Do you wish to get a better insight into the latest hotel industry trends, grow your network and learn everything about the latest technology? Then mark your calendar now for some of the upcoming hotel trade shows and events for the rest of the year. These events are excellent platforms to showcase your hotel’s USP, meet with industry experts, interact with IT vendors to know new technology innovations, and network with almost everybody from the hospitality ecosystem.
Importance of Attending Hotel Trade Shows and Conferences
Here are some compelling reasons to attend these hospitality industry trade shows.
- You have the scope of meeting your target audience in person. Can you imagine how valuable and precious insights you can get from them that will help in your future marketing campaigns?
- Expand your industry knowledge from panel discussions and keynote sessions from industry experts.
- Get updates on the latest hotel industry challenges and trends.
- Improve the visibility and reputation of your hotel business.
- It helps you attract future hotel guests – corporates, travel agents and event planners.
- You can showcase the services and facilities of your hotel to a wider audience.
- Get into face-to-face communication with vendors and exhibitors.
- Find new partnerships, business and growth opportunities.
So let’s now look at a few upcoming hotel trade shows that you must attend during the last six months of 2023.
Top Hotel Events, Conferences and Tradeshows to Watch Out for in 2023
1. Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference
Dates: 26-29 June 2023 Location: Toronto, Ontario
The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITECH) is determined as the world’s largest and most-established conference for the hospitality industry. This conference brings together key players in the hospital industry like IT vendors, educators and researchers. The conference is conducted by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals. This is the only global organization that conducts non-profit hospitality conferences.
Why Should You Attend?
This year, the event features 50 education opportunities where you can learn about top hotel industry trends and cost-effective ways of improving your bottom lines. It is a perfect place to find much-needed education and resources that can help you survive in today’s modern and competitive marketplace.
2. Cvent CONNECT 2023
Date: 24-27 July 2023 Location: Las Vegas, NV
This is another exciting conference for hospitality, marketing, and event professionals. You can attend this conference both in-person as well as in virtual mode. Last year, their conference covered trending industry topics like safe sourcing, virtual events, onsite health & safety, hybrid events, sustainability, inclusivity and more. They get attention from over 5000 attendees where they offer great networking opportunities, and teach fresh perspectives.
Why Should You Attend?
You will gain better insight into how technology increases efficiencies and offset staffing shortages. You will be leaving the event with best practices, new ideas, and creative strategies to drive your hotel business.
3. Hotel data Conference
Date: 9-11, August, 2023 Location: Grand Hyatt Nashville
The Hotel data Conferences focus on stats and trends in the hotel industry. But it also ensures how to turn data into insights for action. This event is known to attract a very engaged and thoughtful audience of hoteliers.
Why Should You Attend?
You will get to know new strategies on how to use data to boost your hotel business.
4. No Vacancy Hotel & Accommodation Expo
Date: 31st August – 1st September Location: Sydney, Australia
No Vacancy Hotel & Accommodation Expo is known to be the most important and the biggest annual event for professionals in the hotel and accommodation industry. More than 5,000 hoteliers prefer to attend this event.
Why Should You Attend This?
You will discover all the latest products and services that can help you do your job more effectively. Know what is in trend and network with like-minded industry professionals.
5. The Lodging Conference
Date: 18-21 September 2023 Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Over the last 28 years, The Lodging Conference has been a great platform that offers valuable insights into the latest developments and trends in the hotel and lodging industry.
Why Should You Attend?
You will have an incredible opportunity to make contacts with peers, gain in-person hospitality training from influential experts, gain insights from experts, and meet people who are shaping the hospitality industry.
6. Equipotel
Date: 19-22 September Location: São Paulo Brazil
This will be their 60th edition of Equipotel. It has turned out to be a key reference point for hoteliers as well as suppliers in Latin America. It is like a fair for the hotel and catering industry.
Why Should You Attend?
It gives you a wonderful opportunity to promote your hotel to a highly qualified audience while building meaningful relationships with them.
7. Independent Hotel Show Miami
Date: 20-21 September 2023 Location: Miami, Florida, USA
The Independent Hotel Show event is dedicated to the needs of boutique and luxury hoteliers. It focuses on providing an excellent guest experience that is above and beyond the typical trade show. This is a must-attend event for owners and operators who own luxury and boutique hospitality spaces.
Why Should You Attend?
You will encounter a collection of more than 200 innovative products and service providers across the hotel supply chain. You will gain valuable insights from industry leaders spearheading innovation.
8. New England Inns & Resorts Association Annual Conference
Date: 1-3 November 2023 Location: Rockport, Maine, USA
The New England Inns & Resorts Association ( NEIRA) has a collection of more than 300 independently owned and operated lodging properties throughout the six New England States. It has earned the reputation for being one of the most influential and respected hospitality events in New England.
This is an ideal event for those who have got lodging properties in the New England region and those who wish to network with them.
Why Should You Attend This?
You will learn how to attract more guests and sell more rooms with modern marketing strategies.
9. WTM London
Date: 6-8 November Location: London, UK
As one of the most prestigious hospitality trade events, this year, WTM is set to host about 35,000 visitors from more than 184 countries.
Why Should You Attend?
Hear from the best in the industry on how they have successfully reshaped their business. Receive insights into trending products and destinations.
10. Phocuswright Conference
Date: 13-16 November 2023 Location: Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida
For the last 25 years, The Phocuswright Conference has been focusing on providing valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the travel and tourism industry.
Why Should You Attend?
Join this top-notch hospitality trade event and learn everything about new innovation and the power of technology.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Hotel Trade Shows and Conferences
After you make up your mind from the list of the ideal hotel trade show and conferences, make sure to remember these tips while attending them. Go there with a goal to achieve. Make sure you make the most out of it.
1. Always be one step ahead
Figure out which conference is the suitable option for your hotel business model. Make your decision on two key these metrics:
- What is your objective?
- What are you going to do there?
- Is your target audience coming?
- Who are you going to meet?
- How much will it cost you?
2. Do your research
Make sure to look through every detail of the conference website, like who is speaking, sponsoring and even exhibiting. You can go through last year’s program, too. It will give you an idea if it is worth attending.
3. Decide your plan of action
Are you going to be there just as a visitor? Or are you going to have a booth to exhibit your hotel? Deciding all these in advance will help you see things clearly in line with your objectives.
4. Start talking about your participation
Once you decide on your roadmap, it’s now time to be vocal about it. Get on to social media, and start talking about attending the event. If you’re doing it in a big way, like with a proper booth and dedicated team, please run a press release and let the world know that you will be at the venue.
5. Be persistent
You will not be hearing right away from most contacts. Organizers and conference speakers tend to be busy folks. Make sure to give it a few days before sending a follow-up note. However, you must not take it personally in case they don’t reply before the conference.
Key Takeaways:
The business climate in the hotel business is constantly evolving. No matter how good of hotel services you are providing, successful hotel marketing does not happen in a vacuum. You need to execute the right blend of strategies for it. Attending a trade show and conference can give you valuable insights that will help you run a more effective, efficient and profitable hotel business. Stay updated on all the latest technologies and trends of the hotel industry. You will get plenty of opportunities in these events and conferences for networking, exhibiting your services and products and meeting multiple vendors to test equipment and services. Trade shows and conferences can be extremely valuable if you can figure out which is the best option for you. Make sure to go prepared.