Things are changing in the hospitality industry. Whether its ongoing labor struggles, sustainability, tech innovations or the proliferation of segments such as luxury lifestyle and extended stay — hoteliers have plenty of reasons to gather, network, share insights and learn from one another in 2024.
Organizations are already setting dates for next year’s conferences and expo events that will connect hotel owners, operators, investors, developers and many more industry players. Here are some of the top hospitality events to consider attending in the coming year.
Americas Lodging Investment Summit (Jan. 22–24 in Los Angeles)
The event is traditionally attended by some 3,000 hospitality industry leaders, including investors, owners, lenders, developers and management companies. The 2024 speaker lineup features executives from Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Those in attendance can expect to hear about the latest industry trends, as well as take part in networking and deal-making opportunities.
Hunter Hotel Investment Conference (March 19–21 in Atlanta)
Founded and hosted by Hunter Hotel Advisors and the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University, Hunter typically connects 2,000 hospitality owners, managers and financiers. Each year, one hotelier who exemplifies exceptional leadership, citizenship and innovation is awarded the Hunter Award for Excellence and Inspiration.
AAHOA Convention & Trade Show (April 2–5 in Orlando, Florida)
In 2023, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association’s annual event hit a milestone: It was the first time the 8,000-person convention sold out and had a waiting list. The 2024 convention and trade show, dubbed “AAHOACon,” will convene attendees at Florida’s Orange County Convention Center for educational sessions, networking opportunities and an expo hall with hundreds of exhibiting companies.
Boutique Hotel Investment Conference (June 5 in New York City)
Dubbed “the original conference dedicated to independent, boutique hotel investment,” this event is hosted by the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association. The conference aims to foster discussion between leaders in the boutique hotel space, including owners, C-suite executives, marketing directors and revenue managers, giving them investment tools and strategies as well as market insights. The agenda includes panels on technology, sustainability, capital markets, food and beverage, equity, debt and development.
HITEC (June 24–27 in Charlotte, North Carolina)
Back in the U.S. in 2024, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference brings together hundreds of hospitality leaders from more than 60 countries to learn about innovative tech solutions in the space. Hosted in Toronto last year, the event saw more than 4,500 attendees and 325 company exhibitors. In 2024, companies set to showcase their tech on the expo floor include Amadeus, which last month launched a booking solution aimed at personalizing the guest experience, and Canary Technologies, which recently partnered with Wyndham on a new guest experience platform.
The Lodging Conference (Oct. 7–10 in Phoenix)
For nearly 30 years, this event has joined some of the hotel industry's most influential owners, operators, investors and C-suite executives to strategize about development, finance, franchising, management, construction, design and operations. Representatives from JLL, Highgate, Lodging Econometrics and hotel companies Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and more spoke on panel discussions at the 2023 Lodging Conference. The 2024 event will be held at The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.
The Hospitality Show (Oct. 28–30 in San Antonio, Texas)
The American Hotel and Lodging Association and Hotel Management will kick off their second-annual conference and expo at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The event aims to connect hotel industry leaders under one roof to discover insights from a lineup of more than 100 speakers and 320 exhibit vendors. The show also boasts more than 13 hours of networking time.
At the inaugural event earlier this year, executives from IHG Hotels & Resorts, RLJ Lodging Trust and Sonesta International Hotels Corp. spoke about changing trends in travel, while other panels focused on personalization, hotel marketing strategies, generative AI and recruiting emerging talent amid ongoing labor shortages.
NYU Hospitality Investment Conference (Date and location TBD)
Each year, the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality hosts this event, which marks its 46th anniversary in 2024. This year, however, Questex will assume management control of the event after acquiring it in early 2023. At the 2023 conference in June, a variety of speakers, including from AAHOA, AHLA, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers and the U.S. Travel Association shared industry insights. CEOs from Marriott, IHG, Accor, Hyatt and Hilton also announced company updates at the conference.