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hertelier is running a three part series on the ALHA Forward Conference.
Here is the first instalment from Leah Murphy, CEO of Jane Hotel Group.
As both a participant and a panelist in previous AHLA ForWard Conferences, my return to the 2024 edition in Chicago was a full-circle moment. From my first experience in 2018 when it was 200 women to the nearly 900 that attended this year, the growth is staggering, but also the variety of attendees. With my background as the founder and CEO of Jane Hotel Group, and over two decades in the hospitality industry, I've been a part of the movement, first with the Castell Project, the precursor to ForWard, and have a deep belief in the power of these dedicated programs.
Before I get into my recap of the content of two-day AHLA ForWard conference held at McCormick Place in Chicago, here are five things that I loved:
Networking was strongly encouraged and well facilitated by organizers.
Great to see the team spirit exhibited from some of the groups wearing matching t-shirts including Highgate Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, DirectTV, and a few others.
The massage chair, sponsored by Red Roof, was genius!
The headshot lounge with free head shots–brilliant!
And loved the snack break and selfie areas.
Buckle up, here are my highlights of two very full days at ForWard…
Opening Notes: Righting the Narrative
The conference kicked off with an inspiring introduction by Anna Blue, who passionately framed this year’s theme, "Right the Narrative." Anna emphasized the transformative power of sharing and amplifying women's stories as a catalyst for change. Her remarks highlighted the growth of the conference from its inception to becoming a pivotal event in the hospitality industry. Because I've been listening to stories of women in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, I wasn't sure if that was our problem–the lack of a platform to share stories–but I remained open-minded!
During her introduction, Anna shared the historical context of "female hysteria," a once-common medical diagnosis for women, which included symptoms like anxiety, fainting, and even a "tendency to cause trouble for others." This diagnosis was not debunked until the 1980s. The audience shared a laugh when Anna listed the symptoms, underscoring the absurdity of such misconceptions. She then displayed a powerful quote on the big screen: "What if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open." This moment resonated deeply, highlighting the ongoing struggle women face when speaking their truth. My reaction was a mix of humor and poignancy—realizing that even today, speaking our truth might still be dismissed as hysteria, which it seems was Anna’s point.
Panel: Breaking Boundaries: Industry Innovators & Disruptors
Panelists: Malaika Myers Chief Human Resources Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation Jen Collins President, Procure Impact Tracy Prigmore Managing Partner, TLTsolutions + She Has a Deal Julienne Smith Chief Development Officer, IHG Hotels and Chair, AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees
This panel discussed an array of topics including how to handle failures, doubt, and advice for women looking to be disruptors. I liked how they all agreed that they should reframe the term disruptor to innovator.
Jen Collins shared how Procure Impact connects under-represented business leaders to larger corporate networks. Using Cameron’s Chocolates as an example, a company whose majority workers have mental/cognitive disabilities and they make chocolate truffles that Procure Impact helps to sell in hotel retail stores. Another example, they sell candles made by survivors of sex trafficking etc–really inspiring stuff! “We're not just creating opportunities; we're redefining the narrative where diversity is a key strength,” Jen explained.
Tracy Prigmore emphasized the need for more diversity in leadership roles. “The glass ceiling isn't just a barrier to break; it’s the beginning of a broader sky for everyone following us,” she stated, shedding light on her initiatives like She Has a Deal, which encourages women hotel investors.
Julienne Smith highlighted the critical role of mentorship and advocacy in fostering women's leadership opportunities. “True leadership involves lifting others as you climb, ensuring your journey paves the way for future stories like yours,” she remarked, sharing her insights from her dual roles at IHG and the AHLA Foundation Board.
Panel: Wisdom from Rising Leaders
Panelists: Mark Hoplamazian President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Panelists: Kiana Beimes General Manager, OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER; Ashley Bellucci Senior Director, Marketing, Guest Worldwide; Colby Bracy Director of People & Operation, The Nonantum Resort; Gaby Corona Director of Service Culture and Performance, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
After the first panel, you could feel a buzz in the room, almost as if people were ready to take off and start making changes to the world! It was great to hear the stories of these rising leaders' career journeys into hospitality. One of the highlights of this panel was hearing about Colby's story and how she created a program called "Raising People Up" and through this she earned the Northstar award from the AHLA earlier this year. Sounds like such an incredible organization!
Keynote: Living Authentically with Shola Richards, Founder & CEO, Go Together Global and Best-Selling Author
Shola Richards delivered a standout keynote, weaving personal anecdotes with the African philosophy of Ubuntu—“I am because we are.” He said that to lead a life embracing Ubuntu, you needed to follow three principles:
Always Be Kind
Ask Is It True?
Ask is it necessary?
His discussion on authenticity, kindness, and societal contribution was punctuated with actionable advice. His words, "If you can’t lead with kindness, you shouldn’t be in leadership," underscored a central message of the conference. He wrapped up his presentation encouraging everyone to take responsibility in making the world a better place and that to not worry about what to do tomorrow, but to focus on doing the right thing just for today. Shola got a standing ovation after his presentation and was a great segway into lunch.
Breakout Sessions:
I attended two of the four breakout sessions.
Women on Boards with Ann Fastiggi Leadership Advisor, Spencer Stuart and Tatia Torrey Leadership Advisor, Spencer Stuart. This session was about how to prepare yourself for board service and how Spencer Stuart looks for candidates etc.). Here are some takeaways:
Across all S&P 500 boards the average retirement age was 74 years, which has remained unchanged for the past three years.
