Good morning, AAHOACON23! If you’re reading this just as it's being delivered, you may still be burning the midnight oil from last night’s Welcome Reception and Late Night Karaoke, or perhaps you’re one of the early risers who took part in this morning’s yoga and meditation session. If so, kudos to you for already making this year's AAHOACON an experience to remember.

We hope everyone is excited for a full day of activity, and if you feel yourself dragging, there will be plenty of opportunities to grab some caffeine and a snack to power through the day. Here we go!

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, relationship building, communication, and leadership techniques – providing you with the knowledge that will help drive collaboration resulting in high performance.

What: Landslide Victory - AAHOA HerOwnership Women’s Event/Luncheon
When: Today, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Concourse Hall, LACC

Sponsored by

Growing up in the business and working in the business are not the same thing as leading the business. 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. For many, that means answering several key questions. Should you keep building infrastructure to manage your growing portfolio better? How much involvement do you really want with daily operations? Should you partner with a management company? If so, 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.

What: It’s Your Time! (AAHOA Young Professionals Event)
When: Today, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Where: 411 Theater, LACC

BEST Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training, Sponsored by AAHOA, 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.

Today - 4-5 p.m. - Room 404 AB, LACC
Friday, April 14 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Room 404 AB, LACC

Join us from 7:30 to 10 p.m. tonight as we pull from the energy, vibe, tastes, and sounds of the Streets of Los Angeles at the AAHOACON23 Block Party! Located at the North Plaza along the street corners of L.A. Live, attendees will come together for an incredible few hours to experience talented street musicians such as General Zooz, eclectic food trucks, and iconic elements taken from the most well-known neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Be sure to wear your AAHOA gear as we celebrate the largest AAHOACON ever and the first fully sold-out trade show.

What: AAHOACON23 Block Party
When: Tonight, 7:30-10 p.m.
Where: Peachtree Plaza, LACC & North Plaza, West Hall A
Attire: Casual attire or AAHOA shirts/jackets

Sponsored by

Thank you to everyone who has tweeted, posted, shared, and celebrated on social media their #AAHOACON23 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 #AAHOACON23 hashtag. 

AAHOA would like to thank all our valued sponsors for their support, partnership, and participation at AAHOACON23! You are a vital part of making this event possible. We couldn’t do it without you.

The on-site, printed AAHOACON23 Show Guide also is available in a digital format. Get a sneak peek at the all convention details – be sure to check it out here or by clicking the image below.