Speakers at the first-ever Hotel ROI conference addressed a full house last Monday, April 24, at the Doubletree Suites Greenway Plaza in Houston, Texas, as more than 70 attendees packed the hotel’s meeting rooms to hear from leading area hoteliers, industry brand leaders, and experts on labor law, property development, and revenue management.

 

The all-day conference, a joint initiative by AAHOA and "Hotel Management" magazine, was the first of seven scheduled for 2017 in cities around the United States. The Houston market was chosen for its ongoing supply boom and flourishing oil and gas industry, which is recovering from a multi-year slump. 

 

Conference attendees first heard from AAHOA Chairman Bhavesh Patel and AAHOA President and CEO Chip Rogers, who were on hand to offer welcome remarks and emphasize the tremendous value of collaboration between different groups within the hotel industry. 

 

"The Hotel ROI events bring together owners, brand leaders, asset managers, financiers, and myriad others to review market intelligence and discuss best practices," Rogers said afterward. "For a single event to draw so many different industry professionals is extremely unique."

 

After closing remarks, conference attendees relaxed at a post-event cocktail and networking reception where, AAHOA Vice Chairman Hitesh (HP) Patel says, he heard enthusiastic and very positive feedback on the day’s events. Patel served on the conference’s "Minimizing Costs: Case Studies on Cutting Where it Really Counts" panel. 

 

"The Houston Hotel ROI event set the bar incredibly high, from session content to attendee participation and takeaways," he said. "The 'Minimizing Costs' panel, for example, shared tactics for negotiating better pricing and helped clarify some of the issues associated with brand consolidation and asset-light strategies." 

 

He added, "I was amazed at how much I learned, even as an experienced hotel owner. Hotel ROI is a fantastic opportunity for AAHOA members to learn how to reduce operating costs while increasing revenue in creative ways."

 

The next Hotel ROI event will be held in Los Angeles at the Hotel Indigo on June 22. To register, visit hotelroi.com.