, he touted that “rich material doesn’t equate to luxury. It’s about simplicity, craftsmanship, execution and how things are put together. I am also so tired hearing about another hotel for Millennials,” to which the audience answered with “Amen.”
The primary focus of the conference, powered by BLLA, was capital investment and financing for independent boutique and lifestyle hotels. Feedback into the BLLA offices has been stronger than ever and the outcome is clear; the 3rd annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference’s fast-paced content-rich agenda wowed the participants and broke the mold of what this type of event should deliver – all while staying in line with the theme of boutique lifestyle hotels.
The Impact of Food & Beverage
The conference had a number of messages including these from the Food & Beverage panel. John Meadow of LDV Hospitality stated, “Fundamentally this is a human and relationship business. Local community plays an important role in an F&B outlet within a hotel. Hotel restaurants need their own identity to succeed.” Jimmy Haber of ESquared Hospitality added, “We believe a restaurant operator is the best option behind the hotel management.”
Lifestyle, Digital & Capital
The audience oohed and over the news from David Gutstadt, Managing Director of Related Hospitality and now the brand, Equinox. He announced that Equinox hotels will be located in cities with existing Equinox Fitness Clubs as the newest luxury lifestyle brand.
Niki Leondakis, Commune Hotels, offered that boutique hotels should invest in digital efforts as “It will pay back in spades.” She added, “Loyalty is about the experience and who’s talking about you via social media. Lifestyle hotels shouldn’t be about rewards programs; they should be about rewards while on-property.”
“Global, international investment is the travel industry future,” according to Matthew Livian of the Sydell Group. Bruce Blum of GB Lodging stated, “The capital markets are friendly right now and will stay that way well within the next 6 months.” Take advantage of BLLA resources and make the most of it!
What Conference Attendees Had to Say
Gregory P. Hilz, Managing Partner, Devcon Hospitality, summed up his experience this way: “Great focused event. I learned much from the intimate setting of Q & A sessions with many leaders in capital, hotel developers, architects and unique vendors. Fantastic base of people willing to educate and share information! I will join the association; made great connections. Thanks BLLA! You are critical to the growth and well-being of us all in the Boutique and Lifestyle Marketplace.”
Christine Chipurnoi, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo, said: “the speakers were amazing and very approachable at such an intimate event. Space was very clean and really easy to see in the stadium theater setting. Great content and loved the vibe from the dancers that opened the event. I love that it is a one day event!”
Resources
Videos of each panel and interview/keynote will be available to conference attendees in a few weeks. The conference program guide can be viewed online HERE.
BLLA’s other conferences include:
October 21-23, 2015 – Boutique Lifestyle International Leadership Symposium, Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica, CA.
January 27-28, 2016 – Executive Women’s Conference, Los Angeles.
Information at: www.bllaevents.com.
