Events

With only a little over a month to go, the countdown is officially on for the Hotel Owner…

🏨 Registration opens October 1 for the California Boutique Hotel Conference in San Diego, occurring April 12–14, 2027. Formerly the InnSpire Conference, it focuses on California’s boutique hotel industry evolution. Courtland Palmer, President of Appellation, will be the keynote speaker, highlighting trends and strategies for independent hotels. Early Bird pricing is available until December 31, 2026. Appellation Healdsburg, led by Palmer, was named No. 1 Resort in California and the Continental U.S. in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 Awards.

🌎 Between January and June 2026, 690 million tourists traveled internationally, 3 million more than the same period last year. Q1 saw a 2% increase in global arrivals, but Q2 experienced a 1% drop, with April declining by 3%. This decline was attributed to the Easter holiday starting in March and the Middle East conflict's impact. The data is based on the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism.

📅 FHS World 2026 kicked off in Dubai from September 29 to October 1, attracting 1,000 delegates from 50 countries. The event features 170+ speakers and 200+ investors with over USD $6 trillion in assets. Approximately 25% of investors attend for the first time, and 40% come from outside the GCC. The summit includes more than 30 seminars and the FHS Awards, where Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Tim Clark.

🍴 Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Dominican Republic, hosts its 4th Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival on October 9-10, 2026. Michelin-starred chefs Michael Mina, Hubert Keller, and Joe Isidori headline. Set on a 7,000-acre property with 63 golf holes and a 250-slip marina. Festival highlights include "Dinner Under the Stars" at Minitas Beach Club and immersive culinary showcases. Tickets available online.

🏁 Malaysia will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit from October 2-4, marking its first race since 2017. The race was relocated from Sakhir due to conflict in the Middle East. Singapore will host its Grand Prix at Marina Bay from October 9-11. Air arrivals from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore for October 5-11 are 74% higher year-on-year, according to Amadeus Travel Intelligence.

💬 October 5-9, 2026: Customer Service Week is celebrated globally, with Global CX Day on October 6. This tradition, started in 1987 and nationally recognized by Congress in 1992, emphasizes the importance of customer service. In 2011, Bruce Temkin and Jeanne Bliss founded the Customer Experience Professionals Association, leading to the first CX Day in 2013. Organizations are encouraged to appreciate employees and customers year-round, beyond this celebratory week.

📅 Sept. 27-28, Nashville, TN: AAHOA's 5th annual women's conference at Delta Hotels by Marriott. 📍 Oct. 5-8, Phoenix, AZ: AAHOA at The Lodging Conference, JW Marriott, as Platinum Sponsor. 🛡️ September: National Preparedness Month and Food Safety Education Month. 🇺🇸 Annually, 48M foodborne illnesses reported in the U.S., causing 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. ✨ Second week of September: International Housekeepers and Environmental Services Week celebrates custodial staff contributions.

📅 HOSPA acquired the National Hotel Marketing Conference from Martin Evans, who built it over 20 years. The next event is on 27 May 2027 at Hilton St George’s Park. The conference, running for over nine years, will broaden to cover digital innovation and guest behavior changes. HMA restructured under HOSPA in November 2024, solidifying their collaboration, with Andrew Farrow managing the relationship. This acquisition extends HOSPA's integration with the Hotel Marketing Association.