HOTELS LIVE
Leland Pillsbury , founder and chairman of TLG Investment Partners , Fort Lauderdale , Florida , led off the HOTELS Opportunities Conference with a keynote address
HOTELS brings industry back with live event
HOTELS OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE IN MARCH BROUGHT TOGETHER LEADERS FROM THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE MACROS , AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL PIVOTS .
by JEFF WEINSTEIN , EDITOR IN CHIEF
HOTELS helped lead the industry back on March 31 by hosting an in-person event , HOTELS Opportunities Conference , at the Mandarin Oriental , Miami , Florida .
Some 250 industry leaders gathered for the day-long event to network and discuss topics surrounding financial workouts , deals , debt and access to capital . The conference also featured business exhibits and a cocktail VIP mixer and a lunchtime keynote by U . S . Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida , who talked about the current state of the economy in the state and how she is prioritizing job creation in Miami .
“ We are excited to lead the hotel industry back with live events ,” said HOTELS CEO Ali Jahangiri . “ The attendees and speakers represented the best and the brightest of the hotel investment community , and the content was timely , topical and hopefully very valuable and insightful for everyone in the room . We look forward to producing more events in the near future . Watch this space .”
In fact , HOTELS is preparing for its second Opportunities Conference on August 27 back at The Mandarin Oriental , where HOTELS 41st Hotelier of the World awards will be presented along with its first Top 10 awards for leaders in five categories , including ESG , F & B , Independent
Lifestyle Hotels , Emerging Brands and Young Hoteliers .
“ This is the first conference in the country since COVID ,” said Roman Tsunder , CEO of PTTOW !, an invite-only community and summit for creative and inspiring CEOs , CMOs and icons , spanning 70 major industries . “ You guys are the industry leaders .”
In leading a panel on equity markets , fundraising , deal structuring and PACE financing , Hersha Hospitality Trust CEO Jay Shah added a note of thanks to the conference organizer , “ This is a significant moment for the industry and affirms the value of connection .”
Panels in Miami highlighted how to
56 hotelsmag . com May / June 2021