This year, 67% of new director appointments have been filled by diverse individuals. This is down from 72% in 2022 and 2021, but diverse directors still make up a significantly bigger share of new director appointments than in 2018 or 2013. full report here
People considering board service, need to know the difference between being a "doer" vs being an "advisor"
Some of the most highly sought after expertise for board service include technology, auditing/finance, and international experience
One of the best ways to look for board opportunities, is to network with women - avoid asking men for what board opportunities they're seeing as they are most likely getting approached with different opportunities.
The 7 Habits of Transformational Leaders with Rachel Vandenberg Executive Leadership Coach, The Travel Leader
Lots of insights from this session, look for a separate post from Rachel Vandenberg next week!
ForWard Together: A Conversation With Kevin Jacobs Chief Financial Officer & President, Global Development, Hilton, and Chair, AHLA Board of Directors and Anna Blue President, AHLA Foundation
Kevin Jacobs, a prominent industry leader, acknowledged the significant challenges women face in the hospitality sector. He recognized influential women who shaped his career and affirmed the need for proactive measures to address gender discrimination, emphasizing, "Yes, we know it's an issue and now is a time for action."
The discussion also shone a light on Hilton's commendable workplace practices, achieved through deliberate and inclusive decision-making. Kevin's take on work-life balance also struck a chord with the audience. His method of adjusting work commitments to life’s rhythms, shared with a touch of humor, not only elicited a few laughs but also provided a relatable approach to maintaining balance in our busy lives.
The final sessions were a mix of engaging and funny. “The Global Picture: Snapshots from Abroad” , moderated by Meghan Connolly Senior Vice President, Global Client Group, American Express with the panel including Alyshia Mangalji Vice President Europe & Africa, Westmont Hospitality; Anu Saxena President, Hilton Supply Management and Vice Chair, AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees; and Michelle Woodley President, Preferred Travel Group, provided a broader perspective of our industry abroad. And the final keynote “Laughter: Fireside Chat With comedian Zainab Johnson” hosted by Kevin Carey Interim President & CEO, AHLA, drew lots of giggles.
Day Two Highlights: Generational Insights and Advocacy
Panel Discussion: Generational Changes in the Workforce
Panelists: Leticia Proctor Executive Vice President, Donohoe Hospitality Services; Dorothy Dowling Principal, Introspect Advisors, and Special Advisor to HSMAI; Dawn Gallagher Chief Commercial Officer, Crescent Hotels & Resorts; Brooklynn Tucker, Student, The Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership, Howard University.
This panel seemed genuinely interested in learning from each other - and was a good reminder to see how much all the generations had to learn from each other. They discussed the recent HSMAI report, which you can read about, “Dealing With a Multi-Gen Workforce, AI, Gig Workers + 6 Other Key Trends You Need to Know From the HSMAI 3rd Annual State of Talent Report”
Panel Discussion: The Power of Advocacy: Political + Personal
Panelists: Ashley McNeil Vice President, Federal Affairs, AHLA; Carol Fowler Senior Manager, Government Affairs and Public Policy – Federal & International, Marriott International; Alessandra Marsico Esq. Corporate Counsel, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust; Lina Patel Director, Strategic Franchise Initiatives, Red Roof Inn Franchising
This panel discussed the role of advocacy in shaping the future of hospitality. They covered a range of topics from female hotel ownership to immigration rights. Carol Fowler's humorous yet poignant advice to prepare for advocacy with your favorite outfit and hype music, or by channeling a confident alter-ego, was a crowd favorite!
Reality Check: The Future of DEI
Panelists: Kim Twiggs AVP, DIRECTV Hospitality Michael Amilcar CEO and Principal Consultant, Be Equitable Dexter Davis SVP HR – DE&I Global Inclusion and Engagement, HR, Ecolab Daniel del Olmo President, Hotels & Restaurants, Sage Hospitality Group Stephanie Piimauna SVP, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Seminole Hard Rock
In light of the recent pushback on DEI in America, this was a very interesting discussion.
My top 3 takeaways:
In order to avoid pushback on DEI initiatives - be clear on processes and then people won't be able to claim the company is lowering standards in order to make DEI hires. People don't want to be promoted or hired "just because of DEI." As a result, they are seeing push back in participation in ESGs and diversity programs, which further affects our progress.
Be sure to have white men support groups. Diversity doesn't make sense if you exclude white men, because the whole point is to have everyone involved.
On those dark days, remember that history has shown that a slight regression follows progress and keep going. Progress takes time.
My favorite quote from this panel was from Daniel del Olmo, “Wow, so inspiring to be here and see all the very talented women. We need more women and less blue suits on stages and as participants at conferences!”
Concluding Thoughts: A Call for Systemic Change. Fireside Chat with Journalist Liz Plank
Anna wrapped up the conference by interviewing award-winning journalist Liz Plank. If you haven't heard her podcast "We are Man Enough," I highly recommend it! I love her insights and how she advocates for women's rights. She shared several funny anecdotes and also brought up the internet trend of whether or not a woman would like to be stuck in the forest with a "man vs. bear," which elicited great comments from the crowd. She discussed her book "For the Love of Men" and her motivation to write it after she started actively asking men, "What is hard about being a man?" Most men couldn't answer or had never been asked that question before. In fact, when I went home and asked my husband this question, he said he had never been asked! "It doesn't matter what I think about being a man. I just have to do it."
As feminists, we spend so much time asking women about their feelings and experiences that we forget how much men are affected/impacted by our patriarchal society. The more I think about my husband's response, the sadder I get about it. We should all be allowed to decide how we show up as a man, a woman, or whatever gender you choose!
Until Next Year…
Reflecting on the ForWard Conference, overall the sessions illuminated the challenges we face in the hospitality industry, and underscored the importance of collective action in crafting a more inclusive future. I've left with much to think about. Thanks AHLA Foundation!