Inaugural Boutique & Lifestyle Symposium Agenda Set

Los Angeles, CA (USA) – October 15, 2012 – Leading hospitality industry experts will highlight how independent hoteliers can help drive bookings to new highs in today’s market at The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association’s inaugural Boutique & Lifestyle International Leadership Symposium. Held on October 22-24, 2012 at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, CA, this groundbreaking conference is generating industry buzz with its stellar lineup of speakers, premier guest list and networking opportunities, as well as its cutting-edge marketing and conference entertainment techniques.

Join the industry’s top CEOs from companies such as Kimpton, Joie de Vivre, Thompson, SLS, Opus, Dream/Night, Yotel, Morgans, and Viceroy as they reveal their experience, expertise, and advice.

“This will be an unprecedented opportunity for boutique, lifestyle and luxury hoteliers to gain and exchange information as they gear up for current and coming business for 2013,” said Founder and Chair of BLLA, Frances Kiradjian. The symposium’s guest speakers will include:

Keynoter Caroline Beteta, interim CEO of Brand USA and Head of California Tourism. Beteta will explain the need for independent hoteliers to position themselves to capture the increased bookings that will result from U.S. efforts to boost mindshare of international travelers. Beteta is responsible for implementing Visit California’s $50-plus million global marketing programs and serves as lead spokesperson for California’s $95 billion travel industry. Building increased international visitation to the United States and growing America’s share of the global travel market, Brand USA’s efforts aim to bring millions of new international visitors who will spend billions of dollars in the United States and create tens of thousands of new American jobs.

Panelist Flora Tsang, YouTube Video Specialist. Tsang will explain why visual design and communication should be on the mind of hospitality owners, managers and marketers to attract, retain and stimulate potential guests’ desire to experience boutique properties. Tsang will speak about the enormous growth the industry is seeing with video, how it is being used in the travel inspiration/planning process, and how boutique/luxury clients can fruitfully engage with YouTube and video today.
Ankush Jindal, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Oliphant Films. Jindal will help deepen attendees’ understanding of the wealthy, savvy and creative individuals who favor boutique hospitality. He will explain how hoteliers must reach beyond pretty pictures of their properties and focus on communicating the personality of the hotel and what its guests’ experiences will be.

Not only does the Symposium include a celebrated list of Speakers and events, but also the support behind the conference is extraordinary. Kiradjian affirmed, “The association is grateful to the sponsors and speakers, as well as our chosen charity, Clean the World – all of whom are showing their individual support of BLLA via their personal and social networks.

This is an extraordinary event in marketing, and BLLA, along with the support from Yo!Dog Marketing, will continue to engage ‘Social Sauce’ to reach out to the industry.” Social Sauce blends together innovative social media marketing techniques, including personalized webpages, live ongoing tweets, and more. Through the use of social media, BLLA and its Speakers reinforce the advantages of joining this premier conference, as well as illustrating their knowledge about today’s marketing trends.

Other exhibitors also include:
Alioscopy – Get an exclusive preview of eMotionartTM, a one-of-a-kind 3D Wall Art product that features exquisite artistic collections in 3D, which will be presented in the Oscar Room and several common areas. See how this unique centerpiece can instantly revitalize your space and mesmerize your guests.

Concept Amenities – On the heels of launching Linden Leaves, a New Zealand retail brand that caters to hotel guests well-being, Concept Amenities has been awarded International Organization for Standardization certification for good manufacturing practices; guests can rest assured that products manufactured by Concept Amenities have met the high quality standards set by the organization.

Restoration Hardware Contract – RH has built a reputation as a curator of beautiful found objects, which are then engineered for the modern lifestyle making them more durable and longer lasting than the originals. RH Contract will be showcasing products from their new Fall collections of Upholstered Furniture, Bath and Lighting.”

Greenberg Traurig’s Hospitality Group – Experts in will offer insights about planning, developing and operating hotels and destination resorts. GT’s mission is similar -to provide reliable, informed and creative legal counsel that allows our clients to reach their goals.

LATHER – LATHER provides treatment and amenity products to some of the world’s most discerning hotels and spas through its five distribution centers around the country and worldwide partners. LATHER Hotel, LATHER’s hospitality division, has grown to become an industry leader synonymous with distinct products and first-class service, offering property wide solutions from in-room amenities, to spa and retail programs.

Additional sponsors include:
Digital Alchemy, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, LodgeNet Interactive Corporation, Northern Feather Canada, SFERRA Fine Linens, Standard Textile & SK Textile, Venture Insurance/Suite Life. UNIQ Print, Vizergy, Buuteeq, Hefferman Insurance Brokers, Point East International, FAWNI Art, Hollywood Roosevelt, STR, eReleases, Clean the World – charity

About The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA)
The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) is the first and only association dedicated to uniting the world’s boutique and lifestyle hotels for the benefit of properties and suppliers as well as travelers. Created to be the unifying voice of this distinctive subset within the hospitality industry. BLLA’s goal is to unite the world’s collection of boutique & lifestyle properties and the suppliers that sustain them, offering them the opportunity to successfully compete on a level playing field with major hotel companies, as well as market themselves to meet the ever-increasing demand from discerning boutique-seeking clients.

Media Contact:
Frances Kiradjian
Founder, Chair, Publisher
The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA)
6520 Platt Avenue, Suite 842 / West Hills, CA 91307 USA
+1-818-883-4363
frances@blla.org