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It's almost time!
With fewer than 24 hours between us and AAHOACON21, the anticipation is building. If you're like me, you're more than a bit excited to see so many familiar faces while making new friends in what should be an immeasurably enriching, rewarding, and valuable experience for everyone in attendance. The past year and a half has been a difficult period in our industry's history, and I'm optimistic AAHOACON21 will be just one of many steps to get us back on track toward a brighter tomorrow.
To everyone registered to attend, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the sacrifices necessary to be here. And there's still time to register if you're on the fence. We're looking forward to seeing plenty of friends, making new ones, and learning together how to better face the challenges of the day.
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As we're all keenly aware, life is better when we can experience it in the company of others, so don't forget to share your AAHOACON21 adventure via your social media channels. Using the #AAHOACON21 hashtag, let everyone on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram know what you're enjoying most about the event and what you're learning. Don't forget to tag AAHOA!
And be sure to check out a few examples further below in this newsletter.
As we count down the hours until AAHOACON21 kicks off, let's hear from a few past attendees.
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Hitesh (HP) Patel AAHOA Past Chair, 2018-2019 "The biggest thing we’re looking forward to is reconnecting with old friends and meeting new AAHOA Members. It definitely has been a very challenging time during the pandemic with no conferences or meetings. We are so thrilled that AAHOA will be hosting an in-person conference in Dallas, TX, and getting back to the 'new' normal." |
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David Kong President & CEO, Best Western "After a year that has challenged us in unthinkable ways, we are all eager to come together in person to celebrate our strength and resilience. There’s no substitute for human connection, and I am looking forward to seeing my old acquaintances and making new ones at AAHOACON." |
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Jim Alderman Chief Executive Officer, Radisson Hotel Group Americas "No question, I am looking forward to getting together in person. There is no substitute for the personal connection to understand what we can continue to do to provide value to our owners." |
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Rupesh Patel Hotel Owner • Investor • Industry Advocate, RUPESH.co "I'm excited to have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and network with hotel owners from around the nation. See you in Dallas!" |
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Scott Joslove President & CEO, THLA "We are thrilled to attend AAHOACON21 this summer as travel is gaining important strides and business events begin to flourish again. It's especially exciting to join so many hoteliers and vendor partners in one of our great cities in Texas." |
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Lynette Montoya President & CEO, Latino Hotel Association "AAHOACON21 will be a great opportunity to reconnect with the AAHOA community. Our industry is a family that never gives up when times are tough. AHHOACON21 will bring back the momentum to continue reaching our goals while we connect with those we have known for many years and meet those we have not had a chance to connect with previously." |
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Dust off your dancing shoes, because Vidya Vox is coming to AAHOACON21. Set to take the stage during the Gala Reception this Friday evening, this international recording artist has more than 7.3 million YouTube subscribers and 800 million views, and she has performed across the globe. Based in the U.S., her career has taken her across the country as well as to Hong Kong, Dubai, Suriname, Trinidad, Mauritius, and many other places.
Get ready for an exciting evening of entertainment, and join us as we close out AAHOACON21 in style!
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Have you registered for AAHOACON21? It's not too late, and we'd love to welcome you to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas for a week of education, networking, entertainment, and much more.
This will be AAHOA's first in-person convention since 2019, as the pandemic forced us to hold our 2020 convention virtually. And while the 2020 event was a marvel of technology and innovation, there is nothing quite like gathering in person with friends old and new to network, learn, get inspired, and make deals on the Trade Show floor. Be assured that your health and safety are our utmost priorities and that AAHOA will take all necessary precautions to ensure AAHOACON21 is a safe and enjoyable event.
The road to recovery runs through AAHOA, and a great way to start that journey on the right foot is at AAHOACON21. We hope to see you there.
Once again, AAHOA is proud to offer several certification sessions for attendees, covering a host of vital and timely topics. Please try and make the time to attend at least one of these highly educational sessions tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 3 Certificate Session: Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Location: C1-C2 Ballroom
Certificate Session: Recourse Series: Know the Law, Protect Your Business, Parts 1 & 2 Time: 2-4 p.m. Location: C3-C4 Ballroom
See p31 of your AAHOACON21 Show Guide for more info.
Looking for something to do after AAHOACON21 wraps? Make sure you check out visitdallas.com for a full list of activities and links to discounted rates especially for AAHOA Members. And good luck picking just a few activities from this list. Like a certain theme park in Orlando, there's more to do in D-Town than you can hope to see in a week, and there's something for everyone.
Sponsored by Best Western Hotels & Resorts, tomorrow evening's Welcome Reception takes place at the The Exchange and Jaxon Beer Garden in downtown Dallas and serves as the official opening for AAHOACON21. This is our chance to celebrate the return of in-person events and networking in an innovative downtown venue.
Join thousands of your fellow attendees and industry peers for an unforgettable celebration of the hospitality industry’s resilience and fortitude as we kick off AAHOACON21 in style.
During the Welcome Reception, we’ll be hosting “AAHOACON21 LIVE! with Sarah, Glenn, and Rupesh Podcast,” so be sure to stop by and say hello!
The AAHOA App is now available! Download it from the Google Play Store, or access it on your mobile device by visiting AAHOA.com/2021App.
New for 2021! The App is not available in the App Store this year, however, it's available on the Google Play Store for Android users. Have an Apple iPhone? Not to worry! See below for full instructions on how to add the app to your Home Screen.
1. Open the Safari app on your phone 2. Type in the URL AAHOA.com/2021App 3. Once on the page, click the middle square button with the "Up" arrow at the bottom of your screen. 4. Scroll down and click the “Add to Home Screen” option. 5. Then, select “Add” in the top right corner.
Once all 5 steps are complete, you'll have the app icon installed on your home screen.
Why Use the App?
- Create a profile and connect with other attendees
- Request meetings and send messages
- Create your own personalized schedule
- Easily access the agenda, event locations, and more
- Visit our exhibitor profiles to plan your Trade Show experience
- Participate in our Trade Show Challenge
- Receive exclusive announcements and event info
- Keep all information about AAHOACON in the palm of your hand
- And more!
Thank you to everyone who has tweeted, posted, shared, and celebrated on social media their journey to and excitement about AAHOACON21. Here's a quick roundup of just a few of our favorites, and we'll share some social media posts from the event tomorrow.
AAHOA would like to thank all our valued sponsors for their support, partnership, and participation at AAHOACON21! You are a vital part of making this event possible. We couldn’t do it without you.
The on-site, printed AAHAOCON21 Show Guide also is available in a digital format. Be sure to check it out here or by clicking the image below.
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