It’s opening day at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio and you can feel the excitement in the air. It’s also the last day of the 2019 AIHP (Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals) Knowledge Sharing Summit and Marketplace. You can feel the camaraderie in the air between summit attendees, marketplace vendors, and AIHP members. After a week of learning from industry experts, networking with fellow lodging professionals, and discovering new products in the marketplace, it feels like all of the bases are loaded. We’re all headed for a home run!

2019 AIHP KNOWLEDGE SHARING SUMMIT

Our sales and marketing team converged in downtown Cincinnati along with almost 500 other attendees for the 2019 AIHP Knowledge Sharing Summit & Marketplace. The theme was baseball, in honor of the conference host city. Cincinnati, Ohio is heralded as the home of American baseball and birthplace of the first professional team. This year the city celebrated its 100th opening day. From AIHP’s very own baseball mascot to the Batter Up Party with corn hole games and stadium snacks, this year’s theme set the tone for many industry home runs to come.

THE PITCH

“The Path to Success is Paved with Knowledge… Find it Here”

THE CATCH

There were 60 content-rich sessions, presentations, and panel discussions organized into four different paths to ensure attendees got the most out of the conference. The Aspiring Innkeeper path was specifically designed for very new lodging professionals, those in the process of purchasing a property, and/or those who are curious about the industry. The other three paths (Back of House, Guest Experience, and Revenue Management) were designed to educate and inspire current industry professionals in areas of opportunity for their businesses. Evening activities like Dine Around, where conversation topics are divided amongst local restaurants and attendees are invited to sign up for an evening of networking, created opportunities for deeper connections and idea creation. Industry game changers from Airbnb to ThinkReservations shared their expertise on how to be successful in 2019. Pat McCauley, our President, delivered presentations on “Are State Associations Dead?” and “Reviving Your Web Presence Before It’s Too Late.”

2019 AIHP HIGHLIGHTS

#bookdirect
What is your strategy to get more direct bookings through your website instead of through OTA’s? This hashtag can help. And, so can we!

Airbnb
Do you still hate Airbnb’s presence in the lodging industry? If so, you may need to understand the current state of the industry better. Let us help you get more familiar.

ADA Compliance
This doesn’t only apply to your physical property. Is your website also compliant? Lodging owners are being sued for non-compliance when all it takes is a few fixes from our website design team.

“Green” Trends
Does your breakfast menu cater to vegetarians and vegans? Tips were shared on how to incorporate green initiatives like water conservation, organic products, and even essential oils into your amenities. Do your website and marketing highlight this eco-trend?

Tech Trends
How to present yourself and the industry as modern and tech-friendly was a hot topic. From the must-know like credit card processing options to the must-have like digital welcome books and customized travel guides. Let us create a downloadable guide for your guests!

Yield Management
Set the muffins down and pick up a calculator. You have to have an understanding of your business’ financial to be successful. Does your booking engine have tools to help you accomplish this? We partner with one that does.

We always enjoy attending hospitality industry conferences as it is a great opportunity to get to know our clients even better and to meet new ones. Last year, we went to Norfolk, VA for the conference and next year you’ll find us in Albuquerque, NM (February 24th – 27th). If you plan on attending and would like to set up a time to chat, let us know. We can’t wait to see you there!