Innovation. Information. Inspiration.

The Washington Lodging Association invites you to join us for the Annual Convention, Trade Show & Golf Tournament on October 10-12 at the beautiful Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge.  Focusing on innovation in the hospitality industry, we’ll provide you with information and inspiration to help you and your business thrive in the changing economy.

Leading Change:  Cultivating Your Culture
Steven Fulmer, author and entrepreneur, brings humor and a sound business perspective to communicating the influence of effective leadership.  Focusing on the value of change, Steven will challenge us to refresh our business’ culture and establish a positive workplace atmosphere.  He’ll provide a new perspective on what it means to add the “human strategy” to business and will spark a renewed ability to make changes from the inside out that result in increased productivity and revenue. Learn more about Steven's experience here.

Our Ports' and State's Competitiveness
Bill Bryant, entrepreneur and president of the King County/Seattle Port Commission, will discuss the importance of trade, tourism and Puget Sounds’ ports to our state’s economy, and the competitive threats confronting our state. “All of us in Washington should be concerned about the competitive challenges confronting Puget Sound’s ports, because those ports generate tens of thousands of trade and tourism related jobs across our state”

State of the Industry: Managing the Unpredictable
Moderated by Barry Mitzman, widely known in the Pacific Northwest as a Peabody award-winning TV producer and host of the long-running weekly series Serious Money, which reportedon Northwest business and investing and featured incisive interviews with many of the region’s leading CEOs. Joining him will be Dan Russo, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Horizon Air, Chris Kraus, MAI, Senior Vice President, Colliers PKF Consulting USAand Bret Bertolin, Senior Economist, Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

The Top 11 Things You Need to Know About Employment Law for 2011
Attorney Rich Meneghello of Fisher & Phillips LLP will help you prepare for 2011’s legal landscape.  Fisher & Phillips LLP is one of the oldest and largest law firms in the country and Rich has the experience and national insight to address what you need to know for the coming year.  Hot topics such as health care, unionization and social media will be covered, along with specific strategies you can implement to protect your business. Learn more about Rich's experience here.

Social Media is Dead: How to Profit From its Demise & Rebirth
Ed Reese is principal of Sixth Man Marketing and a popular search marketing and analytics speaker.  He will give a “eulogy” in remembrance of social media and common practices that result in no profit and wasted time.  He will explain how social media has died but no one noticed because companies were too busy self-promoting on Twitter and updating their Facebook status.  Ed will share not only the life, death and re-birth of social media but explain how you can use key strategies and tactics to grow your business in the new social media landscape.

Turning Knowledge Into Results
After the keynote you will know the secrets to cultivating culture and leading change, but knowing it and executing on it are two entirely different things. In this session Steven Fulmer will focus on the "10-Point Leadership Triangle™," a powerful model for how to implement change, cultivate culture and effectively engage your staff and, ultimately, your clients.

Growing Green:  Building a Green Brand That’s Credible While Improving Your Property’s Top and Bottom Lines
Green is going mainstream; are you ready for it? An expert panel will cover tangible steps to green your operations, helping you improve efficiency, your bottom line, and your guest experience. Moderated by Amity Lumper, Senior Associate, Cascadia Consulting Group, she will be joined by Jim Hanna, Director of Environmental Impact, Starbucks, Molly Phillips, Manager of Sustainable Partnerships, Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle, and Bryan Cohen, Co-founder of Colehour + Cohen. Learn more about the panel here.

Seeds Under The Surface – A Hidden Opportunity
Moderated by Irvin Sandman of Sandman & Savrann PLLC with additional discussion from top industry executives and stakeholders, Murray Dow with Dow Hotel Company; James Simkins with MTM Luxury Lodging; Doug Dreher, CHA with The Hotel Group; and Jeff McKee with Premier Capital Associates on topics of specific interest to owners and management groups.  This will be an interactive and participatory discussion including current context and strategies for both buyers and owners. Learn more about the panel here.

Survival Guide for General Managers
10 things Matt LeMaster, attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and specialist in hospitality law, has always wanted to tell GM's to help them survive.  This workshop will focus on issues associated with corporate capacity, contract indemnities, risk mitigation strategies, basics of financial covenants and other important areas of law to help GM's help themselves, their employees and their owners cope in today's difficult operating environment.

