Welcome to Dallas! Are you well rested, fed, and hydrated? We hope so, because today is the first day of AAHOACON21. Today's agenda includes registration for attendees (in D Lobby) and exhibitors (AB Lobby), as well as a couple of education sessions you won't want to miss. And we'll close the day out at the Welcome Reception at The Exchange and Jaxon Beer Garden. It's going to be a great day in Dallas! Here's to a great week networking with colleagues and friends, and plenty of education on issues affecting our industry.

Don't miss these sessions today!

Certificate Session - Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA
2-4 p.m.
C1-C2 Ballroom
AAHOA has partnered with Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking (BEST) to offer free Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA at the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show. This training includes a review of the risks to you and your hotel, the people involved in trafficking, the process for reporting to law enforcement, and how you and your staff can prevent trafficking in your hotel. Upon completion of the training, you will earn a certificate.

Certificate Session - Recourse Series, Know the Law, Protect Your Business, Parts 1 & 2
2-4 p.m.
C3-C4 Ballroom
The tools and knowledge you will gain in these sessions will assist in protecting your property from liability and help save your bottom line. This series will be broken into two, one-hour sessions. The first session will focus on employment and ADA law, and the second will focus on how to avoid costly hotel occupancy tax audits and nonpaying stay-over guests. At the end of each session, you will have the tools you need to better protect your business from costly lawsuits and audits. After attending the series, you will earn a certificate of completion.

As a reminder, the safety and health of our attendees and exhibitors is AAHOA's top priority, and we have taken numerous steps to ensure everyone experiences AAHOACON21 in the safest possible way.

Sponsored by Best Western Hotels & Resorts, tonight's Welcome Reception takes place at the The Exchange and Jaxon Beer Garden in downtown Dallas and will officially open AAHOACON21. Please join us in an innovative downtown venue to celebrate the return of in-person events and networking.

Thousands of your fellow attendees and industry peers will be there for an unforgettable celebration of the
hospitality industry’s resilience and fortitude.

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!

Tomorrow and Thursday, head over to the Trade Show floor to hear directly from AAHOA Sponsors and Exhibitors about innovative products and services, and receive exciting announcements you won’t get anywhere else. This year’s AAHOA Interactive has two stages, with presentations across two days, so be sure to stop by and grab a seat to hear directly from companies that want to help you make money, save money, and protect your investment.

Be Sure to Attend Tomorrow's General Session to Hear from the 3-Time Super Bowl Champion and MVP of Super Bowl XXVII

Troy Aikman has harnessed the drive and dedication that formed the foundation of his Hall of Fame football career with the Dallas Cowboys in numerous successful business ventures since retiring from the game following the 2000 season. Through broadcasting, real estate, and The Troy Aikman Foundation, Aikman has quickly discovered numerous ways to keep himself occupied in “retirement.”

We hope you pace yourself today on Day One of AAHOACON21 because when the Trade Show floor opens tomorrow, you'll need all the energy you can get. WIth a space spanning more than 417,000 square feet (the equivalent of more than SEVEN football fields), there will be booths as far as the eye can see. Plus, education sessions ramp up in earnest tomorrow. Lunch (12-2 p.m.) will be provided right next to the Trade Show floor so attendees can maximize their time meeting with exhibitors. Many exhibitors will offer exclusive deals and discounts to attendees and also will host giveaways, all in an effort to meet with as many attendees as possible. Don't miss your opportunity to make a deal that could positively impact your business.

Thank you to everyone who has tweeted, posted, shared, and celebrated on social media their AAHOACON21 experience thus far.

Here's a quick roundup of just a few of our favorites.

Don't forget to tag AAHOA in your posts and include the #AAHOACON21 hashtag.

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.