Nearly 550 days after its 2020 event, the American Lodging Investment Summit gathered for its 20th anniversary event on Monday with the support of nearly 1,800 in-person attendees, according to a spokesperson for the Burba Hotel Network, a division of the Northstar Travel Group, which also owns BTN.
The Covid-19 pandemic settled in the United States just weeks after the group's January 2020 conference, forcing nearly a full stop to meetings and business travel for more than a year, and throwing the hospitality industry into a relentless spiral. Positive conference attendee numbers and a roll-up-their sleeves attitude, however, indicate the industry is ready to build toward the future, said BHN president Jeff Higley.
“The speakers, sponsors and delegates at
ALIS and ALIS Law are industry leaders ... [and they] have sent us a clear message that
they want to lead by example as the entire travel industry steps into recovery
mode," he said. "They, along with all of us at Northstar Travel Group, want to demonstrate
that conducting large-scale events in a safe and efficient manner can be
productive for business while also helping to stimulating the economy ... across the U.S. and around the
world."
The event hasn't been without challenges. Los Angeles county reinstated its mask mandate on June 15, and everyone participating in public gatherings indoors is required to wear a face covering. The latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are also in place for the event. Higley acknowledged both current and future challenges, but remained optimistic about the hospitality industry's willingness to work toward positive outcomes.
"It will be a ongoing big task for the entire travel-and-tourism industry
to recover from the hard hits it took during the pandemic-and there will be
twists and turns along the way—such as Los Angeles County’s indoor mask mandate
we are navigating at ALIS and ALIS Law. We’re grateful that the
hotel-investment community is taking this task to heart and are demonstrating
the lead-by-example approach that’s needed to get things rolling again."
ALIS sponsors and executive participants hailed from brands like Accor, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott International, Park Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham International.