The Hospitality Show Sets Visionary Stage Program for 2026

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta and Leaders from Sandals, Accor, Highgate and More Will Discuss Growth, Technology and the Future of Hotel Operations

MIAMI, Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hospitality Show, a gathering of hotel owners, operators, brands and suppliers, returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center November 2–4. The show’s Visionary Stage will feature Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta and other industry leaders in conversations about growth, technology and the changing demands facing hotel owners and operators.

Visionary Stage programming takes place in the convention center’s Lincoln Road Ballroom across all three days of the show. Sessions are included with All Access and Young Professional passes.

Monday’s “Where Growth Comes From” will bring together Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International; Rich Russo, Principal at Highgate; and Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO of PRISM. They will discuss how hotels can build demand through guest experience, partnerships and distribution. Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at The Walt Disney Company, will follow with a keynote on applying creative thinking to business challenges.

On Tuesday, Nassetta will join Thom Geshay, President & CEO of Davidson Hospitality Group, for “The Business of Hospitality.” Their conversation will cover changing traveler expectations, demand and the realities of running a profitable hotel business at scale.

The morning will also feature “AI as Change Agent: What’s Next for Travel and Hospitality,” with Peter Chambers, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Montage International; Priya Chandnani, Executive Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Sage Hospitality Group; and Anil Aggarwal, CEO of Milestone, Inc. The discussion will look at how AI is affecting the way travelers find and book trips, along with its implications for revenue and hiring. Also on Tuesday, the GM Awards, powered by AHLA, will recognize general managers for their work in hotel performance, culture and guest experience.

“Owners and operators are making decisions now that will shape their businesses for years,” said Kiersten Pearce, Chief Revenue Officer of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), which produces The Hospitality Show with Forge (formerly Questex). “At The Hospitality Show, they can hear how other leaders are approaching those decisions and talk through what might work for their own hotels.”

Wednesday opens with “The World Is Checking In – Are You Ready?”, moderated by AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta. Steve Sickel, CEO of the IHG Owners Association; Robert O’Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism Industry & Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration; and Enrique Calderón, Chief Operating Officer of Posadas, will discuss international travel demand and what hotels can do to prepare for future major events.

Also on Wednesday, Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Accor, and Sarah Phelps, Vice President of Games Hospitality for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, will discuss partnerships that help hotels reach new guests. “Full Speed Ahead: How Cruise Lines Drive Revenue” will consider what hotels can learn from the cruise business. Miami chef and World Central Kitchen board member Karla Hoyos will close the program with a conversation about building teams and maintaining quality while serving crowds of vastly different sizes.

View the full show agenda and register for an All Access pass at thehospitalityshow.com.

About The Hospitality Show
The Hospitality Show is an event for the entire hospitality ecosystem with one goal: operating hotels more efficiently. Produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Forge (formerly Questex), the event brings together top industry leaders, senior executives of hotel brands, owners, operators, management companies, procurement specialists, and their teams. The Hospitality Show 2026 takes place November 2-4, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, FL.

About Forge
Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets. For more information, visit forgelive.com.

About AHLA
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at ahla.com.