Alis Hat Lgs

Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, addresses attendees at ALIS. This week, thousands of hotel executives, investors, developers, and hospitality professionals from across the country gathered at the JW Marriott & Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the 2019 Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). According to James Burba, chair of ALIS and co-founder of BHN, this year’s conference was the largest in ALIS’ history, with 3,000 attendees, and also one of the more diverse conferences, with 22 percent women, the largest share compared to past years, and 15 percent Millennials. “The demographics are changing, and that’s really good for our industry,” Burba said.

The mood at the conference—a mix of optimism and caution—reflected the outlook for the lodging industry: continued positive performance through 2019 with some uncertainty beyond. During Monday’s Opening General Session, Burba noted that much of last year’s conversation centered around the future and the “inevitable end to the good times,” concluding that 2018 would be a good year. That forecast turned out to be correct, Burba added—the industry developed new hotels but didn’t overbuild, and performance was solid. “In the 34 years I’ve had of chairing this conference here in L.A., 10 years of consecutive growth has only happened one other time—1991-2001,” Burba noted.

The conference began with conversations around macro trends and current events that are impacting the industry—from global tourism numbers and labor challenges to the recent U.S. Government shutdown.

Geoff Ballotti, chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, called attention to several issues that the industry is facing today during the Opening General Session: workforce development, guest and employee safety, ending online booking scams, and leveling the playing field with short-term rentals. Chip Rogers,, added that other issues include ADA lawsuits and addressing human trafficking.

Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, addresses attendees at ALIS. This week, thousands of hotel executives, investors, developers, and hospitality professionals from across the country gathered at the JW Marriott & Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the 2019 Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). According to James Burba, chair of ALIS and co-founder of BHN, this year’s conference was the largest in ALIS’ history, with 3,000 attendees, and also one of the more diverse conferences, with 22 percent women, the largest share compared to past years, and 15 percent Millennials. “The demographics are changing, and that’s really good for our industry,” Burba said.

The mood at the conference—a mix of optimism and caution—reflected the outlook for the lodging industry: continued positive performance through 2019 with some uncertainty beyond. During Monday’s Opening General Session, Burba noted that much of last year’s conversation centered around the future and the “inevitable end to the good times,” concluding that 2018 would be a good year. That forecast turned out to be correct, Burba added—the industry developed new hotels but didn’t overbuild, and performance was solid. “In the 34 years I’ve had of chairing this conference here in L.A., 10 years of consecutive growth has only happened one other time—1991-2001,” Burba noted.

The conference began with conversations around macro trends and current events that are impacting the industry—from global tourism numbers and labor challenges to the recent U.S. Government shutdown.

Geoff Ballotti, chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, called attention to several issues that the industry is facing today during the Opening General Session: workforce development, guest and employee safety, ending online booking scams, and leveling the playing field with short-term rentals. Chip Rogers,, added that other issues include ADA lawsuits and addressing human trafficking.