This is Not Your Ordinary Claims Management Workshop
Re-worked and re-designed, this condensed program is brought to you by Approach Management Services, administrator of WLA’s Retro Program.   Avoid common mistakes and learn from case studies designed for saving you time and money.

Additional workshops, trade show, and the all new Stars of the Industry Awards Program will inspire you!  Don’t miss it!  The first 50 registrants will receive a free bottle of wine – so sign up today!

• Click Here to Reserve Your Place!
• Questions?  Click Here for Info and Assistance.

Innovation. Information. Inspiration.

Sunday, October 10

Overlooking the spectacular Columbia River and surrounding cliffs, this 18-hole, par-70 layout includes breathtaking and tranquil views beautifully tucked into the resort's 175 wooded acres.  Skamania Lodge Golf Course has proven to be an enticing challenge to even the most experienced player!

• Click Here to Register! 
• Questions?  Click Here for Info and Assistance.

Innovation. Information. Inspiration.

For hoteliers, the Trade Show is the opportunity to learn about the latest hospitality products and services, getting resources and assistance to effectively run your business from more than 50 vendor partners.

For vendor partners, being an exhibitor or sponsor at the Convention’s Trade Show delivers exceptional return on investment.  It places you and your company front and center, providing ample opportunity to develop key contacts, connect with those who make the buying decisions and build sales.  Participating in WLA’s Convention helps allied members strengthen existing business relationships and build new ones.  

• Reserve Exhibit Space Today!  Click here.
• Become a Convention Sponsor!  Click here.
• Questions?  Click here for Info and Assistance.

Innovation. Information. Inspiration.

Monday, October 11

One of the highlights of WLA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show is the Stars of the Industry Awards Program.  The Stars Program gives us the chance to celebrate your dedicated staff in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, truly acknowledging our employees for making our properties the very best.

Every nominee will receive honorarble mention and winners will receive special recognition and a beautiful glass keepsake.  Winners will also be entered in the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Stars Program.

Please join us in taking this opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of your team who have made outstanding contributions to the success of your WLA member property by entering them in the 12th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Program.

• Get Your Nominations Packet Here!
• Questions?  Click here for info and assistance.

Innovation. Information. Inspiration.

WLA's Convention, Golf Tournament and Trade Show are made possible by the generous support and investment of our sponsors and exhibitors. To learn more about how their products and services can help you increase the success and profitability of your lodging establishment click the links below.

Click here to become a sponsor or exhibitor at WLA's Convention

Platinum Sponsor: Regency Cleaners

Gold Sponsor: Hospitality Industry Health Insurance Trust

Media Sponsor: 4th Avenue Media

   

Stars of the Industry Sponsor: Moss Adams, LLP

Program Sponsors:

Sprague Pest Solutions	International Air & Hospitality Academy
Starbucks Coffee Company	South Seattle Community College

Auction Sponsor: Maxcare of Washington, Inc.

Trade Show Sponsor: WSU School of Hospitality Business Management


 

A/V Sponsor: PSAV Presentation Services

Registration Sponsor: The Seattle Times

Model Room Sponsor: Plum Mohair

Coffee Break Sponsors:

USA Today

A-1 Textiles & Hospitality Products

Entertainment Sponsor: Washington Automated, Inc.

Breakout Program Sponsors:

Tri-Tec Communications, Inc.

Baldwin Resource Group, Inc.

Approach Management Services

Special Sponsors:

Approach Management Services

Clothier & Head, P.S.

Bathfitter

Golf Tournament  Title Sponsor: Clothier & Head, P.S.

 

Golf Tournament Beverage Cart and Lunch Sponsor: Clark Nuber, P.S.

   

Golf Tournament Beverage Station Sponsor: Mezcal El Zacatecano

Golf Tournament Carts Sponsor: Approach Management Services

Golf Tournament Putting Green Sponsor: Precor Commercial Fitness

Golf Hole Sponsors:

Cascade Natural Gas

Foundation Fitness

Matrix Networks

Mt. Hood Solutions

Northland Furniture Company

Plum Mohair

Stoel Rives, LLP

Spokane Hotel/Motel Association

The Seattle Times

Exhibitors: