Dennis Nessler

🏨 Liam Brown, Marriott International's Group President for U.S. and Canada, is the new AHLA Vice Chair for 2025. Brown, influenced by a mentor to pursue hotel management, transferred from University College of Dublin to study hospitality at Trinity College Dublin. He began his U.S. career in 1989 with Appleton Inns, which was soon acquired by Marriott. As AHLA Vice Chair, he plans to support the hospitality industry's growth, the guest experience, and career opportunities, while working alongside AHLA Chair Mitch Patel. His outlook for the lodging industry in 2025 is cautiously optimistic with expected steady growth.

📈 At the ALIS conference, Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, emphasized employee experience and dedicated training for all positions, with a 7-year tenure. Red Roof's president Zack Gharib, there for roughly a year, highlighted culture elevation and core values (hospitality, adaptability, belonging, impact, trust, and success), while John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville, stressed the brand's unique culture. Jim Merkel, CEO of Rockbridge, mentioned a rebranding focused on purpose and career opportunities.

🏖️ C-level executives at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles expressed optimism for the travel industry in interviews and panels, anticipating strong travel demand. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano highlighted sustained interest in travel and experiences across demographics. U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman emphasized the industry must address obstacles due to high demand. AHLA President Rosanna Maietta highlighted the ease of travel and booking, while IHG CEO Jolyon Bulley cited strong airline indicators for future confidence. A recent Jones Lang LaSalle report suggests deal volume could increase by 15 to 25 percent this year, with expectations for a rise in transactions. CEOs, including Wyndham's Geoff Ballotti and Hilton's Chris Nassetta, anticipate an active transactions market. Capuano identified the availability of construction debt and labor market concerns as industry challenges for 2025.

🍴 Steve Palmer, president of Indigo Road Hospitality, oversees 45 restaurants and 6 hotels, emphasizing robust training programs, especially post-pandemic, to onboard employees with less experience but the right attitude. Sean Kreiman, SVP of CHMWarnick, stresses hiring passionate staff and leveraging training tools, including Proph+IT, CHMWarnick's business intelligence platform with labor tools, offered at a reasonable price to owners and operators. Indigo Road provides a home loan program, pays for continuing education, and offers free mental health care to support and attract associates. They also conduct a Hospitality University for advanced learning in Charleston. Creating a positive culture has been key to attracting potential employees.