Tuesday, October 29th, 2024

Hyatt Regency Vancouver

*Note:  All times Pacific Time (PT)

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 
Opening Reception
Location: Plaza Ballroom
 

 

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Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

Hyatt Regency Vancouver

*Note:  All times Pacific Time (PT)

7:45 am – 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
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9:00 am – 9:10 am
Welcome and Introduction-Giddy Up! 
Location: Regency Ballroom
Stephanie Gadbois
Managing Director
Big Picture Conferences

9:10 am – 9:25 am
Update from the British Columbia Hotel Association 
Location: Regency Ballroom
Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
British Columbia Hotel Association

9:25 am – 10:25 am
Plenary #1
The Peaks and Valleys of the Western Canadian Hotel Business - Strength Training with Some Flexibility
Location: Regency Ballroom
 

These pundits have successfully called market changes with their “boots on the ground” perspective and always provide invaluable intelligence, sometimes even with a touch of humour. Rates and occupancy role into RevPARs and recent hotel developments and sales are forming the cornerstone for today’s valuations. Learn how best to interpret these data points alongside sage industry insight to better formulate what the next twelve months will look like.

Greg Kwong
Regional Managing Director
CBRE Limited

Carrie Russell
Senior Managing Partner
HVS

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10:25 am – 10:55 am
Networking Coffee Break and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
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10:55 am – 11:35 am
Plenary #2
Free Flowing Capital Funding - The Bucks Start Here
Location: Regency Ballroom
 
While money is not the cheapest these days, it is readily available. And at this moment in time, Canadian commercial interest rates are lower by a wide margin over the US. Find out from these experienced lenders and capital sources how to find the right capital for your debt and equity needs across varied hotel situations, assets, and capital stacks.
 
Moderator:
Juan Duran
Senior Manager, Hotels
CWB Franchise Finance

Panelists:
Starry Lyon
Director, Corporate Financing
Business Development Bank of Canada

Andrew Mallory
Managing Director
Valiant Mortgage Inc.

Trevor Scott
Managing Director, Western Canada
CFO Capital

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11:35 am – 12:15 pm
Plenary #3
Conversion Diversion - Re / Development Options To Hotels From Other Lagging Real Estate Asset Classes
Location: Regency Ballroom
 
There is a plethora of opportunity to expand your hotel footprint. Many projects that were acquired as office buildings or residential condominium sites are now less financially attractive given the state of these real estate cornerstones. But the door is opening. Can these projects be readily converted or developed as hotels? What may seem simple is often complicated with complex building systems and floor plates or zoning and/or specific site nuances that make the site less attractive. The high-level knowledge and experience this panel of experts possess will be readily shared with you. 
 
Moderator:
David Ferguson
Director, Development
Coast Hotels

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

Sahad Kassam
Partner
Synvest Capital

James Scott
Senior Vice President, Planning and Development
PBA Land and Development

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12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Networking Lunch and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
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1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Industry Update with the Hotel Association of Canada
Location: Regency Ballroom
Beth McMahon
President & CEO
Hotel Association of Canada

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Plenary #4
Buy, Build, Finance, Open and Operate - It Takes More Than Five Easy Pieces!
Location: Regency Ballroom
 

The hotel business is complex and cumbersome. These panelists will each highlight two recurring problem areas and share solutions they see in their day-to-day work that we need to be mindful of.  Avoid the mistakes and cut directly to the heart of the matter. Whether it’s installing a new carpet, staff training modifications or negotiating a new PIP, find out how to handle these issues with professionalism and success.

 

Moderator:

Vera Liu
Director, Investments
KingSett Capital

Panelists:
Jeff Hyslop
Senior VP, Asset Management & Investments
InnVest Hotels

Tom Lorenzo
VP & Managing Director, Development
Hilton

Irwin Prince
COO
Realstar Hospitality

Jiri Rumlena
President
SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts

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2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Networking Coffee Break and Tradeshow
Location: Regency Foyer
 
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3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Plenary #5
The CEO’s Perspective - The Road to Getting There
Location: Regency Ballroom
 
By the end of this hour, you will be walking and talking “CEO”. Hear what it takes to keep hospitality businesses running with satisfied guests and engaged employees while trying to make a profit, pay taxes, and plow capital back into ageing assets. All in a day’s work. Discover how nimble pays off from a truly Western Canadian viewpoint.
 
Moderator:
David Goldstein
Chief Executive Officer
Travel Alberta

Panelists:
Tony Cohen
Partner & President, Crescent Hotels & Resorts Canada
CEO & Founder, Global Edge Investments

Christine Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer
Atlific Hotels

George Kosziwka
Chief Strategy Officer
InnVest Hotels LP

Ron Mundi
Owner
Mundi Hotel Enterprises Inc

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4:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Final Remarks
Location: Regency Ballroom
Stephanie Gadbois
Managing Director
Big Picture Conferences