Convention & Trade Show Agenda

Saturday, April 13

7:00pm  Centennial Speakeasy 

2019 marks 100 years of history for the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association. So many people have contributed to the success of the AHLA – join us in celebrating the history of our members and our organization. Best Western Hotels and Resorts invites you to take a step back in time to where it all began – the Prohibition era – and reunite with former colleagues as we celebrate the history of the AHLA and the people of our industry..  

Sponsored by Best Western Hotels and Resorts  

Sunday, April 14

1:00 - 6:00pm   Centennial Lounge Open

Take a stroll down memory lane! Come see photos and memorabilia from the history of the AHLA and Alberta's hospitality industry. Relax, reconnect, and reminisce with your fellow AHLA alumni in this cozy lounge.

4:00 - 5:00pm  AHLA AGM
Members saw some major challenges in 2018 – changes to labour laws, legalized marijuana, the growth of short-term rentals, and much more. Join your Board of Directors and CEO Dave Kaiser for a full account of how the AHLA supports you.
 
6:00 - 10:00pm  Trade Show & Reception
The AHLA’s Trade Show attracts a wide range of exhibitors with the products and services you need. Don’t miss it!
Sponsored by Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Monday, April 15

8:00 - 10:00am  Opening Breakfast and Keynote Speaker 
It Takes a Team
Speaker:  Darby Allen
During the catastrophic Alberta wildfires, fire chief Darby Allen shot to global acclaim for guiding the 88,000 residents of Fort McMurray to safety with no loss of life—the largest evacuation in Canadian history. Now, he offers guidance on how to be a stoic, quick-thinking leader in tough situations. We all face emergencies and crises—Allen shows us how to overcome them.
Keynote speaker sponsored by: Western Financial Group Insurance
Opening Breakfast sponsored by Connect Logistics Services Inc.
 
10:00am - 1:30pm  Trade Show & Lunch
Don’t miss the second half of one of Canada’s most popular hospitality industry trade shows and win fantastic prizes offered by our exhibitors. Be sure to visit each booth for more chances to win! 
 
1:45 - 4:30pm  Business Sessions
1:45 - 3:00pm
  • Liquor & Cannabis: Are You Liable? With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis, you likely have many questions on legal responsibilities. As an insurance defense lawyer who specializes in the area of hospitality risks, Lorne Folick is ready to answer your burning questions on liquor and cannabis liability. Sponsored by Western Financial Group 
  • Serving Guests with Disabilities  As the population ages, hotels will need to accommodate guests with a variety of different needs.  This session will help you understand how to serve guests with disabilities, including appropriate language, myths and misconceptions, and much more.
  • Improving Hotel Performance - Success is in the Numbers  Join Emile Gourieux as he walks through best practices in using the STAR report to improve hotel performance. From rate management to marketing and budgeting decisions, he will share tips he has learned from years of using the reports as a hotel manager.  Sponsored by STR
3:15 - 4:30pm
  • Understanding Alberta’s New OH&S Rules Is the new Alberta Occupational Health Safety legislation leaving you feeling confused? Are you wondering what the new legislation requires? Join Erica Blewett from the Alberta Hospitality Safety Association for an overview of the new requirements around committees, representatives, and mandatory training courses. Sponsored by the Alberta Hospitality Safety Association
  • Alberta’s Energy Market and Solar for Hotels  With all the information out there about Alberta’s energy market, it can be a challenge to navigate. Join ENMAX for a session to help you make energy decisions with confidence. They’ll discuss recent market events and their potential impacts on energy prices, as well as how ENAMX Energy’s solar program may benefit your property. Sponsored by ENMAX Energy
  • Destination Employment: A Labour Shortage Solution  Newcomers to Canada want meaningful employment and to be part of their community– find out how the Destination Employment program can help your hotel tap into this new labour pool.  Sponsored by Tourism HR Canada
  • Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Tour  Take a unique guided tour behind the scenes at one of Alberta’s premier resort properties. This tour will focus exclusively on housekeeping and grounds maintenance. Learn what it takes to make this grand hotel run smoothly on a daily basis! 
6:00 - 7:00  Housekeeping Awards Cocktail Reception
 
7:00 - 11:00pm  Housekeeping Awards Gala
Join us in recognizing the hard working individuals who consistently deliver the highest level of cleanliness to visitors. Front line staff from all over Alberta will come together to honour the hard work and attention to detail that goes into achieving the coveted Housekeeping Award at this legendary industry event.

Tuesday, April 16

8:00am - 8:50am  Sunshine Breakfast
Hotel Association of Canada’s Director of Government Relations Alana Baker will provide an update on the Association’s targeted advocacy issues - short-term rentals and labour - and will share what HAC has in store for 2019.
Sponsored by Canalta Hotels
 
9:00am - 11:45am  Business Sessions
9:00am - 10:15am
  • 7 Secrets of Creating a Financially Engaged Leadership Team  Learn David Lund’s 7 Secrets to improving your financial communication for a more engaged leadership team, more profit, and more fun.
  • Alberta Accommodation Outlook  A convention classic, David Ferguson will give owners and general managers a comprehensive outlook on the current and future state of Alberta’s accommodation industry. Walk away with solid market intelligence on the state of Alberta’s lodging sector, current existing economic and market conditions, and projected supply and demand.
  • The Communication Styles of Introverts Vs. Extroverts  Margot Ross Graham will explain why employees often fail to get along and what the best communication approach is for different personality types. This session may not solve all your communication challenges – but it will help you understand why you have them in the first place.  Sponsored by Sandbar Consulting
10:30am - 11:45am
  • Session TBA
  • Cannabis 101 with Dr. Ife Abiola  Dr. Ife Abiola will help you understand cannabis, its effects and applications, various products and uses, and methods of consumption. We will clear the air and provide credible information about this complex plant.
  • Bad For Business: How Employers Can Deal with Problem Employees  Join Matt Riskin from Bennett Jones for insight on how to deal with problem employees – especially those who may not be following workplace policies. Receive tips on drafting clear and concise policies to keep your workplace as safe and healthy as possible. Sponsored by Bennett Jones
 
12:00pm - 1:30pm Gold Key Awards Luncheon
The AHLA’s Gold Key Award recognizes long term front line staff and supervisors from properties across Alberta. Celebrate the employees who have committed themselves to Alberta’s tourism & hospitality industry! 
Sponsored by Pomeroy Lodging
 
2:00 - 4:00pm  Closing Business Session
Speaker:  Deborah Connors

For many, work is about surviving versus thriving – it doesn’t have to be that way. What if you could apply some simple daily practices to transform your team or organization? Learn to create a better place to work, attract and retain great people, give great customer service, and exceed expectations!

Sponsored by Marriott Hotels & Resorts

 
6:00 - 7:00pm  Chairman's Reception
 
7:00 - 11:00pm Chairman's Dinner & Employer of Choice Awards (Black tie attire please)
Join Leanne Shaw, Chair of the AHLA’s Board of Directors, in honouring the properties that achieved the 2018 Employer of Choice designation, and celebrating the AHLA’s Centennial anniversary.
Sponsored by Enmax Energy Corporation
** Program is subject to change