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Sunday, November 7, 2021
Opening Reception at the Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Brookfield
Reception | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Network, reconnect friends and colleagues, and make new connections with event attendees before the program begins in a casual environment at the Opening Reception. A light buffet will be served, and a cash bar will be available.
Network, reconnect friends and colleagues, and make new connections with event attendees before the program begins in a casual environment at the Opening Reception. A light buffet will be served, and a cash bar will be available.
Monday, November 8, 2021
Registration
Registration Desk | 7:30 am - 12:00 pm | 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Check in at the registration desk on Monday morning to pick up attendee materials. WHLA staff is available to answer any questions about the day’s events.
Check in at the registration desk on Monday morning to pick up attendee materials. WHLA staff is available to answer any questions about the day’s events.
Silent Auction
Moves Throughout Event | 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Shop for great deals while supporting the WHLA! Proceeds benefit the WHLAPAC, Legal Defense and Scholarship Funds.
Shop for great deals while supporting the WHLA! Proceeds benefit the WHLAPAC, Legal Defense and Scholarship Funds.
Networking Breakfast
Breakfast | 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Start your day off by making connections while learning about products and services from our Trade Show exhibitors. This event will provide an accelerated and efficient way for buyers and vendors to connect face-to-face. Buyers will have the opportunity to connect with trusted vendors and learn about new products and services during three 15-minute rotations.
Start your day off by making connections while learning about products and services from our Trade Show exhibitors. This event will provide an accelerated and efficient way for buyers and vendors to connect face-to-face. Buyers will have the opportunity to connect with trusted vendors and learn about new products and services during three 15-minute rotations.
125th Anniversary Opening Ceremonies & 2021 Annual Meeting
General Session | 9:15 am - 9:45 am
The 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference officially kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies. Learn about the day’s events and hear from the people who coordinated the event. Then, hear about the official work of the association at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
The 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference officially kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies. Learn about the day’s events and hear from the people who coordinated the event. Then, hear about the official work of the association at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
Straight Talk with the Industry: Climate Check on Wisconsin Tourism Promotion
General Session | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
It’s been a wild year and a half for Wisconsin’s tourism industry, and our DMO partners have been hard at work promoting their destinations as we dig our way out of the destruction caused by the pandemic. While some of the issues we faced have varied among the different types of destinations throughout the state, many of our major challenges are shared by all. In this session you’ll learn how regional tourism marketing organizations have been responding to the challenges facing their region.
It’s been a wild year and a half for Wisconsin’s tourism industry, and our DMO partners have been hard at work promoting their destinations as we dig our way out of the destruction caused by the pandemic. While some of the issues we faced have varied among the different types of destinations throughout the state, many of our major challenges are shared by all. In this session you’ll learn how regional tourism marketing organizations have been responding to the challenges facing their region.
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Nancy Justman
Visit Brookfield |
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Moderated by: Jay Schumerth, Hostmark Hospitality Group
Building Civility in the Workplace: Can't We All Get Along?Keynote | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
During the workday, people frequently interact with others who have different abilities and hardships they are working through. Too many times the absence of information or the presence of misinformation about another person causes people to have far too low of an expectation for what another person can do. This session teaches how and why it is important to see potential in people and how giving them a chance to surprise you, creates camaraderie and promotes inclusive cultures. |
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Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon
Awards Luncheon | 12:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Join us as we recognize staff and lodging industry leaders at the 2021 Stars of the Industry Awards. Enjoy a plated lunch, network with fellow attendees, get inspired by the stars of our industry.
Join us as we recognize staff and lodging industry leaders at the 2021 Stars of the Industry Awards. Enjoy a plated lunch, network with fellow attendees, get inspired by the stars of our industry.
2021 Wisconsin Lodging Trade Show
Trade Show | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
WHLA Exhibitors are vital to our organization and provide financial support for WHLA conferences and events. Browse a great lineup of products and services tailored to the lodging industry. Meet valued and new vendors while enjoying dessert stations and bidding on the Silent Auction. Drop your card at $100 Club donor booths for your chance to win at the Chairman's Reception Drawings.
WHLA Exhibitors are vital to our organization and provide financial support for WHLA conferences and events. Browse a great lineup of products and services tailored to the lodging industry. Meet valued and new vendors while enjoying dessert stations and bidding on the Silent Auction. Drop your card at $100 Club donor booths for your chance to win at the Chairman's Reception Drawings.
