Monday, February 25, 2008
Hilton Toronto Hotel, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto ON

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Hilton Toronto Hotel, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto ON

Morning Plenary Session: Part One

So You Think You Are A Marketing Maven? 
What Can Canadian Hotels Learn About Marketing From
The Marketing Experts?

In a world of rapidly advancing technology, changing customer demands, excessive marketing “noise” and so many brands it’s hard to keep them all straight, what is the marketing direction of the future?  This panel brings together some of the best known names in consumer marketing and lays bare the popular misconceptions of what works and what doesn’t. 

Morning Plenary Session: Part Two

Afternoon Breakout Sessions—Part One

A.1: Four Walls And A Budget.  How Much Is Enough?

A room overhaul for $5,000 a key? Maybe $10,000, or $15,000?  Where’s the best place to focus renovation dollars?  How do you calculate payback on this outlay?  How much is enough?  Listen to what these three design speakers have to say when we give them a fixed budget and let them decide where to spend the money.

A.2: Guerrilla Marketing/Marketing In The 21st Century

Has the Internet and direct access to millions of potential hotel guests made marketing easier or more of a challenge?  What opportunities await with Web 2.0?  How can online customer input through websites such as Trip Advisor (or individual blogs) be used to your advantage?  Are there shoestring marketing opportunities out there?

Afternoon Breakout Sessions—Part Two

B.1: Customer Service: Walking The Walk

Everyone talks about customer service but what are the TOP 10 things we do to deliver on that promise? This session focuses on key elements of providing customer service including how to get buy in from employees, how to set standards and how these standards are measured.

B.2: Who’s Managing The Manager?

The ownership landscape of the Canadian hotel industry has changed over the last few years with a growing separation between ownership and management.  For those hotel managers reporting to a “non-hotel” owner, how has the reporting relationship changed?  What is a passive owner, an insurance company a REIT without internalized management looking for?  What about situations with multiple owners (such as a strata titled resort)?  This session outlines the motivation of passive hotel owners in terms of return expectations, impact on operations and key success factors.

B.3: How To Manage The HR Challenge: The Front Line

Payroll costs in some parts of the country have increased more than 10% per annum over the past few years..when you can actually find employees!  How have hoteliers in the tightest labour markets addressed staff shortages?  What support can head office provide?  How realistic are our hospitality school graduates when entering the workforce?  What are the expectations of an entry-level manager…and his/her supervisor?  Are salary, growth and responsibility expectations in line with reality?

Afternoon Refreshment Break

Afternoon Plenary Session

HAC/Fleishman-Hillard Canada 2008 Travel Intentions Survey

Join Gail Haarsma, Senior VP at Fleishman-Hillard as she presents the results of the 2008 Travel Intentions Survey.  This session, back by popular demand, will provide valuable insights into business volumes for 2008.

The Powerpoint Presentation will be emailed by the HAC to all registered conference delegates following the Conference.

Hotel Association of Canada  Annual Conference
Closing Remarks from Irwin Prince

Exhibitor Move Out

Hotel Association of Canada  Hall of Fame Awards Gala Dinner**

Champagne Reception

Gala Dinner

Join us as we celebrate the winners of the Humanitarian Award, Human Resources Award, and Energy & Environment Awards. Enjoy the evening's banquet and presentation of our guest speaker: Canadian General Rick Hillier.