If you were anywhere near Power Plant Live! for our AAHOA Block Party last night, you might be dragging just a tiny bit this morning. What an evening! Judging by the elated expressions on nearly every face we saw, the night was a resounding success.

Today, however, we turn our attention back to education, Trade Show activity, networking, and so much more.

Get your coffee and fuel up with breakfast being served in the registration area, then head over to General Session for a jam-packed agenda that starts promptly at 8:15 a.m. 

From the candidate speeches to the Secretary debate, to special guest appearances, and more, today's General Session is not to be missed.  Our highly anticipated keynote speaker, Jay Shetty, will grace the General Session stage today to share how he’s hard at work to make wisdom go viral. An award-winning storyteller, podcaster, and former monk, Jay was named to Forbes Europe’s 30 Under 30 list and is also the creator of Genius Coaching, a coaching group that aims to help people find purpose through self-awareness. Jay is also the author of “Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day,” which reached the top of the best-seller lists in the U.S., the U.K., and India.

Make plans to join us in Ballrooms 314-317 at 11:30 a.m. for the always-exciting Women Hoteliers Session and Luncheon. This year’s Women Hoteliers Session and Luncheon will feature guest speaker and renowned fighter pilot Heather “Lucky” Penney. 

Most widely recognized for her service on September 11, Penney was part of the first wave of women who went directly into fighters from pilot training. The first and only woman in the 121st Fighter Squadron, Penney deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom for initial combat operations as a nighttime SCUD Hunter in the western deserts of Iraq, also supporting Special Operations Forces.

This will be a one-of-a-kind session with a true pioneer and is not to be missed.

The candidate speeches and Secretary debate take place today during General Session starting at 8:15 a.m. Note we are also streaming this segment LIVE from Baltimore today on our YouTube channel!

General Session doors open at 8 a.m., and programming begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. AAHOA also will be streaming this session LIVE from YouTube starting at 8:15 a.m.  Content in AAHOA’s General Session today includes the candidate speeches and the Secretary debate.  Programming starts promptly at 8:15 a.m. EDT and streaming is open to the public. Programming will be available on demand on YouTube until the polls close on Friday.  Polls Open TODAY! Polls Are Open:   Thursday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT Election results will be announced tomorrow in Halls A-B and on AAHOA's social media between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 15. Good luck to all of the candidates!

Real success is found in the people we empower and inspire, said AAHOACON22 keynote speaker Ray Lewis. A former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion, Defensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl MVP during his 17-year career, Lewis told the audience at Wednesday's General Session that the impact he or anyone else can have on a person's life in just a second is bigger than anything he ever did on the football field.

Lewis said in the lockerroom, it was never just about one person, but what special qualities everyone brought to the team. It's the same for our communities, and so we need to focus on how we can win together, achieve together, and lift each other up.

Before Lewis' keynote, AAHOA attendees learned from a range of speakers on topics all of particular interest to hotel and hospitality professionals. Isabella Casillas Guzman, the current administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration under President Joe Biden, shared what the White House has done and continues to do to support small businesses as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the SBA is committed to providing access to capital, resources to promote revenue growth, and networking opportunties for entreprenuers. With applications for new businesses up 30%, Guzman sees hope amid the resiliency of small business owners.

Another special guest, George Taylor, is an entrepreneur and founder of TRU Colors Brewing, a for-profit brewery with a social mission of stopping violence through economic opportunity. When violence became a reality in Taylor's neighborhood, he was determined to see if the skills that helped him solve problems as an entrepreneur could unite rival gangs in his community. He started Disrupt-U, an eight-week onboarding program that teaches core life and job skills. Taylor said those skills help individuals build belief in themselves, which leads to growth, prosperity, and peace.

Finally, Tyler Morse, Chairman & CEO of MCR Hotels, the fourth-largest owner-operator in the United States with 150 hotels in 37 states, told General Session attendees to run a profits-based business. While revenue is nice, he said, profits are better, and not all revenue is created equal. He emboldened attendees to increase rates – and to increase them with confidence.

Ready for round two of AAHOA Interactive? Be sure to set aside some time in your schedule today to meet with the AAHOA Exhibitors listed below to hear directly about innovative products, services, and exciting announcements you won’t get anywhere else.

During our final day of this unique and innovative offering, you can get an in-person presentation from companies that want to help you make money, save money, and protect your investment.

It's extremely challenging to capture the energy, depth, and enthusiasm of the AAHOACON22 Trade Show floor, but we're still going to try and give you just a glimpse of yesterday's activity. Thanks to everyone who made the first day of Trade Show activity a wonderful experience for everyone involved. Here's to another great day today!

Wednesday's Block Party at Power Plant Live! was a night to remember! AAHOA's biggest party of the year delivered in spectacular fashion, from delicious food, lively music and dancing, and memorable moments made with friends – old and new.

Thank you to everyone who has tweeted, posted, shared, and celebrated on social media their AAHOACON22 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 #AAHOACON22 hashtag.

AAHOA would like to thank all our valued sponsors for their support, partnership, and participation at AAHOACON22! You are a vital part of making this event possible. We couldn’t do it without you.

The on-site, printed AAHAOCON22 Show Guide also is available in a digital format. Get a sneak peek at all convention details – be sure to check it out here or by clicking the image below.