Annual Hotel Conference 2012 aims to make hotels more profitable

The change of focus to a more advice-led conference this year is in response to the challenging environment independent hoteliers and owners of small hotel chains face, Jonathan Langston, owner of TRI Hospitality Consulting and who founded the conference with Chris Eddlestone eight years ago, told BigHospitality. 

“A hotel has more moving parts than a Swiss watch and in today’s world hoteliers have also got to be a specialist at everything,” he said. 

“We know that hoteliers want to learn and understand what potential there is to raise profit, either by increasing revenue, cutting costs or a mix of both, so what we set out to do is have a forum where the independent and small chain hotelier can learn from what the world at large is doing, whether that’s from the big hotel chains or the industry advisors who operate in specific areas.” 

Hot industry topics 

The AHC, to be opened by ex-England footballer and soon-to-be hotelier Gary Neville in Manchester on 3 October , will start with a panel discussion titled The Big Picture, which will be chaired by the British Hospitality Association’s chief executive Ufi Ibrahim and will see large hotel chains discuss how they’re addressing market challenges. 

The number of breakout sessions being held this year has also been increased to 16 to give advice in more areas. Topics will include:

• Sales and marketing
• Social media
• Legal
• Managing people
• Cost management
• Revenue management
• Investment
• Technology

Langston said the breakout sessions were designed to give hoteliers the chance to have direct access to industry experts who could give them valuable advice in all areas of the business. 

He said: “They’ll be able to find out more about and question some of the big areas, like the best way of optimising revenue, or how to reach markets in the most cost effective way.

"With the legal session we’ll be able to give hoteliers the chance to ask questions they want to know the answers to without worrying about high legal fees. They’ll be able to ask questions in areas like employment law and health and safety. The kind of things that keep hoteliers awake at night.”

The AHC 2012 will take place on 3-4 October at Hilton Manchester Deansgate. Tickets are £360. To register, click here .

BigHospitality is an official media partner of the AHC, follow us on Twitter  during the event for all the latest news and updates. #AHC2012.