HI Connect Design™ will make Lodging industry executives and decision-makers such as Owners, GMs, Designers, Developers, Purchasing Executives and Architects design heroes in their organizations. Why? Because HI Connect Design will be the first chance for industry insiders to see the newest and most exciting designs and newly launched products in the hotel business. All designs are easily adaptable to existing and new build hotels, so you’ll save tons of time and money on the design process while ensuring your delivering customers the best hotel product possible.
It’s all about stepping into fully constructed vignettes at HI Connect Design™ coming this April 10-12, 2013 to the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville TN. Visit vignettes for all types of guestrooms, bathrooms and hotel public spaces to get a deeper understanding of products work in context to each other with fully realized and constructed designs.
Completely original in scale and concept, Hotel Interactive, Inc.’s, HI Connect Design™ provides attendees a wholly unique way to interact with hotel designs and products, while also providing in-depth industry insight and access to top hotel professionals.
The massively scaled HI Connect Design™ is coming April 10-12 to the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN, and it promises to be the most revolutionary and original event of the year (www.hiconnectdesign.com). HI Connect Design™ is the hospitality tradeshow reimagined featuring the industry’s finest designers, suppliers, architects and purchasing companies that are creating more than 50 real environments, or “vignettes.” By presenting products in context, a more sophisticated level of conversation is inspired.
HI Connect Design™ provides a never-ending sense of discovery, stimulation and engagement where attendees step into myriad vignettes highlighting the vision of the industry’s top designers, architects and purchasing pros who have partnered with leading suppliers.
There’s no better way to understand how products relate to each other aesthetically and financially. In fact, this concept is so unique and different than any other tradeshow ever presented; Hotel Interactive has patented this innovative concept.
Lodging Industry decision makers such as Owners, GMs, Designers, Developers, Purchasing Executives, Architects will discuss inspirations and share ideas while they tour myriad guestrooms, lounges, bars, restaurants and a spa over a glass of wine. They’ll enjoy a culinary tour de force with seemingly limitless choices spread throughout the studio’s public spaces. All contained in a single immersive environment. No long walks, no tired feet. The choice is yours and the choices are endless at HI Connect Design™.
Last year’s attendees are looking forward to the return of HI Connect Design™.
Richard Bennett, VP Design and Supply at Best Western International said, “The job the HI Connect team did executing the [2012] event was nothing short of amazing. We typically build five vignettes at our annual convention. That’s a big job. What [they] did was easily twenty times harder since everything was lit and the vignettes were so thoroughly built out. I found it to be an incredibly effective way to see product and to see firsthand the talent of designers and suppliers."
“I must say the overall Concept is great. It provided a great setting to showcase new products and the talents of a large number of excellent designers,” said Gil Hardwick, Manager Design & Construction, Upscale Brands, The Americas with InterContinental Hotels Group.
Attendees will also get access to a host of connectivity tools too linking attendees, suppliers, designers, architects and purchasing pros in exciting ways never before seen at a hotel industry event.
The 2013 Design Studio is a 172,000 square foot modern built facility designed as a retail showroom. When HI Connect Design opens you can again expect a clever neighborhood layout featuring more than 50 LIVE newly designed constructed hotel vignettes giving attendees inspiration for their next project.
HI Connect Design™ completely changes the way design concepts are presented, how products and services are purchased and sourced, while simultaneously setting the stage for attendees to network and do business better going forward. And if you are an Owner, GM, Designer, Developer, Purchasing Executive, or architect you’ll have plenty of chances to make exciting discoveries. Perhaps you’ll discover you love that new light fixture featured in one of the midscale guestrooms or the wall coverings in an upscale room.
There are also incredible networking opportunities during the opening night’s reception on Delta Island at the Gaylord Opryland and throughout the show floor itself. With some of the biggest names in the industry set to appear you never know who you will bump into.
And HI Connect Design’s educational seminars are guaranteed to give attendees an inside look at hotel companies and industry trends in ways never seen before.
