WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023

Hyatt Regency

*Note:  All times Pacific Standard Time (PST)

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm 
Opening Reception
Location: Plaza Ballroom
 

 

Sponsored by

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2ND, 2023

Hyatt Regency

*Note:  All times Pacific Standard Time (PST)

7:30 am – 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
Sponsored by
9:00 am – 9:15 am
Opening Remarks
Location: Regency
 
 
Stephanie Gadbois
Stephanie Gadbois
Managing Director
Big Picture Conferences

9:15 am – 10:15 am
Plenary #1
Dissecting Today’s Economic and Hotel Data – Your Direct Drive Dossier
Location: Regency
 

Get the sweeping data download, including a comprehensive overview of the Western Canadian economy – its strengths and causes for concern and a detailed checkup on the hotel markets’ performance.  Will leisure travel remain strong? Is there a willingness for corporate to come back fully? Also, what are driving the major deals to get done and what’s attractive and motivating sellers and buyers in this environment?

 
Moderator:

Panelists:

Greg Kwong
Greg Kwong
Regional Managing Director
CBRE Limited

Carrie Russell, AACI, MAI, RIBC, ISHC
Carrie Russell, AACI, MAI, RIBC, ISHC
Senior Managing Partner
HVS

Sponsored by
10:15 am – 11:00 am

Keynote Presentation

Artificial Intelligence - It was me, or was it?
Location: Regency

We are using it enthusiastically, even before we fully understand its power and potential. Well, that may sound a bit ominous, it isn’t meant to. Remarkably, industrial applications are leading this nascent period of AI adoption, and this asks the question-how are hotels successfully using AI in their business and operations? In this session Ross Pambrun will dissect AI and tell you what you need to know.

 

Ross Pambrun
Ross Pambrun
CEO
The Memphis Group

Sponsored by
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Networking Coffee Break and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
Sponsored by
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Plenary #3
Capital Idea - How to Create and Maintain Financial Strength in Unstable Times
Location: Regency
 
You need a durable hotel or resort in a strong and growing market. Equally important is the deal structure. You have your debt lined up but not all the equity, or your investors are “in”, but debt costs are 50% higher than a year ago. And now to be competitive, you must renovate, maybe even rebrand. Hear what it takes to pull a deal together in today’s capital constrained markets.
 
Moderator:
Jaret Waddell
Jaret Waddell
Co-CEO/Founder
Globex Management Corp.

Trevor Scott
Trevor Scott
Managing Director, Western Canada
CFO Capital

Jason Wight
Jason Wight
Managing Partner
Icon Capital Finance

Cameron Woof
Cameron Woof
AVP, Hotels & Syndication
CWB Franchise Finance

Sponsored by
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Networking Lunch and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
Sponsored by
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Update from the Hotel Association of Canada
Location: Regency
Adrienne Foster
Adrienne Foster
VP, Policy & Public Affairs
Hotel Association of Canada

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Plenary #4
Managing the Near Impossible - Development and Operating Cost Management
Location: Regency
 

First, you couldn’t get the product in time, now they cost way more than expected. Construction materials, food costs and labour are ramping up. How and when do you readjust development costs (aka inject more equity) and deal with diminishing returns. Listen to experts from multiple perspectives provide their insight and experience for implementing development and operational best practices in today’s environment.

 

Moderator:
Ingrid Jarrett
Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
British Columbia Hotel Association

Panelists:

Jeff Cury
Jeff Cury
Sr. Director Development, Canada
Hilton

Philippe Gadbois
Philippe Gadbois
Chief Operating Officer
Atlific Hotels

Don Lougheed
Don Lougheed
Regional VP, Sales & Franchise Operations, Canada
Hyatt

Sponsored by
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Networking Coffee Break and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
Sponsored by
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Plenary #5
Expanding Your Portfolio - Growing in Large and Small Western Canadian Markets
Location: Regency
 
Opportunity rarely sleeps, it may doze every now and then but it’s always out there. And the ongoing “Do we acquire versus develop” discussion is as rampant as ever. Find out which markets and hotel asset types have the greatest chance of success today and down the road.
 
Moderator:
David Ferguson
David Ferguson
Director, Development
Coast Hotels

Hamir Bansal
Hamir Bansal
Senior Vice President | Hotels
Colliers

Duncan Chiu
Duncan Chiu
Senior Director, Lodging Development, Western Canada
Marriott International

Cindy Schoenauer
Cindy Schoenauer
Vice President
Cushman & Wakefield

Anto Vrdoljak
Anto Vrdoljak
Regional Director of Development
IHG Hotels & Resorts

Sponsored by
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
Closing Fireside Chat
Location: Regency
 
 
 
 
Stacey Newman
Stacey Newman
Editor-in-Chief
STAY Magazine

Bert van der Stege
Bert van der Stege
CEO
Harbour Air

Sponsored by
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Final Remarks
Location: Regency
 
 
Stephanie Gadbois
Stephanie Gadbois
Managing Director
Big Picture Conferences