• The Lodging Conference: This annual meeting of the minds will soon enter its third decade of existence. Over 2500 hotel industry executives, owners, investors, and operators gather to discuss topics ranging from finance, design, and management while indulging in activities like golf and pickleball. Learn more here.

• Phocuswright Conference: Travel data firm Phocuswright hosts this three-day conference that features speakers, networking and social events, a Young Leaders forum, and presentations by travel industry startups. Learn more here. 

• ITB Berlin: Hoteliers have flocked to ITB Berlin for over 50 years, making it one of the longest-running hotel industry events. It’s held in Berlin every March, and the conference features lectures, interviews, workshops, and an award ceremony. Learn more here. 

ITB Berlin’s 50th anniversary expo at Messe Berlin (source)

• HITEC: Produced by the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals association, HITEC, or the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, is where hoteliers go to learn about what’s next in the hospitality technology space and meet vendors from around the world. Learn more here.

• Skift Global Forum: Executives and thought leaders from all facets of the travel industry (hotels, air, destinations, OTAs) come to this New York City event, produced by travel industry news outlet Skift, to learn and network. Past speakers include CEOs of Airbnb, Hilton, and Delta. Learn more here. 

Skift Global Forum 2022 (source)

• Skift Future of Lodging Forum: While Skift’s Global Forum event focuses on the broader travel industry, the Future of Lodging Forum narrows in on the hotel and short-term rental space, with speakers from companies like Airbnb, Blueground, Marriott, and Highgate. Learn more here.

• Hotel Data Conference: Held every August in Nashville, HDC is hosted by hotel data firm Smith Travel Research. Revenue management leaders come to this event to learn about market trends and best practices that will help them reach RevPAR goals.  Learn more here.

• IPW: One of the largest trade shows for travel suppliers and buyers in the US, IPW has generated over $5B in future travel sales at its annual event. Travel buyers come from 70 countries to learn about US destinations, activities, and trends. Learn more here.  

IPW features travel brands from across the United States (source) 

• ILTM North America: Held in the Bahamas, the International Luxury Travel Market trade show connects high-end North American hotels, destinations, and travel brands with travel agents and media professionals over this four-day event. Learn more here.

• Hotec Operations: This annual trade show that connects hotel operators to purchasing companies and vendors selling virtually everything you could need in your hotel. Attendees can pre-book 1:1 meetings to make the most of their time. Learn more here. 

• HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Week: Two of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s biggest events occur in the same week: the Marketing Strategy Conference and HSMAI ROC Americas, which is one of the industry’s largest gatherings of revenue management professionals. Learn more here. 

• HX: The Hotel Experience: Hotel operators and procurement professionals flock to this New York City trade show to discover products, meet vendors, and purchase operating supplies and equipment for their properties. HX happens at the same time and in the same convention center as BDNY, and admission includes access to both events. Learn more here. 

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HX is held annually at New York City’s Javits Center (source)

• International Hotel Technology Forum: This conference presents tech-focused content and speakers from brands like Accor, Wyndham and Best Western. Around 200 hotel executives attend every year, allowing attendees to get to know each other. Learn more here. 

• Independent Hotel Show - Miami: Geared toward luxury and boutique hoteliers, this UK-founded show added a US event for the first time in 2023. Independent hotel general managers, owners, and executives attend to share ideas and network. Learn more here. 

• INDIE Congress: The Independent Lodging Congress’ three-day INDIE Congress event features speakers, panels, breakout sessions, and social events to allow independent hoteliers to learn and expand their networks. Learn more here.

• Boutique Hotel Owners Conference: Formerly known as the Boutique Lifestyle Leadership Conference, this event caters to hoteliers who take a unique approach to hospitality. Sessions explore the challenges and opportunities that boutique hoteliers face. Learn more here. 

The 2022 International Hotel Technology Forum in Vienna (source)

• International Hospitality Investment Forum: This three-day event brings over 180 speakers from global brands, 500 hotel executives, and 500 investors, plus hundreds of attendees and vendors, to learn about trends, build partnerships, and participate in breakout sessions. Learn more here.  

• ALIS: Hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) is the world’s largest hotel investment conference. Delegates attend to hear from industry leaders and learn from the investment sector’s brightest minds. Learn more here.

Speakers at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) (source)

• NYU Hospitality Investment Conference: For nearly 50 years, hotel investors have gathered at this New York City conference to exchange ideas, network, and analyze data to make better investment decisions. Topics include design, development, franchising, legal issues, IPOs, and more. Learn more here. 

