Latino Hotel Association to Host First Hotel Franchising Forum

USA - English

• Latin America - español

HOUSTON, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials of the Latino Hotel Association (LHA), the global organization dedicated to expanding Latino ownership, leadership and commerce in the hotel industry, today announced the group would host its first hotel franchising forum November 30 to December 3, 2010, in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.  The forum, entitled "Hotel Franchising," will provide attendees with in-depth, practical information about hotel ownership/development, franchising, marketing, management, specifically geared to the needs of Latinos.  

Sponsors of the event include Hilton Hotels & Resorts; Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC; Hyatt Hotels and Resorts; Accor; HVS International; JMBM; Carl Ross Design Group; LLW Architects; Smith Travel Research; and Hotel and Motel Management Magazine.

"This is the first forum of its kind outside of the United States," said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, president and founder of LHA.  "This upcoming event takes an indepth look at hotel ownership/investment, management, branding and franchising.  Among other topics we will discuss are keys to planning hotel investments, including determining economic feasibility.  In addition, we will review rules and regulations required of a typical franchisee.

"Hotel branding is becoming a global phenomenon, with Mexico emerging as a major market," Gonzalez-Rowe added.  "Hotel brands help attract guests on a worldwide basis, establish standards that instill guest confidence and support and bolster pricing power.  Also, franchisors provide training, operating and IT systems and purchasing power that hotel owners otherwise could not get on their own."

Guest speakers at the event include:

• Jerico Abramo Masso, mayor, Saltillo
• George Massa, senior director – franchise development, Mexico Hilton Hotels
• Armando de la Garza Gaytan, president, Convention & Visitors Bureaus; president, Hispanic Meeting Professionals Association
• Robert Braun, PC of JMBM
• Michael Register, principal of Desires Hotels
• Jorge E. Hernandez Gonzalez, banca empresariao, Banco Multiva
• Manuel Hernandez, Horwath Costillo Miranda
• Isaac Bishop, project manager, LLW Architects
• Carl Ross, president, Design Group Carl Ross
• Parris Jordon, managing director, HVS Global Hospitality Services
• Lic. Jose Luis Moreno Aguirre, secretary of tourism, Coahuila
• Fatima Thompson, sales executive – Mexico, Smith Travel Research
• Lic. Jorge Davila Rodriguez, president, Chamber of Commerce
• David J. Schwartz MS/MBA, managing principal, The Management Consortium, Inc.
• Dr. Armando Uribe, president, Mexican Hotel Association
• Karim Saade Charur, president & CEO, American Hotel Group
• Lic. Braulio Cardenas Cantu, president, Restaurant Association
• Walter Barrela, executive vice president and COO, Peak Hospitality
• Marco A. Roca, senior vice president of development, Wyndham Worldwide
• David Schwartz, principal, The Management Consortium
• Edward Xanders, president, Interim Hospitality Consultants
• Javier Sanchez, Franchise Development, LATAM Region Wyndham Hotel Group
• Luis Alicea, director of development, Wyndham Hotel Group
• John McCarthy, principal, Leisure Partners

"As an added incentive to participants, we will have a forum where hotel developers and owners can meet with a wide array of brands to discuss new build and conversion opportunities of their existing properties," Gonzalez-Rowe said.

The Hotel Franchising Forum will provide hotel investors, owners and developers with fundamentals of developing, acquiring, repositioning and financing a hotel; strategies for planning and executing a successful hotel investment offering; and creating and maintaining strong relationships with management companies and franchisors.

Registration fees are $150.  Attendees and prospective participants will find details of the program, including registration procedures and hotel room discounts, at the LHA website, www.latinohotelassociation.org.  For additional information, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, LHA president and founder, at (281) 668-9165; by fax (281) 668-9199; and by e-mail at [email protected].

About the Latino Hotel Association

Headquartered in suburban Houston, LHA is a worldwide, non-profit association dedicated to increasing Latino participation in the hospitality industry, to include ownership, leadership and commerce.  The organization provides education, international and regional conferences and networking opportunities with the leading hotel companies in the world.  Additional information is available at the association's website, www.latinohotelassociation.org.

SOURCE Latino Hotel Association