More than 80 leading industry professionals will speak at 30 conference sessions during the 2014 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo). The industry’s largest and most pre-eminent tradeshow will take place May 14–16th at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. Here is a sampling of the innovative session offerings.
During The Creative Process, led by Carl L. Ross, president of Design Group Carl Ross Inc., attendees will delve into different types of creative processes, learning insights and steps on how to refine, change, and expand on these practices on an individual and company level. These skill sets are not only applicable to designers and architects but also to owners, operators, developers, purchasing agents, manufacturers, and vendors. Join Ross on Wednesday, May 14th at 9 a.m. to learn techniques that world-renowned innovators have adopted.
Additionally, be sure to check out The Making of Makkah, which will be led by Calvin Dix, senior associate, HBA; Deborah Forrest, president, ForrestPerkins; Patricia Miller, vice president, managing principal, corporate director of hospitality, Leo A Daly; Sam Suleman, vice president of development and operations, Equinox Hospitality; Yasin Abdullah, president of project development, Wilson Associates; Darlene Henke, president, Audit Logistics; and Moataz M. Baha, design director and technical advisor to the chairman of board, Jabal Omar Development Company. The session will take place Wednesday, May 14th at noon.
Panelists will discuss the $6.5 billion project-comprising 24 hotels and 37 towers (for a total of 11,790 keys)-set on 21.5 million square feet in Mecca where 13,000 workers are building 20 hours a day to accommodate the millions of worshippers who descend on the holy city each year. The consultants involved will give an insider’s view to the challenges, opportunities, cultural sensitivities, and learning curve associated with creating this small city in the desert.
The show’s signature event takes place Thursday, May 15th at 9:30 a.m. The HD/ISHP Owners’ Roundtable allows attendees to meet face-to-face with owners, developers, and brand executives in an open forum as they rotate tables every 10 minutes. Participants include Amy Hulbert, managing director of design for Best Western International; Bill DeForrest, president and CEO of Spire Hospitality; Gary Dollens, senior vice president, product and brand development for Hyatt’s Global Operations Center; and Jerome Cadaldo, president and CEO of Hostmark Hospitality Group, among others.
