https://www.hertelier.com/post/lodging-conference-2026

Comments from our very own President, Barbara Purvis.

The Lodging Conference 2025 marked its 30th anniversary with a record 3,000+ hospitality leaders at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, reflecting industry resilience and cautious optimism amid economic and political challenges, per founder Harry Javer. Economic talks by Bernard Baumohl highlighted a volatile U.S. landscape of politics, tariffs, inflation, and shutdown risks, offset by steady spending and no recession signs, while executives like Barbara Purvis and Nina Becker noted the morale lift from Fed rate cuts and urged balanced lodging pricing. The event emphasized women’s rising role in hospitality through record female speakers, awards like the Peggy Berg Castell to Marriott’s Leeny Oberg, and advocacy for capital, mentorship, and tech to tackle talent gaps, as led by AHLA’s Rosanna Maietta. Highlights included new brands like Wyndham’s Dazzler Select and Marriott’s Outdoor Collection, boosting innovation and networking.