Boutique hotel pioneers, travel advisors, media and industry professionals will convene at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center for the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association’s annual three-day Leadership Symposium, Oct. 24-26. BLLA is the leading hospitality association; their annual symposium is meant to connect upscale hoteliers with industry innovators and hospitality investors from around the world.
Speakers at the conference will include CEO Jay Stein of Dream Hotel Group, CEO Trevor Horwell of Nobu Hospitality Group, CEO Brooke Barrett of Denihan Hospitality. They will discuss the latest discoveries in the industry.
In the first two days of the conference, panelists are set to take on topics such as Airbnb, boutique nightlife and industry trends. They also will discuss technology, social media, hotel investment and culinary excellence.
The third day will feature an optional new hospitality program specifically catered to educate the boutique hospitality space. This is due to a new alliance between UCLA Extension and BLLA, which helped bring an academic understanding of relevant topics in the field to the conference. The program includes industry workshops that include presentations on subject matter such as finance, concept and design, food and beverage, and branding and repositioning.
“We are connecting the best in the industry to discuss topics of interest to tomorrow’s boutique and lifestyle hotelier, and to educate the hospitality industry in a way that hasn’t been done previously,” says Frances Kiradjian, founder and CEO, BLLA. “We have collaborated with UCLA Extension to offer a world-class education program, the first of its kind, to give hospitality enthusiasts a chance to develop their knowledge of the boutique lifestyle space.”
Attendees will get the opportunity to participate in networking sessions aimed to form lasting relationships in the luxury lifestyle sector. Other events on the itinerary include a cocktail reception and a Gala Awards Dinner and ceremony held at the Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows.
