9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Keynote Session:  "CEO Leadership Panel"
Room 1E07
Each year, more and more changes occur in the travel industry.  It is a business imperative to keep current and know what those industry changes entail.  These leaders will conduct a candid discussion on the issues facing the travel industry today, while giving perspective on the future path of the industry.  Moderator:  Jim Burba, president, Burba Hotel Network.  Panelists:  Jackson Hsieh, managing director and global head of real estate, lodging & leisure group, UBS Investment Bank; Steve Joyce, president & CEO, Choice Hotels International; Michael S. Kaufman, chairman, National Restaurant Association and co-president, Enovo Restaurant Ventures LLC; and Roger P. Thomas, executive vice president design, Wynn Design and Development and 2008 Gold Key Award Designer of the Year.

11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Keynote Session:  "U.S. Lodging Industry Summit Panel" 
Room 1E07
Recognized experts in their disciplines will supply a wealth of cutting-edge data for five key business segments.  This forum offers information on seasonal performance and future trends, forming a complete picture, to help hoteliers plan future strategies.  Moderator:  David Kong, secretary/treasurer, AH&LA and president & CEO, Best Western International.  Panelists:  Patrick H. Ford, president, Lodging Econometrics; Mark V. Lomanno, president, Smith Travel Research; Warren Marr, director, hospitality & leisure consulting services, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Douglas K. Shifflet, chairman & CEO, D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Ltd.; and Peter Yesawich, Ph.D., chairman & CEO, Ypartnership.

12:45 PM to 2:15 PM 
Luncheon Keynote:  "Leadership and Politics"
Special Events Hall, Level 1
In a presentation based on her #1 New York Times best-selling book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, award-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will inspire the audience with candid discussion about politics and successful leadership strategies, based on history's most compelling personalities.  With stories and insight from the successes and failures of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, Goodwin offers timeless lessons that apply to the world of business as well as politics. 

2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
"Department of Labor Audits: How to Protect Your Hotel When the Feds Come Knocking"
Room 1E09
Hospitality employers commonly monitor the practices that are regulated by government agencies such as EEOC and NLRB.  But many have yet to face a Department of Labor audit.   Recently, there has been a marked increase in DOL enforcement.  You owe it to your organization to prepare for this growing trend by participating in this lively 60-minute discussion.   Attend this timely and important session and become a valued resource for your organization by learning how best to avoid an audit, understanding your rights and knowing how to react appropriately when the Feds come knocking!  Speakers:  Alfred B. Robinson, Jr., attorney, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, PC; and Arch Stokes, Esq., president & CEO, Shea Stokes Roberts & Wagner, ALC.

2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
"Securing Payments: What The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards Mean For Your Hotel"
Room 1E10
Information technology is a great business tool, but if not implemented properly, it can leave hotels exposed to great risks.  Data security is a mounting concern among consumers, employees, and businesses alike due to the growing number of computer breaches and reports of identity theft.  Securing a business enterprise is no easy feat, especially in this high-tech era and one so complex as a hotel organization.  Nonetheless, it is absolutely necessary and an important obligation for anyone practicing business.  To address these risks and protect card holders, the Payment Card Industry has adopted the Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).  This standard requires numerous changes to business processes and computer applications and imposes steep penalties for those failing to comply.  Is your hotel prepared and making security a top priority?  The risks are too great not to focus on security and could cause irreparable harm.  This session will address the nuts and bolts of PCI DSS to help hotel operators determine tactical strategies to ensure they are complying and safeguarding the information entrusted in them.  It will feature the AH&LA's recently published Hotel Technology 101: The Payment Card Industry Compliance Process for Hotels.  Moderator:  Clay Dickinson, executive vice president, Jones Lange LaSalle Hotels.  Panelists:  Jim Abrams, president & CEO, California Hotel & Lodging Association; Dan Connolly, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Denver, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management; Brad Davenport, PCI solutions marketing manager, RSA, The Security Division of EMC.

2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
"Contingency Planning In An Uncertain Era"
Room 1D03/04
Developed by Lodging Magazine
This session takes a high-altitude view of anticipating and dealing with major unexpected events, including pandemic influenza outbreaks, natural catastrophes and terrorist attacks. Panelists are renowned experts on the corporate, property and governmental levels.  Moderator:  Phil Hayward, editor, Lodging Magazine.  Panelists:  Jimmy Chin, regional director of risk management, North America, Peninsula Hotels; Alfonso Martinez-Fonts, assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Kyle B. Olson, president, The Olson Group Ltd.; Richard Roberts, vice president, communications, Wyndham Hotel Group. 