• Boutique Hotel Investment Conference: Hotel investors, real estate firms, banks, executives, and vendors that specialize in boutique hotels are all invited to this event, which is produced by BLLA. In addition to networking, attendees discuss current challenges and strategies to get the highest ROI. Learn more here. 

• GBTA Convention: The annual Global Business Travel Association show has run for over 50 years and brings together business travel buyers, suppliers, and vendors. Attendees can network, learn from expert-led sessions, and dive into business travel data. Learn more here. 

• Business Travel Lodging Summit America: Designed with business travel buyers in mind, this one-day conference has sessions hosted by industry leaders and discussions about hotel sourcing, travel trends, and the RFP process. Learn more here.

Attendees and exhibitors from all facets of the travel industry at the GBTA Convention (source)

• HD Expo and Conference: The leading event for the hospitality design industry, the HD Expo and Conference brings together the latest and greatest products for design professionals to learn about and an inspiring group of speakers ranging from designers to architects to developers. This three-day conference is held in Las Vegas each spring. Learn more here.

• Boutique Design New York: This design-focused trade show is for hospitality designers who want to meet vendors, learn about new trends, and purchase hard-to-find products. BDNY happens at the same time and in the same convention center as HX, and admission includes access to both events. Learn more here. 

BDNY connects buyers and vendors in the hospitality design industry. (source)

• Hospitality Leadership and Design Conference: Held in London and several other locations throughout the year, this event gives hotel owners, designers, executives, brand, and suppliers an opportunity to discuss trends in the design sector and explore the future of the industry. Learn more here.

• Hotec Design: 1-on-1 meetings are the focus of Hotec Design, where hoteliers and designers can interface with suppliers and vendors. Educational sessions give attendees a chance to learn about the latest trends and developments in this sector. Learn more here.

• Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast: Held in Myrtle Beach, SC every January, this trade show connects over 5000 hoteliers and hospitality professionals based in the Southeast US with over 300 vendors and suppliers of all kinds of products, from linens to golf carts. Admission is free for hoteliers. Learn more here. 

• New England Inns & Resorts Association Annual Conference: Hoteliers in the six New England states can attend this annual gathering to celebrate wins, discuss challenges, and network with other leaders and vendors. Learn more here.

Hoteliers from New England hotels attend the New England Inns & Resorts Association Annual Conference (source) 

• HAC Conference: The Hotel Association of Canada’s annual conference is the most highly attended hotel industry event in the country. In addition to networking opportunities, there’s an awards ceremony with prizes going to the individuals, hotels, and companies that pushed Canada’s travel industry forward. Learn more here.

• WTM London: The London edition of World Travel Market is one of the top B2B travel buying events in Europe. Both travel suppliers and travel buyers can attend this trade show, which also features educational sessions and opportunities to speak with the press. Learn more here. 

• Phocuswright Europe: The European version of the Phocuswright conference gives hoteliers and owners insight into data and trends with a collection of industry leader speakers and networking opportunities. As a bonus, the entire conference is fully carbon offset. Learn more here. 

Panelists from leading travel companies at Phocuswright Europe (source) 

• FITUR: This massive travel trade show welcomes over 130,000 attendees, and it’s open to the public. Over 8000 vendors join the exhibition space, where travel buyers and suppliers can do business and share knowledge about the hotel, air, cruise, and tourism sectors. Learn more here. 

• Equipotel: The top hotel industry trade show in LATAM, Equipotel is where Latin American hotels, spas, hospitals, and restaurants come to learn about and buy the latest products from vendors who specialize in architecture, design, kitchen equipment, linens, technology, and more. Learn more here. 

• Tianguis Turístico: An annual event for nearly 50 years, this is the main tourism trade show in Mexico, connecting suppliers and buyers (tour operators, travel agents, etc.) with a focus on Mexican destinations. Learn more here. 

• WTM Latin America: The Latin American edition of the World Travel Market show features nearly 600 suppliers exhibiting their products and services to an audience of travel brands and travel buyers. The convention gets over 20,000 attendees who come to do business and expand their networks. Learn more here. 

The massive trade show floor at Equipotel in Sao Paolo. (source)

• NoVacancy Hotel & Accommodation Expo: One of Australia’s top hotel conferences, NoVacancy presents hospitality industry leaders with educational sessions, networking events, and access to thousands of suppliers over two full days. Learn more here. 

