One of the biggest events of the year for the hospitality industry is right around the corner, and it’s the 18th annual America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). Without a doubt, ALIS is the largest hospitality investment conference in not just the United States, but the entire world. Taking place this year from Monday, January 28 to Wednesday, January 30 at the JW Marriott and Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, ALIS has grown to be the most important assembly of hotel financiers, investors, and leading industry experts. If last year’s turnout of 3,000 is any indication, it’s a popular gathering that gives anyone in attendance the chance to learn the latest issues and trends in the industry and to learn them from the best in the business.
Who Will I Find at the ALIS Conference?
Besides learning the recent news and trends in the hospitality industry, the most important reason to join your peers at ALIS will be the countless opportunities available for networking. Approximately one-third of the delegates you will meet at ALIS hold the title of CEO, chairman, owner, or president. That doesn’t even include the number of EVPs, VPs, SVPs, executive directors, and managing directors you’ll meet there as well. All in all, attending ALIS guarantees you’ll meet those who matter most in the industry. You will even have special networking breaks in between the various panels and sessions, so go prepared to get face time in with the real movers and shakers in the hospitality industry.
In addition to the over 200 speakers and panelists you will have the chance to listen to, the members of the likely 3,000 plus audience you will be a part of include investors, lenders, owners, developers, investment bankers, financial advisors, management company/hotel chain executives, vacation ownership executives, consultants, financial and real estate intermediaries, architects and designers, lawyers, media officials, and tourism/government officials.
As stated previously, this year’s ALIS conference will feature speakers from all across the industry. This year includes Dave Johnson, who is the chairman and CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality; Christopher J. Johnson, who is the EVP of Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate Group; Robert Hee, who is the managing director of Canyon Equity LLC; Naftali Holtz, who is the head of leisure and lodging for the Investment Banking Division of Goldman, Sachs, & Co; Vera Manoukian, who is the Global Brand Head and SVP of Hilton Hotels & Resorts. These are but to name a few of the industry professionals that will be sharing their knowledge all weekend long.
Where is Everyone Coming From?
Including this conference, every year has filled ALIS with ranking executives from hospitality businesses from all over the U.S. and the world, with 29 percent hailing from the Western U.S., 19 percent from Middle America, 47 percent from the East Coast, and five percent coming in internationally.
What Will the ALIS Program Look Like?
The three-day event will consist of two full days (Monday and Tuesday) and then one half-day (Wednesday) of panels, plenary sessions, award ceremonies, breakout sessions as well as various networking opportunities. Some of the sessions include “Creative Bottom-Line Strategies for Optimizing Your Asset,” “Investment Opportunities in Canada,” “Acquisition Track: Opportunities in the Gateway Markets,” and “The Rebirth of Full-Service Hotels.”
Who Will Be Receiving Awards?
As they have done every year since the beginning, ALIS is going to honor the companies and executives behind 2018’s most significant, influential hospitality industry deals with its esteemed ALIS Awards. The winners are to be announced on January 30th at the end of the conference, with the award nominees being judged based on their outstanding performance in numerous industry sectors. The awards include the honored Lifetime Achievement Award and several “Deal of the Year” Awards, including for Development, Transaction, Merger and Acquisition, and the Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of 2018.
Each and every one of these individuals will tell you the secret to their success has been surrounding themselves with the top talented hospitality professionals in the business. That being said, if you are attending this conference, our attending members, Joseph Rice (Managing Partner) and Jeff Evans (Managing Director & General Manager), would love the opportunity to sit down and discuss how we as hotel recruiters can help your organization become even more successful.
Please feel free to call or email us before or during the conference to set up a one-on-one meeting to see how we can help you get the best talent in the hospitality industry working for your organization. In addition to the contact information above, you can also reach out to Joe Rice of Jeff Evans via LinkedIn (click on their name to be taken to their profile).
Feature Photo via ALIS Website