6:30 - 7:00 am PST

Speed Dating

Relationship Building 101

To start off the day, we shift our attention back to the root of our industry: relationships. With this round of speed dating, we encourage you to head on over to the BLLA Speed Dating Hub and embrace what boutique hospitality is truly all about.

7:00 - 7:15 am PST

Networking

Introduce Yourself

Come say hello on video with fellow attendees! First-come, first-serve basis.

7:00 - 7:30 am PST

Trade Show Hall

Explore the Industry’s Top Companies

We invite you to discover a curated selection of exceptional companies in the global hospitality industry. You will have the ability to chat with the company representatives directly in their virtual booth! 

7:20 - 7:30 am PST

Special Message

A Special Message from Jamaica Promotions Corporation

with Diane Edwards, President of JAMPRO

7:30 - 8:00 am PST

Workshop

Independent Boutique Hotels: The Keys for Success

with Jim Butler, Partner, Chairman of the Global Hospitality Group of JMBM

With a growing desirability of the Boutique Lifestyle, it is vital for independent boutique hotels to be able to navigate their path to success. Jim Butler recognizes the importance of these hotels in a world where people seek the exciting and crave the unconventional. But, what exactly are the benefits of being an independent hotel? And, how do you develop or reposition your hotel to become a boutique hotel? We welcome this leading hotel lawyer to decode the topics of financing, asset management, and profitability, as well as unveil the remarkable characteristics of boutique hotels that distinguish them from the ordinary.

8:00 - 8:30 am PST

Speed Dating

Coffee & Commerce

Grab your morning cup of Joe and head on over to the BLLA Speed Dating Hub to engage in meaningful conversations, create lasting connections, and open the door to newfound possibilities.

8:35 - 9:05 am PST

Presentation

The Future of Travel

with Carolyn Kremins, President of Skift

At these conferences, we tend to solely focus on the hospitality side of the conglomerate travel industry. However, it’s important for us to view the industry as a whole and to take insights to what the future holds for travel. How will business and leisure be reintegrated into our routines? Are people going to become more conscious travelers? Where do business nomads fit into the equation? We welcome Carolyn Kremins, leader and undeniable expert in this field, as she explores this growing emphasis on boutique travel.

8:35 - 9:05 am PST

Workshop

The Legal Fundamentals of a Deal

with Samantha Ahuja, Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig & BLLA Advisory Board Member and Moniqua Lane, Founder of The Downtown Clifton Hotel & BLLA Committee Member

As the market continues to evolve, there is a considerable advantage to staying true to the legal fundamentals and legal necessities of a deal. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to go beyond the business side and to make sense of the legal side of things. Join Samantha and Moniqua as they express their viewpoints on what the economics of a deal should look like, particularly within the current environment.

9:10 - 9:55 am PST

Panel

View from the Chief Investment Officer’s Desk

with Tom Fisher, Chief Investment Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and Jason Altberger, Chief Investment Officer of Sage Hospitality Group

Interviewed by Taylor Lister, Business Insurance Broker of Marsh & McLennan Agency

When it comes to investment, there is a door that opens to various possibilities and an overarching promise for this sector to embrace our new reality and reach new heights. What are some of the drivers for increased interest and value in boutique hotel investing over the next decade? What makes boutique hotels a better investment today than pre-pandemic? We welcome this panel of brilliant minds as they take a deep dive into pertinent topics of technology, underwriting models, labor, the consumer experience, and more.

9:10 - 9:55 am PST

Case Study

Boutique Hotel Transactions: European Focus

with Alexander Rae, Head of M&A at Beaumier

Interviewed by Tea Ros, Managing Director of Strategic Hotel Consulting

Join these two guests as they take a deep dive into what is happening in the European market in terms of boutique hotel transactions. Also, get a deep dive into a luxury boutique hotel collection, Beaumier, as they converse over strategies and hurdles when it comes to growing a successful independent collection.