• Hotel Investment Conference Australia: Hotel development leaders, investors, and executives join this annual conference that focuses on the hotel and tourism industry in Australia and New Zealand. Learn more here. 

• Digital Travel Summit APAC: This conference is designed for hoteliers and hospitality industry professionals in Asia, offering networking opportunities and educational sessions. Past speaker lineups have included executives from Traveloka, Etihad Airlines, Changi Airport Group, and Marriott. Learn more here. 

• Travel Tech Asia: This one-day conference is an excellent one for revenue management and distribution professionals in APAC to attend. Speakers and breakout sessions tackle exciting and challenging questions about the future of the industry. Learn more here.  

• Arabian Travel Market: Produced by the same group as the WTM conventions, Arabian Travel Market is one of the biggest travel buying events in the Middle East. Attendees include hotels, travel agencies, technology vendors, airlines, and DMOs. Learn more here. 

Attendees from around the world at The Hotel Show Dubai. (source)

• The Hotel Show Dubai: The Middle East’s largest hotel industry trade show brings together over 7000 attendees, 200 exhibitors and over 100 speakers to discuss industry trends, explore new technology, and network with potential vendors and partners. Learn more here.

• WTM Africa: Travel suppliers and buyers from over 100 countries attend WTM’s Africa trade show, which also features dozens of educational sessions and nearly 200 speakers who present on market trends, technology, and best practices. Learn more here. 

• ILTM Africa: The Africa-focused edition of the International Luxury Travel Market event connects hotels with a curated group of travel agents, tour operators, and destination marketing organizations. Learn more here. 

WTM Africa in Cape Town in 2022. (source)

• Stay Wyse: Focused on the hostel industry, this event connects accommodation suppliers with buyers from around the world, in addition to educational and networking sessions for professionals in the youth travel sector. Learn more here. 

• WYSTC: The World Youth and Student Travel Conference is one of the biggest travel buying events for the youth, group, and educational travel sector. This annual conference started in 1992, and each year features speakers, networking opportunities, and workshops. Learn more here. 

• Glamping Show: For professionals in the emerging glamping sector, the Glamping Show is the premier opportunity to network with others in the space, learn from industry leaders, and discover the latest and greatest products. Learn more here.  

• AAHOA Convention & Trade Show: Focused on hotel owners, the annual Asian American Hotel Owners Association event welcomes organization members from around the country for networking, learning, and trading with vendors and exhibitors. Learn more here.

Hotel owners gather at the AAHOA annual conference. (source)

• Women in Travel and Hospitality: Hosted by the Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network (TIEWN) and produced by the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA), this event gathers women leaders in the hospitality industry for two days of networking, brainstorming, and inspiration. Learn more here. 

• Mountain Travel Symposium: Specifically for travel professionals and executives from mountain destinations around the world, this event features not only educational opportunities and a trade show, but also two networking ski days. The conference is held in a different mountain destination every year. Learn more here.  

• National HR in Hospitality Conference: This annual conference is designed for human resources leaders in the hotel industry and includes speakers and breakout sessions that explore legal and practical aspects of HR. Learn more here. 

It is important for hotel professionals to attend industry tradeshows because they provide a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, exhibitors, and providers, as well as to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the hospitality industry.

At these trade shows, industry professionals can learn about new hotel technology, explore different event venues and meeting spaces, and discover innovative approaches to wellness and digital marketing. They can also connect with providers of guest rooms, meeting rooms, and conference rooms, and learn about the latest hotel investment conference opportunities.

Some popular trade shows in the hotel industry include The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, the Hospitality Conference in Columbus, the Hotel Investment Conference in New York, and the IHG Expo in Atlanta. Other notable events include the Marriott Digital Marketing Expo in Los Angeles, the Hilton Wellness Conference in Miami, and the Westin Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Attending these events in person allows hoteliers to network with other professionals, share best practices, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations in the industry. They can also explore different event spaces and check-in with exhibitors to see the latest products and services available to improve the guest experience.

Trade shows provide a forum for hotel professionals to exchange ideas and learn from industry leaders, and they offer valuable opportunities for planners to find the right event venue or meeting space to meet their specific needs. Whether they are looking for a conference center with ample meeting space or a riverfront property with a focus on wellness, attending industry events like tradeshows is an important way for hotel professionals to stay informed and engaged in the industry.