I just wrapped up an incredible few days in Los Angeles for the 2026 ALIS Conference and AHLA’s Night of a Thousand Stars, and I’m still processing everything I learned and everyone I had the opportunity to connect with. If you’re in the world of hospitality, here’s what stood out to me from this week in the field.

On Night of a Thousand Stars

AHLA’s Night of a Thousand Stars Gala kicked off Sunday night before the ALIS Conference. Over 500 industry leaders in one room, and the spotlight was on hotel leaders and property-level employees awards for the people who make hospitality what it is.

I had the privilege of spending time with this year’s Hero of the Year winner, and it was a powerful reminder that hospitality hiring has always been about the people who make the difference. I also reconnected with old colleagues—some I hadn’t seen in years—and it struck me again how timeless relationships are in this industry. People move companies, change roles, and shift markets, but the connections endure.

The Gala is a fundraiser and awards ceremony benefiting the AHLA Foundation’s workforce development initiatives. The funds raised empower hotel’s top talent to build skills, advance their careers, and become the next generation of hospitality leaders.

Hireology is honored to partner with AHLA because we share the same mission: connecting people with opportunity isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about building futures. The individuals on property are the backbone of this industry, and investing in them is how we all move forward together.

On ALIS

The stats speak for themselves: ~3,000 attendees and seemingly every major hotel company represented in some capacity, the energy was electric.

With Snowmageddon sweeping across the country, not everyone could make it out—and conversations often started with a relieved, “You made it!” But for those who did, the energy was undeniable. And not just inside the main venue. It spilled into neighboring restaurants, coffee shops, burger joints, and hotel lobby breakfasts. Conversations were buzzing on every corner. Factor in 72 degrees and sunny, and the vibe was hard to beat.

The priority was clear: connections and momentum. People came ready to do deals. They had purpose, an agenda to grow their portfolios, and conviction about making a positive impact on their business—even with some overhang from the previous year’s uncertainty. This industry’s resilience was on full display.

On People and Partnerships

At our dinner, during introductions, a theme emerged: everything came back to people and partnerships. We were grateful for each other’s company, grateful for the employees working the frontlines, and aligned on one idea—the power of this industry is anchored in a strong people culture. And having the right partners who share those values? Just as important.

I also heard from teams navigating real hiring challenges, seeking hotel staffing solutions. Some leaders are reevaluating strategy for the new year. Some are exploring new background checks. Some are operating with minimal recruiting support, leaving hiring managers to own everything—from sourcing to closing—on top of running their day-to-day operations. Everyone takes a different approach, but leaders were eager to share best practices, advice, and connections to help each other grow in the new year.

3 Key Things I Learned

1. Resilience is the industry’s superpower. Even with lingering uncertainty from the prior year, the leaders who showed up to ALIS weren’t just optimistic—they were decisive. They came with portfolios to grow and strategies to execute. That kind of forward momentum in the face of headwinds is what sets this industry apart.
2. The hiring challenge is real—and deeply personal. Across nearly every conversation, staffing came up. Whether it was a team operating without dedicated recruiting support or a leader rethinking their approach to background checks and sourcing, it’s clear that finding and keeping great people is still the top operational challenge. There’s no single playbook, but sharing what’s working is how the industry moves forward.
3. Relationships are the real ROI. The hallway conversations, the dinner table moments—these are where the real value gets created. Deals get done because of trust built over years, not just polished decks. This week was a good reminder that showing up in person still matters enormously.

My Final Thoughts

I had a great time connecting with so many of our customers and partners in person this week. We can’t wait to reconnect soon in March at the Hunter Conference in Atlanta. Here’s to building momentum in 2026!