Influencer MarketingBreakout Session | 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Influencers are bigger than ever and the importance of including influencer marketing in the media mix continues to grow year after year, with 1 in 4 consumers using social media for purchasing decisions. With so many different types and levels of influencers, this breakout session will discuss setting goals, budgeting, and other crucial factors to consider when developing your influencer marketing plan. We'll walk through the steps from outreach to negotiation to deliverables, as well as how to measure success. |
Amanda Weibel
Travel Wisconsin |
Humanizing the WorkplaceGeneral Session | 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Employees spend a large part of their day, and life, at work, increasing the effect that workplaces have on employees' mental health and well-being. Prior to 2020, employees experiencing mental/emotional health issues were rising. The turbulence of the past few years has further impacted this and created an even bigger need for understanding and change. Now more than ever, organizations need to proactively support employee emotional well-being. Learn core skills and actionable steps to support the mental health of your team and employees. Including seeing the unseen, communication practices, support tools and more. |
Jen Zahari
Strong Foundations Coaching & Consulting LLC |
Chairman's ReceptionReception | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Join Conference attendees and Trade Show vendors for a relaxed atmosphere perfect for conversation and networking at the end of the first busy day of the 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference. Appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available. Featuring $100 Club prize drawings - must be present to win. |
Charlie Eggen
F & E Hospitality 2021 WHLA Chairman |
125th Anniversary Celebration
Dinner, Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame, & Live Auction | 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Celebrate this milestone anniversary of the WHLA and learn more about the individuals who contributed throughout the years during the Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame presentation. Enjoy dinner, followed by our annual auction fundraiser for the PAC and scholarships.
Celebrate this milestone anniversary of the WHLA and learn more about the individuals who contributed throughout the years during the Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame presentation. Enjoy dinner, followed by our annual auction fundraiser for the PAC and scholarships.
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Breakfast
Meal | 8:00 am - 8:30 am
Enjoy a casual breakfast with conference attendees.
Enjoy a casual breakfast with conference attendees.
Advocating Together: An Update from Wisconsin's Tourism Leaders
General Session | 8:30 am - 9:30 am
As the industry works to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and workforce crisis, the advocacy efforts of WHLA and our partners have become even more critical. The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW) is a coalition of partner associations, including WHLA, that has served a major role in advocating for broad issues that support the tourism industry in our state. This panel includes representatives from several of the key member associations that make up the TFW.
As the industry works to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and workforce crisis, the advocacy efforts of WHLA and our partners have become even more critical. The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW) is a coalition of partner associations, including WHLA, that has served a major role in advocating for broad issues that support the tourism industry in our state. This panel includes representatives from several of the key member associations that make up the TFW.
Kristine Hillmer
Wisconsin Restaurant Association |
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Moderated by: Bill Elliott, CAE, WHLA
Trending Legal Issues for Hotel EmployersBreakout Session | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Lodging properties contend with an ever-changing legal landscape at the federal, state, and local level which impacts a wide range of workplace issues. Changes in immigration policy, labor shortages, complex wage and hour laws, and other workplace issues can create operational and legal challenges for lodging properties. Wisconsin employment law attorneys Erica Reib and Joe Gumina will share their knowledge and experience in providing legal services to the hospitality industry, focusing on the most pressing legal issues and topics facing our business.
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Meetings & EventsBreakout Session | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
For many lodging properties in Wisconsin, meeting and group business has been a key driver in revenue up until the pandemic hit. This dynamic panel will share insights for rebooting the meeting experience post-COVID. We'll share lessons learned so far during industry recovery, trends in the meeting world and discuss what we expect to see in the future for the event business.
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The Wise PineappleClosing Keynote | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Learn the art of saying Yes in only four simple steps, and how to become a Wise Pineapple™ by being confident, empowered, and leading from the heart. Discover actionable, tactical, and relatable steps that participants can start using right away to deliver legendary service and create award-winning teams and deliver sweet results professionally and personally. |
Christine Trippi
The Wise Pineapple |
Women in Lodging LuncheonLuncheon | 12:15 pm - 2:00 pm
After the closing session of the Wisconsin Lodging Conference, join the Wisconsin Women in Lodging for lunch and a facilitated discussion hosted by keynote speaker Christine Trippi. |
Christine Trippi
The Wise Pineapple |
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