Schedule at-a-Glance

The following schedule is subject to change (as of August 14, 2019). Please check back for updates. 

​Download the Conference App! The conference schedule, presenter bios, sponsor directory, and more are available in mobile format through the free ATTENDIFY app. Download “Attendify” from the app store, then search within the app for “NEIRA”. To access the program details, click on “2019 NEIRA Annual Conference”, and then “Join”. Please note: event information is being added to the app as the conference nears. Please check back for updates! 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Executive Committee Meeting (open to committee members only)	TBD
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM	Board of Directors Meeting	TBD
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Conference Registration Desk Open & Refreshments	TBD
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Opening General Session "W T F" Presenter: Bashar Wali, Provenance Hotels When you’re filling hundreds of rooms, 365 days a year, you can sometimes forget that those heads in beds belong to unique individuals, all of them with their own particular needs and desires. Bashar brings his sharp wit and breadth of experience, both as a hotelier and as a traveler, to address this oversight as he shares a few of his frustrations and solutions to these all-to-common mistakes.	TBD
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM	NEIRA Annual Business Meeting/Election of Officers	TBD
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM	Roundtable Discussions by Property Type Hotels & Resorts Inns Properties with less than 15 rooms	Multiple Locations
5:45 PM - 6:15 PM	First Time Attendee Reception (lodging properties only) If you have never been to NEIRA’s Annual Conference, please join us!	TBD
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM	NEIRA Cocktail Reception	TBD
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM	Dinner Event: Boston Sports Dynasty Night Attendees are encouraged to dress for our theme "Boston Sports Dynasty Night" - wear your favorite Boston Sports team apparel!	TBD
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Breakfast	TBD
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Conference Registration Desk Open	TBD
8:15 AM - 8:45 AM	Marketing Update from MJ Legault, Origin	TBD
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM	General Session "Crossing the Generational Divide" Presenter: Alicia Rainwater, The Center for Generational Kinetics We work in a time of unprecedented generational change and challenge. There are now five generations in the workforce and five generations of guests at your properties. Making matters worse is the tremendous amount of misinformation around generational differences. At The Center for Generational Kinetics, we know for a fact that strategies that work for one generation can be a complete turn-off for others. This divide is a costly challenge—but it can be a breakthrough opportunity. It all depends on how you and your leaders respond now. In Crossing the Generational Divide, Alicia Rainwater, speaker for the Center for Generational Kinetics will help you solve the multigenerational challenge. She will reveal new generational truths about Gen Z and Millennials based on The Center's latest research. She will share surprising data, powerful frontline stories, hidden trends, and specific solutions that drive measurable results in the hospitality industry. You will leave with new ways to improve employee performance in the workplace as well as strategies to sell, message, and market to the generations.	TBD
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM	Concurrent Sessions Block 1 Hospitality Economic Outlook | Presenter: Meri Keller, Pinnacle Advisory Group Meri Keller, Vice President for Pinnacle Advisory Group, will discuss trends and key lodging statistical data on the New England lodging market. Her topics will include market demand factors, seasonality issues, operating performance metrics, and other relevant operating issues affecting the lodging market. This session will reveal and incorporate results on the NEIRA membership survey conducted this summer/fall, especially for this conference. SH--T | Presenter: Chris Gasbarro, Ember Actually... that's not a typo, but some of you may think "SHIFT" is a bad word. Regardless, it's the 21st century, and there are more tools, ideas, partners, inspiration..and more need to create transformational meetings, events and hospitality to influence results within your organization and shift your meetings and guest experiences forward. Shame on us if we don't find opportunities, big or small, to shift the design, creativity and execution of the events we produce. Our responsibility to the attendee and the guest is massive – and this session will feature a plethora of ideas, techniques and "Challenges" to you to think differently and take calculated risks within your property's meeting event and hospitality experiences. Deliverables: A self-assessment if you/your organization’s meeting and events are at risk Increased understanding of your “Attendee/Guest" and your responsibility to them (hotelier or supplier) Receive 32+ great ideas to start incorporating into your organization to help you “Shift” All about Content for Hospitality & Tourism | Presenter: MJ Legault, Origin In this session, we'll discuss the problems that many of us are encountering with our content marketing. We'll look at the changes in consumer behavior and expectations of content. We'll look at some strategies to address these changes and some tips for content distribution. Finally, we'll look at content trends we're seeing emerge in the hospitality and tourism industry, and examples of brands applying them successfully. Innovation, Authenticity and Creating Evergreen Brand Stories | Presenter: Rauni Kew, Inn by the Sea The seminar will focus on innovation, authenticity and creating stories around your product that attract both guests and media interest. Every property has a great story to tell, and one that engages guests emotionally while helping to build brand. Learn your property may not be the central focus of your best stories, but rather seen as a facilitator for great outcomes. We'll look at how to be seen as an industry leader, how to attract more publicity by using what you already do well, and finding that emotional story hook that will kick your visibility up a notch or two.	Multiple Locations
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM	Concurrent Sessions Block 2 (repeated from first block; see descriptions above) Hospitality Economic Outlook | Presenter: Meri Keller, Pinnacle Advisory Group SH--T | Presenter: Chris Gasbarro, Ember All about Content for Hospitality & Tourism | Presenter: MJ Legault, Origin Topic TBD | Presenter: TBD	Multiple Locations
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM	Lunch	TBD
1:30 PM - 3:45 PM	Dessert & Sponsor Trade Show	TBD
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM	Vendor Round Tables	TBD
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM	Cocktail Reception	TBD
7:15 PM - 10:00 PM	Awards Dinner NEIRA will present the "Master of New England Innkeeping, Lifetime Achievement Award" and the "Innovators Award." Learn more about the awards. The Cocktail Reception & Dinner are business attire (sport coat or jacket, dress pants, skirts, dresses).	TBD
Thursday, October 31, 2019
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Breakfast	TBD
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM	Hotels and Community: How Good Citizenship is Good Business Moderator: Sarah Eustis, CEO, Main Street Hospitality Panelists: Peter Twachtman, Chief Operating Officer, Migis Hotel Group; Sarah Morris, Fifth Generation Host, Basin Harbor; Hans van Wees, General Manager, Hotel Vermont; Rob Blood, Owner & Founder, Lark Hotels In this panel we will examine the aspects of what makes a hotel essential to its community, how that is developed and manifested, and how it creates a virtuous cycle of loyalty and profitability.	TBD
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Closing Session: IT STARTS WITH YOU: 4 Breakthrough Steps to Playing Bigger in Leadership, Business, and Life Presenter: Justin Patton, Executive Leadership Coach The mindset and presence you show up with every day impacts your ability to create trust, influence, and an exceptional guest experience. That's why if you ever want to be a great leader of others, you must first be a great leader of yourself! Being a great leader of yourself starts by being self-aware on how you're showing up and taking intentional steps to maximize your influence. Join executive coach and body language expert, Justin Patton, as he guides you to explore who you are at your best, outline the #1 trait that holds all leaders back, and challenges you to communicate with stronger impact. It’s time to discover a bold new you. Remember: It Start With You!!! You won't want to miss this...	TBD