What is a hospitality event?
A hospitality event is a gathering where business owners, exhibitors, and consultants can come together to network, learn, and build relationships.
Globally, the industry is worth almost $5,000 billion so hospitality events can encompass different kinds of events and attendees, from thought-leadership conferences, to product showcases, to festivals, and more.
For hoteliers, hospitality events will usually be about finding new strategies, products, or partners to grow the success of their business.
This blog will tell you everything you need to know about attending hospitality events as a hotelier.
Table of contents
Why is attending hospitality events essential for hoteliers?
Hospitality events can be valuable for accommodation providers to attend for a number of reasons, including:
1. Increasing knowledge and learning new ideas
Attending an event which industry experts are also attending or speaking at is a great opportunity to ensure you can keep up with the latest trends, data, and strategic thinking.
You can also gain inspiration from speaking with other hoteliers and understanding what they are doing to drive results at their own business.
Usually you’ll have access to workshops, presentations, speaking panels, and even booked appointments to learn something new or dig into particular topics that interest you.
For instance, maybe you were on the fence about investing in new hotel software to run your business. Speaking to vendors, such as SiteMinder, who attend events will allow you to delve deeper into the potential growth your hotel can achieve with technology solutions.
2. Networking and strengthening relationships
Meeting people in person gives you the unique opportunity to have meaningful conversations that are harder to achieve via phone or email.
Whether it’s with other accommodation providers, software companies, expert consultants, or suppliers, talking together at events can lead to new opportunities for you to maximise performance and revenue at your hotel and the various departments within it.
Staying connected in this way is important because it means you don’t miss out on the latest news and developments, and you are able to feel part of the larger hospitality community.
3. Personal Development
There is always room for personal growth and attending industry events is the perfect place to kickstart it.
With a range of experts converging together, you’ll be sure you see ideas, thought processes, and products that you haven’t come across before which you can use to your own advantage.
You might also encounter workshops that focus on building particular skills, such as leadership, management, or analysis.
It’s also a chance to establish yourself as a strong brand and a voice of credibility within the industry.
See why SiteMinder is sought after by event attendees Learn more about SiteMinder’s platform and see how your hotel can unlock its full revenue potential
What to expect at different types of hospitality events
Corporate hospitality events may differ in themes and structure depending on their purpose and likely attendees. Examples include hospitality industry conferences, product demonstrations, networking events, corporate retreats, and VIP packages at sport and entertainment events.
But despite the differences in these events for hospitality industry professionals, there will usually be some common elements which include:
- Welcome and registration: Arriving at the event will see you greeted warmly by hosts and guided through the registration/check-in process.
- Networking: Before and in-between official talks or workshops, there’ll be plenty of time for informal conversations to network and form relationships.
- Food and beverages: Catering is always a huge part of events, especially in the hospitality industry. This is another chance for informal interactions.
- Formal proceedings: Depending on the event, there will be time slots and stages dedicated to talks, panels, or workshops that you’ll have the choice of attending. At other events, such as an expo, it might be less structured or include booked appointments with vendors.
- Entertainment: During breaks there may be entertainment to keep everyone engaged, or post-events parties to keep the networking going.
Overall, the activities at a corporate hospitality event are all designed to encourage collaboration and conversation. Attendees stand to gain new and valuable relationships, business opportunities, industry insights, first mover advantages and more.
Examples of popular hospitality industry events around the world
If you’re interested in the hotel industry’s biggest events, including those that SiteMinder attends, we have a full guide for this year that you can read.
In general, here are a few hospitality events examples that might be of interest to hoteliers:
Hospitality event #1: HD Expo and Conference
- Description: The largest hospitality design conference in the US which showcases products, services and the latest industry developments.
- Who goes: Interior designers, architects, hoteliers and hospitality executives.
- What’s there: Exhibitor showcases, expert panels, networking opportunities and insights into future design trends.
Hospitality event #2: ExpHotel
- Description: Held annually in Cancun, this event focuses on hotels and resorts and showcases all manner of products and services for hotel operations.
