Travel and hospitality industry professionals have a wealth of opportunities to network, learn, and explore emerging trends at various conferences and trade shows throughout the year. Here’s a curated list of top travel shows for 2024, spanning from hotel investment insights to gaming and digital travel innovations. These events are key for staying ahead in the dynamic travel sector.
Hunter Hotel Investment Conference
March 19-21 in Atlanta
The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, founded over 30 years ago by Bob Hunter of Hunter Hotel Advisors and the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University, has established itself as the premier hospitality industry conference. This event is renowned for its long-standing tradition of bringing together key players in the hotel investment community, offering unparalleled opportunities for networking, learning, and strategic discussions about the future of hospitality investment.
AAHOA Convention & Tradeshow
April 2-5 in Orlando, Fla.
The AAHOA Convention & Tradeshow assembles the industry’s key figures for networking, learning, and engagement opportunities on the hospitality sector’s most expansive trade show floor. It represents the largest gathering of AAHOA Members, who collectively own a majority of U.S. hotels, making it an essential event for stakeholders in the hospitality industry looking to connect, discover new trends, and gain insights into the future of hospitality.
Indian Gaming & Tradeshow Convention
April 8-11 in Anaheim, Calif.
The Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention and the Mid-Year Conference & Expo stand as the leading gatherings for the tribal gaming sector. Held every year, these events serve as the central hub for tribal and gaming executives to engage in learning, networking, share insights specific to the industry, and participate in a cultural festivity that honors success, resilience, and independence.
U.S. Travel Association annual show
May 3-7 in Los Angeles
The U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is billed as the premier international inbound travel trade show in the US, driving billions in future travel activity. It serves as a national showcase where U.S. travel exhibitors from across America connect with travel buyers and media from over scores of countries to promote products, negotiate future business, and forge lasting relationships.
HITEC North America
June 24-27 in Charlotte, N.C.
HITEC North America is celebrated as the foremost conference and expo dedicated to the intersection of hospitality and technology, drawing attention from across the globe for its comprehensive showcase of the latest in hospitality IT solutions. Esteemed by professionals from various sectors including hotels, clubs, and beyond, HITEC is lauded for its role in enhancing guest experiences through cutting-edge technology.
GBTA Conference
July 22-24 in Atlanta
The annual GBTA Convention is described as the foremost international event for the business travel sector, where a diverse array of voices unite with a shared goal. The conference represents an opportunity to engage face-to-face with thousands of colleagues, vendors, and partners, taking advantage of unparalleled chances for both professional and business advancement. Sessions are led by insightful speakers and industry experts, covering the most relevant topics today.
The Lodging Conference
Oct. 7-10 in Phoenix
For nearly three decades, The Lodging Conference has stood as a premier event in the global hotel industry, attracting tens of thousands of influential hotel owners and executives from across the world. It serves as a pivotal gathering point for the sector’s most prominent figures, including owners, operators, presidents, CEOs, investors, and key dealmakers, to discuss and strategize on topics ranging from development and finance to franchising, management, construction, design, and operations.
Global Gaming Expo (G2E)
Oct. 7-10 in Las Vegas
For over two decades, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) has established itself as the foremost international assembly for both commercial and tribal gaming experts. G2E annually brings together the worldwide gaming community to shape the future of the industry. It offers an unparalleled platform for professionals to exchange ideas, explore new trends, and foster innovations that will steer the direction of gaming in the years to come.
Digital Travel Summit
Oct. 7-8, Austin, Texas
The Digital Travel Summit is marking a decade of serving senior travel executives through the delivery of cutting-edge solutions to accelerate the digital transformation journey in the travel sector. This prominent and engaging forum allows participants to tailor the agenda to their unique requirements, thereby enabling travel businesses to achieve greater advancements.
IAAPA Expo
Nov. 18-21 in Orlando, Fla.
The IAAPA Expo, recognized as the premier global event for the attractions industry, unites passionate professionals from across the world to innovate and shape the future of creating memorable guest experiences. This event serves as the quintessential gathering spot for industry experts, encompassing a wide range of fields from amusement and theme parks, hotels and resorts, water parks, family and location-based entertainment centers, to historical, cultural, and tourist attractions, as well as museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, and cruise lines.
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