Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Hilton Toronto Hotel, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto ON

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Conference Registration and Exhibition Opens
Continental Breakfast

Hotel Association of Canada Annual Conference
Opening Remarks from Will Schmidt

Morning Plenary Session: Part One

What Does The Economic Meltdown Mean to Canadian Hoteliers and those Around the World?
No one could have predicted the economic situation experienced in the last quarter of 2008.  Is the worst now behind us?  Will Canada and Canadian hotels/hoteliers come through this relatively unscathed?  Our lead off speakers set the stage for 2009 by providing a recap of just what has happened and the likely fallout in Canada, as well as providing a perspective of the tourism and hotel sector over the short to medium term.
Download Warren Jestin's presentation
Download David Larone's presentation

Trend Analysis Of The Travel Intentions Survey. NEWLY FORMATTED!
Join Gail Haarsma, Senior VP at Fleishman-Hillard as she highlights key findings of the 2009 Travel Intentions Survey.  Hear a panel of hoteliers and industry consultants discuss the trends and provide their insight into what this information means to your business and your business planning.

All conference attendees will receive the Fleishman-Hillard Powerpoint Presentation via email following the Conference.

Buffet Networking Lunch

Afternoon Breakout Sessions—Part One

A.1: Marketing Warfare: DMFs, CVBs And The Quest For More Guests. Where Is The Money Going?
No matter the availability of resources there never seems to be enough marketing dollars to do the job.  The creation of Destination Marketing Funds, a Canadian "invention" now widely in use across the country has been the saviour of many a destination marketing organization.  Or have they?  Learn how different jurisdictions have approached DMFs and how they fit into a broader marketing approach.

A.2: Designers Meet The Dragons: Room Renovation Ideas On A Budget of $7,500/Room
Greater economic uncertainty and the possibility of declining room rates do not diminish guests' expectations of a modern, well equipped and furnished and comfortable guest room. But what about the capital investment required? Watch as two designers each pitch their recommendations for a $7,500/room overall to our two "dragons."
Download BKDI presentation
Download HOK presentation

A.3: The Green Revolution: Saving Money and the Environment
Transforming your hotel to "green" is an admirable goal but what are the up front capital requirements and can these modifications actually pay for themselves? Listen to 5 presentations focused on operational and capital cost savings proving that going "green" can save you "green".

Afternoon Breakout Sessions—Part TWO

B.1: Cutting Fat… Or Cutting To The Bone? Improving The Bottom Line Without Cutting Standards
Your instructions were clear: Cut overall operating costs by 5% this fiscal year!  But what do you cut?  Is there still fat in the system or does any further reduction involve cutting to the bone?  Listen as these operators, asset managers and advisors identify areas holding the greatest potential for cost savings...and the traps to avoid!

B.2: How To Increase Your Food And Beverage Bottom Line
In these uncertain economic times, hoteliers must look everywhere to increase their bottom line. While some hoteliers see F&B as a cost centre, others, including hoteliers and restaurateurs, have created very profitable restaurant operations. Learn from these panel members and their extensive experiences in hotel F&B and restaurant operations as they share their insights on F&B profitability.

B.3: Getting Ahead: Career Advancement In The Hotel Industry
The hotel industry has always offered a range of career paths...some convention, some less so.  How has the path to advancement changed over the last decade?  What are the expectations of hotel school graduates and how realistic are these expectations?  What are the career paths of the early 21st century?

B.4: Managing Your Online Reputation
The rise of social media – blogs, forums, social networks, and media sharing sites – all offer venues for customers to express their opinions about hotels – positive and negative. Online word-of-mouth can have significant influence on reputation, and on travelers’ decisions on where to stay. Learn how to monitor your online reputation, optimize your content to protect brand visibility and what can be done to combat negative reviews, ratings and comments.
Download Katherine Fletcher's presentation

Networking Refreshment Break

Afternoon Plenary Session

A View From The Top: Leading Canadian Hotel Executives Discuss The Current Operating Environment

The "buck" stops here.  Join this panel of leading Canadian hotel executives while they talk through the challenges and corresponding responses of operating a hotel in today's roller-coaster business environment.

Hotel Association of Canada  Annual Conference
Closing Remarks from Will Schmidt

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.