2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
"Changes on the Travel Horizon: Are we there yet?"
Room 1E04
An in-depth discussion of issues impacting the travel industry including the changes in character in capital markets and the effects of changes in the capital stack, availability and pricing of debt and equity financing and owner return: is the crisis over or is there more pain on the horizon? The panel will also explore challenges in the air transportation system including the impacts of fuel prices, changes in markets served, the winning and losing destinations and the impact on business, group and leisure travel patterns. Finally, the panel will discuss the challenges and changes in market demographics and shifting tastes of leisure and group travelers as the Baby Boomers mature and the Millenials emerge - are they here yet?  Moderator:  Thomas F. Morone, ISHC, CCIM, president, International Society of Hospitality Consultants and principal, Warnick & Company (California), LLC.  Panelists:  Gregory Dunn, Ph.D., vice president & director of insights, Ypartnership; Sean F. Hennessey, chief executive officer, Lodging Investment Advisors, LLC; and Robert L. Solomon, senior vice president & chief marketing officer, Outrigger Enterprises Group.

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM 
"Energy Miser All Stars: Conservation Lessons from the Best"
Room 1E09
With the recent energy price spikes as a backdrop, Green Lodging News will present its Energy Miser All Stars - those energy conservation champions who have managed to reduce their annual energy costs by substantial margins while positively impacting the guest experience, the bottom line, the environment and their standing in their local communities. Expect to walk away with 10 tips to help you save thousands of dollars annually.  Moderator:  Glenn Hasek, editor, Green Lodging News.  Panelists: Jeff Hanulec, director of engineering, The Westin Copley Place; Raymond M. Kemph, CEM, director of engineering, InterContinental Chicago O'Hare; and Joe Kinney, chief engineer, New Yorker Hotel.

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM 
"Leading Your Workforce Through Change:  Achieving Productivity From Intergenerational Conflicts"
Room 1E10
The external and internal forces of change are constantly working on your organization and business.  This presentation will focus on leading your multigenerational workforce through change by creating a context that will yield constructive and positive results. The presenters will examine intergenerational conflicts in the workplace and describe a process for achieving improved productivity, overcoming resistance to change and creating a high performance learning organization.  Speakers: Nicholas J. Hadgis, Ph.D., dean, School of Hospitality Management, Widener University; and Faye Hall Jackson, Ph.D., CHE, associate professor, College of Business, Tuskegee University.

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM 
"How Will Recent Elections Affect Your Bottom Line?"
Room 1D03/04
The recent elections will have far reaching implications for the lodging industry. The new President and Congress will quickly consider laws that will affect your taxes, union relations, OSHA compliance, foreign labor pool and regulatory agenda. Will you be ready or will you be on the menu?  Hear from leading political insiders as they discuss next years' legislative and regulatory agenda and find out what you can do to affect the legislative agenda.  Moderator:  Marlene M. Colucci, executive vice president of public policy, AH&LA.  Speaker: Jeanne Morin, principal, Jefferson Government Relations.

