SIA 116th Annual Conference

Southern Innkeepers Enjoy a Star-Studded Gathering

June 16-18, 2024
Hotel Bennett
Charleston, SC

Somehow it was no surprise when travel industry headlines proclaimed Charleston, SC, the site of the Southern Innkeepers Association’s 116 Annual Meeting, the “Best City in the World” according to Conde Nast Traveler. Attendees at the meeting were likely to agree after experiencing three days of this beautiful city’s hospitality.

The gathering opened with a southern soiree which flowed from the beautiful Gabrielle lounge out into Charleston’s vibrant King Street. Afterglow was warm and welcoming on the Hotel Bennett’s alluring rooftop, where the stars met the skyline.

Monday morning’s program opened with a welcome from hotel owner Michael Bennett, who explained how family pride in this beautiful property led to dismissal of offers from both the Trump family and the prince of Qatar.

*Horst Schulze, founder, former chair and CEO of the Capella Hotel Group and co-founder and former COO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company*

The key theme to the program was excellence, and it began appropriately with a talk entitled “Excellence Wins” by industry star Horst Schulze, Founder, Former Chair and CEO of the Capella Hotel Group and Co-Founder and Former COO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He explained that real leadership has a destination, a mission for which one must hire people to help them get to a goal. Excellence, he explained, is the result of high intent and hard work.

The leadership discussion continued with Jim Dethmer, co-founder of Conscious Leadership Group, who said that people respond to greatness with inspiration, imitation and transformation, and that internal/external congruence is both inspirational and transformational.

Our own Arch Stokes, founder and chair at Stokes Wagner, then shared his thoughts on the nation’s current political crisis and the importance of honesty and focusing on the good that people are doing all around us as a strategy for overcoming challenges. (presentation)

Southern members never lack for innovative ideas, issues and solutions to share, and the afternoon’s session was no exception. Key topics for our open discussion session included employee recruitment, retention, and housing, H2B, managing credit card fees, cybersecurity, outsourcing, AI, and F&B concepts and consultants. Solutions discussed included “Leadline” (recruiting), “Seasonal Connect” (H2B), Mercer Wage Analysis, and “Take Up” for AI.

The lovely Sorelle was the venue for Monday’s “Southern Italy Meets Southern Hospitality” dinner, hosted by Casey Lavin and Beemok Hospitality Collection, followed by Afterglow at the Charleston Grill at Charleston Place.

Tuesday opened with the Annual Business Meeting, where President Brent Cross highlighted board consideration of a new associate membership level for “rising stars” at member properties and the possibility of a short fall meeting to be held between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

One highlight of our annual business meeting is the presentation of awards and monetary gifts to exemplary staff at our host properties. Selected by the general manager and management staff, these are employees who embody the best of the hospitality industry. This year four worthy recipients were named Employees of the Year.

Marty Wall Employee awards All SIA 2024.jpg

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Marty Wall Employee Awards SIA 2024 All (2).jpg

Jeff Kallay, SVP of Enrollment Consulting for Echo Delta, then shared his view of how past generations predict the behaviors of future ones. He said we are a nation in crisis, not unlike that experienced after the American Revolution, the Civil War, and WWII, and that global trade is shrinking while autocracies are expanding. He noted that tri-generational purchasing is the latest trend, with boomer grandparents, millennial parents, and alpha grandchildren making up the buying pool. The next generation is made up of idealist/prophet alphas, similar to the boomer generation after WWII. They are healers and fixers, and want to help people and animals and have fun. (presentation)

AH&LA’s Troy Flanagan, EVP of External Government Affairs and Industry Relations, rounded out the program with an update on Washington. Two key projects for AH&LA Advocacy are fee transparency and congruency across the states and expanding the number of H2B Visas for 2024. They are also trying to help shorten the process by which asylum seekers can get work permits (presentation).

Southern thanks our sponsors, Marty Wall and the staff at the Hotel Bennett, and Casey Lavin and the team at Beemok Hospitality Collection for a memorable 116th Annual Conference.

Thank you to our 116th Annual Conference Hosts!

Thank you to Marty Wall, General Manager of Hotel Bennett and Casey Lavin, President, Beemok Hospitality Collection, for hosting the 116th Annual Southern Innkeepers Association Annual Conference in Charleston!