Things are changing in the hospitality industry. Whether its ongoing labor struggles, sustainability, tech innovations or the proliferation of segments such as luxury lifestyle and extended stay — hoteliers have plenty of reasons to gather, network, share insights and learn from one another in 2024. And they’ve already started doing so.
At the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in June, for example, Marriott launched a new transient midscale brand, dubbed Project Mid-T, and SBE unveiled details for its ‘smart lifestyle’ brand Project HQ. And events continue throughout the year.
Below is an updated look at the top industry events in the remainder of 2024, as well as a look back at those that have already happened.
HITEC (June 24–27 in Charlotte, North Carolina)
Back in the U.S. in 2024, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference brings together hundreds of hospitality leaders from more than 60 countries to learn about innovative tech solutions in the space. Hosted in Toronto last year, the event saw more than 4,500 attendees and 325 company exhibitors. In 2024, companies set to showcase their tech on the expo floor include Amadeus, which last month launched a booking solution aimed at personalizing the guest experience, and Canary Technologies, which recently partnered with Wyndham on a new guest experience platform.
The Lodging Conference (Oct. 7–10 in Phoenix)
For nearly 30 years, this event has joined some of the hotel industry's most influential owners, operators, investors and C-suite executives to strategize about development, finance, franchising, management, construction, design and operations. Representatives from JLL, Highgate, Lodging Econometrics and hotel companies Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and more spoke on panel discussions at the 2023 Lodging Conference. The 2024 event will be held at The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.
The Hospitality Show (Oct. 28–30 in San Antonio, Texas)
The American Hotel and Lodging Association and Hotel Management will kick off their second-annual conference and expo at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The event aims to connect hotel industry leaders under one roof to discover insights from a lineup of more than 100 speakers and 320 exhibit vendors. The show also boasts more than 13 hours of networking time.
At the inaugural event last year, executives from IHG Hotels & Resorts, RLJ Lodging Trust and Sonesta International Hotels Corp. spoke about changing trends in travel, while other panels focused on personalization, hotel marketing strategies, generative AI and recruiting emerging talent amid ongoing labor shortages.
Inspire Luxury Hospitality Conference (Dec. 4-5 in Las Vegas)
For more than a decade, this event has brought together some of the biggest innovators and leaders in luxury hospitality. The conference provides the opportunity to network and connect with investors, developers, owners and operators in the luxury space, while learning about cutting-edge products and services in the industry. Speakers for the 2024 event are still being determined, but last year, participants included Marriott International, Hyatt and IHG Hotels & Resorts. This year, ILHC will be hosted at the newly opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
