OH&LA Lodging Summit a Huge Success - Highlights from Event
The OH&LA held its annual Lodging Summit, including the Vendor Expo and Stars of the Industry Awards, on January 17 at the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa - and had record numbers all around. Close to 230 OH&LA members and guests registered for and took part in the day’s events and, thanks to the superb River Spirit team, the event was an outstanding success.
The OH&LA Annual Membership and Board of Directors meeting took place in the morning, and Steve Kohl of Woodward’s Northwest Inn was elected as 2017 Chair. Troy Flanagan, Vice President of State & Local Government Affairs for the AH&LA addressed attendees and outlined AH&LA’s identified initiatives for 2017.
Immediately following, attendees joined a host of OH&LA Allied members and guests for the Vendor Expo, highlighting the products and services of 21 suppliers to the industry. The Expo provided an opportunity for many to acquire new business, as well as mingle with current customers in support of the association's objectives. Buyers attending the Expo were eligible for prize drawings provided by exhibitors. This year's Vendor Expo participants included 2nd Wind Exercise; Aromascapes LLC; Arrow Machinery Company; Auto-Chlor System; Clearwater Enterprises; Cox Business Services; Ecolab; HD Supply; Heartland; McGregor Insurance Group; Metro Building Services LLC; Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association; Oklahoma State University; OK Women in Lodging; Proctor & Gamble; Push, Pedal and Pull - Oklahoma; STR; Total Beverage Services; Trilling Restoration Services and US Foods.
Our Silent Auction had new and exciting items and raised nearly $2,400, proceeds which benefit OH&LA member educational programming. A huge thanks to all of our attendees that bid on our great auction packages, and special thanks to all of our Silent Auction donors: Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa; Hilton Garden Inn Lawton- Fort Sill; Holiday Inn Express & Suites; Hyatt Regency Tulsa; Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association; Oklahoma Travel Industry Association; POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat; Renaissance Waterford - Oklahoma City Hotel; Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant; Riverwind Casino; Shangri-La; Springhill Suites; The Artesian; The Grand Casino Hotel & Resort; The Skirvin Hilton & J. Mays; Tinker Federal Credit Union; and Wyndham Garden Hotel Oklahoma City Airport.
Excitement was at an all time high during our Stars of the Industry Award presentations, emceed by board members Rebecca Eastham, Meridian Technology Center, and Jeff Erwin, Ambassador Hotel, Oklahoma City.
Eight Oklahoma lodging professionals and two Oklahoma lodging property award recipients were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Oklahoma’s lodging industry. You can read our special salute to the Stars of the Industry Award recipients here.
It was a wonderful day, and we look forward to celebrating the Lodging Summit again in 2018.
