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Check In. Level Up.—and stay tuned.
Our schedule is evolving, with new sessions and speakers being added regularly. 

Sunday, November 1, 2026

     3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Registration
​Check in and get set with your badge and materials to kick off your conference experience.
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Registration Sponsor
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Lanyard Sponsor
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Social Media Wall Sponsor
     4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Student Orientation + Tour
Student attendees and student sponsors are invited to a welcome meeting and behind-the-scenes tour.
     7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Opening Reception
Level up your connections with a fun, social kickoff featuring games, prizes, food, and networking. ​
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Opening Reception Sponsor

Monday, November 2, 2026

     7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Registration
Stop by the Registration Desk for materials, questions, and WHLA staff support.​
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Registration Sponsor
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Lanyard Sponsor
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Social Media Wall Sponsor
     7:30 am - 7:30 pm
Silent Auction
Browse and bid on a curated selection of items while supporting WHLA’s scholarship and industry initiatives.
     7:45 am - 8:15 am
Welcome Breakfast
Begin the morning connecting with peers and previewing the day’s programming. Featuring Career Connection Tables for student attendees. 
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Welcome Breakfast Sponsor
8:15 am - 8:45 am 
WHLA Annual Meeting
Stay informed with WHLA updates on recent wins, initiatives, leadership insights, and board elections.
     8:45 am - 9:30 am
Opening Keynote
Attracting Tomorrow's Talent with Today's Leaders​
Discover actionable strategies to bridge generational gaps, leverage each group's strengths, and build a culture that attracts and retains top talent. 
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Keynote Sponsor
     8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Headshot Station
Level up your professional presence with a refreshed headshot designed for your online profiles.
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Headshot Sponsor
    9:30 am - 10:15 am
Break: Check In, Fuel Up
Step right outside your morning breakout rooms into Education Alley to grab a quick coffee refuel and easily explore workforce upskilling programs, certificates, and college resources designed to level up your team.
    9:45 am - 10:35 am
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Leading Across Generations: Building Hospitality Teams That Stay, Serve, and Succeed
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Check In to Tomorrow: Leveling Up Revenue with Copilot, Tech, and Team Efficiency
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    Check In on the International Workforce
   10:35 am - 10:50 am
Break: Check In, Fuel Up
Fuel up for your next breakout session while connecting with local university and college experts to unlock customized training resources for your current team
   10:50 am - 11:40 am
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Connection is Currency
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Influencer Marketing for Hotels   
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    Check In to Smart HR: How A.I. Innovates Your Property and Talent Pipeline
     11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Power Lunch + Straight Talk with the Industry Panel
Grab your lunch and learn the latest about how the American Hotel and Lodging Association is advocating for our industry at the nation's capital. Then, get ready for an unfiltered reality check as top Wisconsin lodging leaders drop the fluff and tackle today's toughest hospitality challenges head-on to help you level up your property's resilience.​
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Lunch Sponsor
     1:10 pm - 2:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Check In on Working Moms: Leveling Up Maternal Mental Health in Hospitality
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Check In to A.I. Marketing: Predicting Behavior to Level Up Revenue Results
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    Check In on Wisconsin Room Tax
     2:10 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Checking Into Leadership: Extraordinary Careers and How to Build Them
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Cracking the Marketplace Algorithm: High-Impact Levers for Peak Success
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    Check In on AI Risk     
     3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wisconsin Lodging Trade Show
Check in on the show floor and connect with 80+ exhibitors while enjoying networking, sponsored hospitality, and special features throughout the space.  
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Old Fashioned Sponsor
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Beer Sponsor
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Furniture Sponsor
     7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
WHLA Awards Dinner & Live Auction
Celebrate industry excellence with an evening of recognition, networking, and a live auction supporting WHLA initiatives. Live Auction featuring auctioneer Bill Jartz, the official 'Voice of Lambeau Field', sponsored by. Chula Vista Resort + Gordon Lodge. 
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Dinner Sponsor
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Bar Sponsor
     9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wisconsin Women in Lodging Event
Wrap up the evening with networking, drinks, and fundraising in support of WHLA's fastest-growing group.
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WWIL Sponsor

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

     7:30 am - 11:30 am
Registration
Visit the Registration Desk for materials and on-site support from WHLA staff.
     7:45 am - 8:15 am
Networking Breakfast  
Connect over breakfast as you begin the final day of sessions. Career Connections tables for small-group networking will be active for student attendees.
     8:15 am - 8:45 am
Morning Keynote
Attention Algorithm: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Distracted Hotel Industry
Set the tone for the final day with insights and perspectives you can apply beyond the conference.​
     8:45 am - 9:00 am
Break
Take a short break and prepare for breakout sessions.
     9:00 am - 9:50 am
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Building Your Leadership Consistency for You and for Your Team       
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Check In with Peers. Check out with Profit Strategies.
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    Checked in on Tech: Member Roundtables
    9:50 am - 10:00 am
​Break
Take a short break and prepare for the final sessions of the conference.
   10:00 am - 10:50 am
Breakout Sessions
Your Time, Your Choice: Customize your afternoon by selecting one of our three concurrent specialized tracks:
  • Check In to Leadership. Level Up Your Team.
    Level Up Your Influence: Mastering Difficult Conversations with Confidence
  • Check In to Revenue. Level Up Results.
    Level Up Website Reach: Optimizing for AI-Driven Searches
  • Check In to Innovation. Level Up Your Property.
    The Attention Masterclass: Deconstructing the Algorithm for Your Property        
   10:50 am - 11:00 am
Break
Head to the main room for the last session of the event. 
     11:00 am - 11:45 am
Closing Keynote
The ROI of Human Connection: How Culture Impacts Retention, Reviews, and Revenue
​Level up your conference experience with a high-energy finale designed to inspire action, reinforce key takeaways, and leave you ready to apply what you’ve learned.

Thank you to our Sponsors