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM 
"Efficiency in Design" 
Room 1E04
Presented by Lodging Hospitality
This seminar will address how hotels can continue to provide customers with what they need-and want-without passing on increasing costs to the guest. Innovative design doesn't have to be extravagant and exorbitant. Efficiency in design can come from better use of space, energy conservation and forgetting the old stand-by that bigger is always better.  Moderator:  Eric Stoessel, managing editor, Lodging Hospitality.  Panelists:  Brooke Pearsall, managing director of design, HVScompass Interior Design; Dan Welborn, vice president & principal, Gettys; and Leo Vogel, MHS, senior vice president, sales & marketing, American of Martinsville.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Keynote Session:  "Sustainability"
Room 1E07
As an environmental advocate whose career spans executive positions across national, state and nonprofit sectors, Christine Ervin is widely credited as a major force in today's vibrant green building markets.  During her five-year tenure as president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, Ervin launched the LEED® green building rating system, the Greenbuildtm Conference and Expo and numerous governance enhancements to help reach mainstream markets.  During the Clinton administration, she was Assistant Secretary of Energy, responsible for the nation's $1 billion portfolio of clean energy technologies for transportation, buildings, major industries and power systems.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Demonstration:  ICA-ACF Big Apple Chapter Showcase
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Jane Brock, chef instructor and wine professor at The Institute of Culinary Education (I.C.E.),  will whip up spinach stuffed chicken breasts.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
"Food Arts Insiders' Trends Survey"
Room 1D03/04
Michael Batterberry, editor-in-chief and co-publisher, Food Arts magazine, surveys the most notable happenings in the past year that could spark trends in the foodservice/hospitality industry.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Demonstration: Food Arts
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef Ben Pollinger of Oceana Restaurant will introduce sustainable Kona Kampachi.  Facilitated by Jim Poris, Senior Editor, Food Arts.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Allied Vendor Panel: Opening Doors and Closing Deals" 
Room 1E07
Capture more market share as a hospitality vendor by hearing directly from client-side decision makers about what they look for in their suppliers.  With competition higher than ever, both industry newcomers and veterans will learn tactics to differentiate their services and build long-term, lucrative relationships.  An interactive dialogue with a panel of top-level hotel executives - from independent to corporate organizations - provide candid advice and solutions for overcoming objections and garnering more of this $113 billion industry.  Moderator:  Pete Reardon, CHA, vice president, purchasing and procurement, White Lodging Services.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Information Security 101"
Room 1E09
Discover information on identity theft, data security breaches, viruses, hacking tools, email and web threats. Also, learn how to arm yourself to defend not only your company but also your guests and employees.  Speaker:  Scott Nowakowski, director, information technology, Denihan Hospitality Group.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Professional Bootcamp - Get Your Career in Gear!"
Room 1E16
The Under 30 Gateway invites young professionals to participate in these fast-paced roundtables, featuring discussions lead by industry experts on: salary negotiation, business etiquette, branding yourself, developing your five and 10-year plan, and dealing with change in the workplace.  It's everything you want to know, need to know, and were too scared to ask.  See you there, front and center.  Panelists:  Fern Glazer, writer/editor/owner, Little Warrior Media, LLC; Joi Gordon, CEO, Dress for Success; Becky Wedemeyer, vice president, organizational development & learning, Choice Hotels; Doug Patrick, senior vice president, human resources, North America operations, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; and Alan Tuttle, national recruiter, Marriott International, Inc.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Here's Looking at Boutique's Future, Kid. A New Crop of Interior Design Stars Speak"
Room 1E08
Presented by Boutique Design
Boutique Design will present its new crop of hand-picked design stars, straight from its annual Boutique 18 feature. Come hear the best of America's young interior design talent give us an insider's view on what's next in the world of hospitality design and how it affects you. Five panelists will speak the current state of the industry, and how they're going to change it in 2009 and beyond.  Moderator:  Rebecca Goldberg, editor-in-chief, Boutique Design.  Panelists:  Elizabeth McCabe, designer, Wilson Associates; Mirka Kjelstad, designer, Dawson Design Associates, Inc.; Michael Moeller, senior designer, Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors; Nicole Dalton, vice president of interior design, Steelman Partners; and Devon Smith, LEED, AP, director, Devon Smith Design Studio.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
"Building Bottom Line Through Sustainability and Utility Efficiency" 
Room 1D03/04
Presented by Foodservice Equipment Reports
Food, labor, energy and water costs are all going through the roof, but you DO have tools at your fingertips to help. Find out how sustainability and utility-efficient products can add heft to your bottom line.  Speakers:  Brian Ward, chief editor, Foodservice Equipment Reports; and Don Fisher, CEO, Fisher-Nickel Inc., Pacific Gas & Electric's Food Service Technology Center.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Demonstration: Food Arts
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef Gavin Kaysen of Café Boulud will demonstrate chef wizardry�with eggs!  Facilitated by Jim Poris, Senior Editor, Food Arts. 

