Education Sessions Day by Day

Build your business for scale and diversification.

You've already succeeded in growing your portfolio by building essential management company capabilities, processes, and practices. Now you're ready to take your portfolio to the next level by managing bigger hotels and next-tier brands. Or maybe you’re considering businesses in other verticals. Hear from experts who have already taken the journey and learn what it takes to build a management organization capable of managing anything you want!

Practical Tips to Help You Thrive in a Digital World.

Today’s marketers have more information about prospects and customers than ever before. On top of this, your guests’ online journey to find you and, ultimately, book your hotel has changed.  We’ll start by giving you a unique behind-the-scenes look at how data science and AI are rewriting all the rules. Let’s be clear, the idea is to help your hotel stand out from the crowd to gain new guests and retain existing ones. And it starts with search strategies. Our experts will share how Google AI algorithm updates may affect search outcomes. We’ll cover the growth of chatbots and how different types of content can engage users in local search using hyperlocal experiences, as well as the ongoing importance of image optimization and tagging. Digital isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a new world in which your hotel can thrive!

Legal Tips You Need to Hear!

If you’re planning on buying or selling a hotel you won’t want to miss this expert advice about commonly overlooked aspects of purchase and sale agreements, as well as franchise agreement clauses you should negotiate.  The session will also cover succession and estate planning, plus the necessity for wills and trusts.  It won’t be a lecture hall course.  This AAHOA Masterclass will offer plenty of opportunities to ask any questions about the law and your hotel.  And if you own properties in California, this is a must-attend session.  Our experts will also address state issues and trends. Talking law doesn’t get more interesting or helpful than this!   

We will do it! Leading and motivating high performance in the workplace.
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Women are the backbone of the hospitality industry. Join communication coach Denise Thomas in this educational luncheon to identify and demonstrate your personal values, beliefs, and pursuits. Learn to embrace your identity as a woman in a predominantly "other" environment. This year's women's session will focus on motivation, engagement, business strategies, relationship building, communication, and leadership techniques -- providing you with the knowledge that will help drive collaboration resulting in high performance.

Fair franchising and the brand relationship.

It’s true, business is all about relationships. But it’s also true that you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Learn how AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising can help you negotiate win-win franchise agreements. This education session will highlight the biggest pitfalls for owners entering into franchise agreements, what to look for in a franchising attorney partnership, along with takeaways from the 12 Points Questionnaire, and a conversation about fairness in franchising legislation with AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake and other industry thought leaders. 

It’s a great time to be an Independent hotelier.
Digital and social marketing have never been more important or easier. By the way, that’s true if you’re an independent or a franchised hotel owner.  Join us as experts share how you can maximize your hotel’s online presence through local search and SEO; create stronger content marketing; generate business through social platforms; and drive ROI through digital media advertising.  And that’s just the beginning.  You’ll also hear how the Pros think about pricing and channel management strategies to optimize profitability.  As a hotel owner, you have more options than ever to build your business digitally and win the game of profitability!

Build a better back office.
Now more than ever, hotel owners are integrating back-office operations and accounting to have a single version of data and financial truth. If you haven't heard of the term Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), you will soon. It enables technology solutions to work together as a single, automated platform bringing all your operations, labor management, and accounting data together, eliminating manual data entry, and reducing the chance of human error. Spend more time working on building your business, not building spreadsheets!

Improve net ADR.  Reduce costs.  Drive profitability and asset value!
The right distribution strategy is essential to building a broader revenue acquisition plan.  The new name of the game is Improving net ADR.  It’s critical to driving incremental profitability and the valuation of your hotel.  The best revenue strategies must balance many factors and optimize contributions through all channels, including through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).  You’ll hear about the importance of tracking and managing revenue acquisition costs, which includes properly reconciling OTA transactions.  Making more money relies on having great channel partnerships and processes.  If you’re dreaming of profits, this is the place to be!

Prepare yourself to lead.
Growing up working in the business is not the same thing as leading it. Join your peers and industry leaders for a fireside chat about what practical leadership looks like and what it takes to be able to make the decisions only owners can make. Should you keep building infrastructure to better manage your growing portfolio? How much involvement do you really want with daily operations? Should you partner with a management company? How much should you expect to pay? What are the best practices for managing the relationship? Can you negotiate a la carte services? The answers to these and many more questions will be answered in an interactive session that will help you consider your own portfolio growth options.

Beat the labor shortage. Build your culture. Do more with less.
Are you struggling to find and keep great people? Does your hotel have a unique culture?  Spoiler alert – it does whether you know it, like it, or not. The labor shortage is real, and so are its impacts on your team and guests. Hear from Learning and Development and staffing professionals, along with out-of-the-box thinkers. They will share what's working and what's not when it comes to recruiting, onboarding, training, and team building.. Join us and start getting a better return on the biggest investment you make – your people.  

Legal and business challenges you can help yourself avoid.
You should object to the risks you face to stay in business!  But you can help mitigate risk through sound practices, preparation, and partners. We’ll cover the concept of reasonable care, and you’ll hear about current legal issues and risk mitigation trends. Would it surprise you to learn that human trafficking and bed bugs may become the next “ADA moments” in our industry?  Our experts will share insights on compliance as well as drive-by and frivolous lawsuits.   Plus, we’ll cover how you can navigate the risks of employee actions, natural disasters, and engage community allies!  Keep guests safe, stay out of court, and stay profitable. Who could object to that!