9:10 - 9:55 am PST

Case Study

Investing in Women-Owned Boutique Hotels

Sponsored by TIEWN (Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network)

with Tracy Prigmore, Founder of TLTsolutions and She Has a Deal, Lera Covington, 1st Place Winner 2020 SHaD Pitch Competition & Graduate of Cornell University, and Sana Mahmood, Finalist, 2021 SHaD Pitch Competition & Graduate of Zigurat Global Institute of Technology

Join She Has a Deal (SHaD) Founder, Tracy Prigmore, and participants from the She Has a Deal Hotel Investment Pitch Competition to learn how SHaD is creating new pathways to hotel ownership and development for women. Meet two of the participants from the competition who presented winning pitches; persuading the judges to invest in their hotel projects. Find out the approach they took to accelerate their knowledge of hotel development to build a brand, and why they chose to focus on boutique hotels. The panel will also discuss their approach to raising capital for women led hotel investment projects.

10:00 - 10:35 am PST

Keynote

Market Overview & Successful Acquisitions

with Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality

Interviewed by Jagruti Panwala, President & CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies, Immediate Past Chairwoman of AAHOA & BLLA Advisory Board Member

Hear from the woman leading the industry in commercial real estate, Gilda Perez-Alvarado, where she runs the investment sales, debt and equity placement, strategic advisory and asset management for the hotel side of JLL. What do successful acquisitions look like for boutique hotels? What are key considerations in this process? What should investors look for in today’s market?

10:00 - 10:45 am PST

Panel

The Rising Stars of Boutique Hotel Investment

Sponsored by Boutique Money Group

with Benjamin Habbel, CEO of Aethos Hotels and Rami Zeidan, Founder & CEO of Life House & BLLA Advisory Board Member

Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, StayBoutique

Hospitality is a dynamic space, and with its sense of versatility comes the opportunity for immense growth. Benjamin Habbel and Rami Zeidan are new minds with the expertise to become serious players in this growing boutique hotel sector. In such a highly digital era, how are they using their technology expertise to create well-positioned and well-managed boutique hotels? How are they helping these independent hotels to operate better? Get to hear how these hotel owners are growing their portfolios while staying strategic with their profitability tactics.

10:50 - 11:30 am PST

Panel

What Does Investing in a Boutique Hotel Look Like Today?

Sponsored by Boutique Money Group

with Lance Helfert, Principal of Montecito Venture Partners, Luis Gallotti, Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Amek Group & BLLA Advisory Board Member and Phil Hospod, Founder & CEO of Dovetail and Co & BLLA Advisory Board Member

Interviewed by Damon Lawrence, CEO of Homage Hospitality

Growing a boutique hotel portfolio in today’s landscape is drastically changing. Just take a look at what has shifted since the start of the movement in 2009. What are important things to consider when investing in a boutique hotel today? What deals are actually getting done? What is the true ROI when it comes to building independent vs branded? Join this panel of outstanding innovators as they share their knowledge of investing in daring brands and simultaneously creating an impact within the boutique community.

10:50 - 11:30 am PST

Case Study

An Inside Scoop on the Growth of Palisociety

with Jorgan von Stiening, President of Palisociety and Avi Brosh, Founder/CEO of Palisociety

Interviewed by Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA, StayBoutique

As a trustworthy, imaginative, and meaningful family business, Palisociety and its unapologetically eclectic brands deviate from the conventional route. They connect with the local culture and create spaces that make you feel like you’re understood. Gain an insider's view on one of the fastest growing authentic boutique hotel collections, and hear from the Founder & President as they discuss acquisition strategies, how to evaluate new opportunities, and their keys to sustainable growth.

11:35 am - 12:05 pm PST

Keynote

The Legacy that Schrager Built

with Ian Schrager, Founder of The Ian Schrager Company

Interviewed by Jonathan Falik, CEO of JF Capital Advisors & BLLA Committee Member

Ian Schrager stands as a preeminent leader in this industry. With full recognition of the human craving for the unexpected, Ian has established some of the most progressive and distinguishable masterpieces to exist within the world of boutique. Today, Ian Schrager makes his seventh appearance to the BLLA Events stage to explore the underlying risks and rewards that accompany the creation of conceptual boutique hotels. As he reveals his legacy he is leaving for the global boutique community, we invite you to ponder: What will be your legacy?

12:10 - 12:30 pm PST

Closing Remarks & Prizes

Now is the Time to Invest in Boutique

Join attendees for this end-of-day gathering, leave a note in the chat to fellow participants, and hear who won prizes!

12:30 - 1:30 pm PST

Trade Show Hall

Explore the Industry’s Top Companies

We invite you to discover a curated selection of exceptional companies in the global hospitality industry. You will have the ability to chat with the company representatives directly in their virtual booth!