Never before have a group of industry leading Presidents and CEOs, top hotel company brand teams (development, design and procurement pros) from Starwood, Wyndham, Best Western and other industry leaders come together at an event of this magnitude. Additionally, the AAHOA Board and President will be featured as well as a cadre of international superstars that will give attendees entrée into booming markets such as Brazil and The Middle East.
Here’s a sample of some of the incredible people speaking and participating in HI Connect Design™ set to be facilitated by Hotel Interactive’s own Editor-in-Chief Glenn Haussman.
Breakthrough Brands President’s Panel
- Roger Bloss, President/CEO of Vantage Hospitality
- Paul Whetsell, President, Loews Hotels & Resorts
- Stephanie Sonnabend, President, Sonesta
- Annbeth Eschbach, President/CEO, Exhale Enterprises
The Power of AAHOA
- Mehul Patel, Incoming AAHOA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sagestar Hotels
- Fred Schwartz, President, AAHOA
- Bhavish Patel, President of ADM Hotels
- Atul Patel, Owner of Asha Management
- Nimesh Zaver, CEO, Insignia Hotel Management
HI Power Panel: Real Owners, Real Stories
- Larry Broughton, CEO, Broughton Hotels
- Jerry Cataldo, CEO Hostmark
- Mike Marshall, President & CEO of Marshall Hotels
- Michael Tall, President & COO, Charlestowne Hotels
- Rick Tomljenovic, Principal/ COO, Tristar Hotel Group
HI Power Panel: Designing Dreams, Purchasing for Impact
- Roger Hill, CEO/Chairman, Gettys
- Michele, Sweeting, SVP Development Planning and Construction, Four Seasons
- Rich Bennett, VP Supply & Design Services, Best Western
- Ted Hunter, SVP Design & Construction, Wyndham
- Marji, Waldman, President, Stroud Group
We’ve also put together an exciting line-up to give attendees international insight including a session dedicated exclusively that will demystify how to do business in Brazil. Presented by Carlos Ferreirinha, President, MCF Consultoria who has been helping companies excel in the region for decades.
Additional superstars speak on international panels include:
- Leo Eskenazi, Director Design, Hilton Worldwide
- Tarek Hegazy, Principal & Creative Director, Living Design Consulting Group
- João Nagy, Asset Manager, WTC and Sheraton SP World Trade Center
- Virginia Peluff, Owner, Ponta dos Ganchos
- Gustavo Filgueras, Partner &CEO, Hotel Emiliano
- Wagner Archela, Designer
- Silvana Mattar, Architect
- Andrea DellaMonica, Architect, Beach Park in Fortaleza
And you won’t believe the line-up we have put together for some brand specific sessions that will guide attendees through the educational process from the first stages of development through architecture and design and then onto purchasing and opening. We have major sessions from brands such companies as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Best Western International and Wyndham Hotels Group. More to be announced shortly.
Brand Development & Design: Wyndham Hotels Group
- Ted Hunter, SVP DPC Predevelopment
- George Scammel, VP Global Design
- Kyle Gagne, VP Development
- Beth Gordon, VP FFE and OSE Procurement and Installation
- Rob Landry, VP Product Development
Brand Development & Design: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
- Arik Kono, Director of Development
- Eric Ianuzi, Director Design Management
- Amanda Edwards, Design Specialist/Sourcing
Brand Development & Design: Best Western International
- Rich Bennett, VP Supply & Design Services
- Alan Wagener, Director of Purchasing, Best Western
- Mark Williams, VP Development North America
- Amy Hulbert, Managing Director Design
Also learn from Bruce Ford, SVP of Business Development with Lodging Econometrics, about the latest in valuable insight on critical issues regarding the state of the industry while learning about the construction and renovation pipeline to help you uncover you best business building opportunities.
Are you connected yet? If you are interested in participating in this unique and dramatic experience at HI Connect Design™, coming this April 10-12, 2013, please contact us immediately at (631) 424-7755 x150. For more information please visit us at HIConnectDesign.com.