Is your mindset future-ready?
Hospitality technologies are changing fast and how you choose to adapt can make or break the performance and valuation of your portfolio. Remember, not choosing is also a choice! Are you preparing for the Internet of Things (IoT)?  For hoteliers, IoT means connecting devices, applications, and platforms to optimize operational efficiencies and enhance guest experiences. Industry leaders will talk about what’s coming and share how you can make your hotels and your mindset future-ready! 

Make your next deal the best ever.
The race to finishing the right deal isn’t won until you get the right financing in place. But what is the right deal, timing, and financing?  Hear how current trends will affect future opportunities. Experts will share their insights on markets, new construction, acquisitions, and financing options that might be right for you.  Learn how to create a favorable loan package. And hear what’s going on with non-recourse loans, bridge loans, SBA 504, SBA 7(a), and much more. Let us help all your deals win the race!

Build a profit-centric team.
Being more profitable starts with a plan. How much profit does your hotel need to make? How does the performance of your hotel compare to hotels like yours? And is the way you're doing your accounting making it easier or harder for you to manage profitability? These are the kinds of questions hotel owners should ask themselves. Hear from industry experts and other owners as they share great ideas not just for planning, but for diving deep into cost-reduction strategies, invoice benchmarking, bill auditing, and other profit-driving techniques to show you the money! 

Innovations, Ideas, and Products to Propel Us Forward.
You can’t drive in the fast lane without paying close attention to what’s ahead.  Fortunately, there are companies already way down the road, imagineering technologies and applications that can offer owners even better solutions to delight guests, engage associates, and enhance operational efficiencies.  Over two dozen nominees submitted ideas for this year’s contest. Join us as guest host, Frank Wolfe (CEO, Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals), introduces the finalists who will pitch their solutions to distinguished judges in hopes of being named the AAHOACON23 Tech Pitch winner.

Let the Pros Show You How It’s Done; or Ways To Do It Better. Hosted in “The Garage” on the trade show floor.
There’s no need to go to YouTube. See it live in The AAHOA Garage. Step into The AAHOA Garage and experience the perfect blend of tradition and technology. Explore essential skills and cutting-edge tech to help your business thrive and grow. The AAHOA Garage offers AAHOA members an opportunity to learn about everyday maintenance projects & more. Each demonstration will showcase essential services that will drive your business's success. Discover new tips, tricks, and technology to professionally maintain, refresh, and upgrade hotel guest rooms, common areas, facilities, equipment, and systems. Invest in your ability to improve your hotel and get paid by the returns you see in guest satisfaction scores, ADR, Occupancy, and your bottom line.

(A Wyndham-Sponsored Event)
Hotel owners have to consider many factors when evaluating a deal. From deciding to build vs. buy, determining the management structure, location considerations, and more. We'll show you the tools you need to help make the best decisions for your business goals. Hear from Wyndham experts and our partners during this interactive session brought to you by Women Own the Room in partnership with HerOwnership.

Let the Pros Show You How It’s Done; or Ways To Do It Better. Hosted in “The Garage” on the trade show floor.
There’s no need to go to YouTube. See it live in The AAHOA Garage. Step into The AAHOA Garage and experience the perfect blend of tradition and technology. Explore essential skills and cutting-edge tech to help your business thrive and grow. The AAHOA Garage offers AAHOA members an opportunity to learn about everyday maintenance projects & more. Each demonstration will showcase essential services that will drive your business's success. Discover new tips, tricks, and technology to professionally maintain, refresh, and upgrade hotel guest rooms, common areas, facilities, equipment, and systems. Invest in your ability to improve your hotel and get paid by the returns you see in guest satisfaction scores, ADR, Occupancy, and your bottom line.

Training and Certification Opportunity.
BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training is a proven tool that improves hotel safety. Human trafficking harms victims and poses serious safety risks to  guests and employees. It can also expose you to substantial legal and financial liabilities. Take this course free of charge and earn the certificate you need to help your staff identify the crime, proactively prevent it from occurring, and protect yourself from legal liability.

Training and Certification Opportunity.
BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training is a proven tool that improves hotel safety. Human trafficking harms victims and poses serious safety risks to  guests and employees. It can also expose you to substantial legal and financial liabilities.

Improving Profit Contribution Through Commercial Strategy.
Every booking comes with a price tag.  Did you know it’s between 15-25% of what guests pay?  You only keep 75 to 85 cents before guests even get to the lobby.  The cost of revenue acquisition is second only to labor.  Is it any wonder you’re feeling squeezed? AAHOA is proud to host a one-of-a-kind, MasterClass to help demystify the complex digital marketplace.  It’s time for hotel owners to move past the days of untracked and unmanaged commissions and transaction fees.  You will learn what net ADR is; how to identify and pursue the best opportunities for business in your submarket; and how to compare the costs from Brand.com to costs of OTA bookings.  Through a variety of case studies, you’ll also learn practical steps you can take to improve profit contribution from available demand in your market. Join us and take the first steps to taking back control of your hotel’s profitability and building the value of your assets!