- Who goes: Hotel owners, general managers, procurement teams and suppliers.
- What’s there: Product exhibitions, B2B networking, industry seminars and live demos.
Hospitality event #3: Fitur International Tourism Fair
- Description: Hosted in Madrid, this event is one of the world’s largest annual gatherings for tourism professionals. It’s a great place for brands to promote themselves and highlight new products and services.
- Who goes: Tourism boards, travel agencies, hospitality brands and investors.
- What’s there: Country pavilions, business meetings, panel discussions and tourism trend insights.
Hospitality event #4: HX: The Hotel Experience
- Description: Perfect for discovering ideas and solutions for improving operations and guest experience at your hotel.
- Who goes: Hoteliers, property managers, hospitality investors and service providers.
- What’s there: Educational sessions, product showcases, networking opportunities and expert-led discussions.
Hospitality event #5: NoVacancy
- Description: A world-class event for accommodation providers to understand how to tackle modern challenges and learn more about technology solutions.
- Who goes: Hotel owners, accommodation providers and hospitality tech companies.
- What’s there: Innovation showcases, keynote speakers, industry workshops and networking events.
It’s important to check which events are going to be held in your city in advance, so you can register to attend and organise any appointments that you are interested in – or decide which day to attend if it’s a multi-day event.
All major cities around the world play host to hospitality events held by associations, organisations, tourism boards, and suppliers. No matter where you are or what you want to learn, there will be an event for you.
Raúl Amestoy, Assitant Manager Hotel Gran Bilbao
Hospitality networking events and how they benefit your hotel
For networking specifically, there are plenty of events in the US and abroad to check out.
Hospitality associations like AHLA (American Hotel & Lodging Association) and AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) commonly hold events with educational sessions and networking opportunities. These include awards days, leadership summits, and thought-leadership conferences.
The Hotel Electronic Distribution Association (HEDNA) is another organisation which hosts valuable networking events – particularly the annual HEDNA Conference and Exhibition.
There’s also the annual International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show (IHMRS), hosted in New York City, which features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services for the hospitality industry.
Be sure to keep an eye on SiteMinder’s event page to see where you can find us.
The value of networking events for hotels
Networking is as important in hospitality as almost any industry you care to think of. Committing to regular events can help you in the following ways:
Staying competitive in a changing market
Networking events can be a goldmine for insights into emerging trends, technology and guest preferences. You gain access to the latest knowledge that will guide the direction of hospitality into the future, allowing you to not only stay competitive, but get ahead of the pack.
Learning from industry leaders
Networking events are an incredible opportunity to build industry connections. You can develop critical relationships with suppliers, investors, talent and key industry figures, while learning new things from the brightest minds. Be sure to attend expert talks, panel discussions and workshops to gain valuable insights into your industry.
Finding new business opportunities
You can increase visibility and credibility within the hospitality sector by showing your face and potentially sponsoring or even running events. Combine this brand exposure with the opportunity to discover new partnership opportunities and potential markets, and networking events can lead to tangible growth for your business.
How to make the most of networking events
How do you make the most of the opportunities presented by the best hospitality networking events? The following tips can help:
Research and plan ahead
Set clear goals for your networking. Define what you want to achieve at an event: finding new suppliers, learning about hospitality trends, meeting industry leaders. Identify people you want to speak to and discussions you want to attend. It’s also wise to develop an elevator pitch that introduces your hotel business and tells people what sets you apart.
Build meaningful relationships
When you’re at the event, avoid being a wallflower. Ask questions, participate in discussions and show interest in others – you never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn. The more events you attend, the easier this becomes, as you begin to recognise the same faces and build deeper connections with movers and shakers.
Leverage social media and digital tools
While it’s wise to bring physical business cards for those who prefer them, digital equivalents can be a little more effective. A QR code can make it super simple for people to connect with you through email, LinkedIn and other social channels.
Follow-up and strengthen connections
Follow up with the people you met in the days after the event. Send a quick LinkedIn message or email to reinforce any connections you’ve made, and begin exploring potential collaborations.