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
"Writing Menus for Today's Customers With Bottom Line Results For Restaurants"
Room 1D03/04
In this seminar, participants will learn how to maximize and understand the functions of the menu.  Topics of discussion will include the do's and don'ts of menu writing, looking at menus through your customers' eyes, using the tools of menu engineering to obtain better bottom line results and the psychology of menu pricing in today's economic times.  Participants will take away practical ideas, including a menu check list.  Speaker:  John Canner, CHE, Associate Professor of Business Management, The Culinary Institute of America.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
"The H2B and Immigration Challenge: How Your Hotel Can Overcome Regulatory Hurdles to Hire Skilled Non-U.S. Workers"
Room 1E07
The immigration issues that currently affect hospitality employers promise to get even hotter in the future.  Increasingly complex rules, new documentation requirements and visa standards have made filling positions in our industry with foreign workers more challenging than ever before.  Learn everything you need to know about these new rules, regulations, and enforcement initiatives when you attend this engaging 90-minute discussion.  Come to this session and prepare your organization to slash through immigration red tape with confidence.  Hear from legal and hospitality experts in leading companies on how to secure the very best foreign-born labor that is driving service, innovation, value and profit in hotel top companies nationwide.  Speakers:  Cindy Johnson, director of human resources, The Broadmoor Hotel; R.D. Musser, III, president, Grand Hotel; and Andria L. Ryan, attorney, Fisher & Phillips LLP.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
"Retro Marketing: Gain New Revenue On Classic Tactics" 
Room 1E09
There's a reason traditional marketing has become a tradition: time-tested revenue generation.  Direct mail, promotions and advertisements overpower cyberspace with their ability to reinforce brand awareness, build loyalty and invoke action ? as long as you know the strategies to break through the clutter.  Take a new spin on old marketing favorites with this creative, bottom line-driven seminar from the insightful perspectives of industry visionaries.  Moderator:  John Merkin, senior vice president, brand management, Holiday Inn brands, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group.  Panelists:  Heny Gabay, vice president, marketing & strategy, Wyndham Hotel Group; John Lee, vice president, brand marketing & communications, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Hotels Corporation; Chris Milhous, president, Ogilvy Action; and Jerry Wayne, vice president, sales & marketing, The Greenbrier.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
"5 Decades in the Workplace: Today's Implications and Tomorrow's Strategies"
Room 1E16
Communication tactics, learning styles and perspectives uniquely define each diverse generation represented in today's changing workforce.  Learn to harness these differences to benefit your organization now and capitalize on emerging leaders to build a viable succession plan for the future.  Recommended for all ages and career levels, specialists leading this panel will provide psychographic overviews of the varying generations and offer strategies for effective management and communication.  Moderator:  Becky Wedemeyer, vice president, organizational development and learning, Choice Hotels.  Panelists:  Randall Williams, area general manager, Roberts Hotel Group; Asaad M. Farag, general manager, Crowne Plaza Broadway 49; Greg Hill, executive vice president, global human resources, Wyndham Hotel Group; and Natasha Persad, director of human resources operations, New York Marriott Marquis.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
"Design on a Dime: Hotel Style"
Room 1E08
Presented by Hotel Business
With owners and operators feeling the effects of the economic downturn, designers are being asked to do more with less. Whether it's a renovation or new construction project, the key is to help differentiate a property from a design standpoint but not break the bank in doing it. This session looks at some of the ways that designers can cut costs out of a project without sacrificing the look of it.  Moderator:  Lauren Esposito, managing editor, The New Look, associate editor, Hotel Business.  Panelists:  James F. Culpepper, AIA, senior principal, CMMI, Inc.; Amy Jakubowski, interior design partner, BBG-BBGM; and Chad Rogers, senior designer, Duncan Miller Ullman Design.

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Demonstration: Société Culinaire Philanthropique 
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef Ebow Dadzie of Folukie Restaurant and the Marriott Marquis will demonstrate how to build a showpiece cake display for small cakes from chocolate and/or pastillage.

Monday, November 10, 2008

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Demonstration:  ICA-ACF Big Apple Chapter Showcase 
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef Michael Vignapiano of the Art Institute of NYC and Fresh Flavors Catering will demonstrate his specialties, Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Keynote Session:  "WIL Connect - Fast Track Your Career"
Room 1E09
Susan Steinbrecher has enjoyed a meteoric rise from the industry trenches as an assistant night auditor to become Embassy Suites' youngest general manager in history to leading the company's strategic training and development initiatives.  She'll tell you why women are uniquely qualified to be successful in the lodging industry - and how you can harness those advantages to accelerate your career.  Presented by Susan Steinbrecher, founder, president & CEO, Steinbrecher and Associates, Inc. 

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
"Top Restaurateurs' Tastes of Tomorrow: What the New Generation Wants" 
Room 1D03/04
This panel will discuss how the newest generations in family-run restaurants are successfully updating the business while still keeping traditional elements.  Moderator: Michael Batterberry, editor-in-chief and co-publisher, Food Arts magazine.  Panelists: Mark Canlis, Canlis; Marco and Mauro Maccioni, Le Cirque; Kurt Knowles Jr., The Manor; and Marisa May, San Domenico.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Demonstration:  Société Culinaire Philanthropique 
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef, author and television host Silvia Barredo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, will demonstrate exquisite techniques from her newest book, "Decorative Carving." 

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"China: Present/Future Hospitality Opportunities for Students"
Room 1E09
This session will first present China's vast opportunity in hospitality and travel for students and graduates in the future. Topics to be discussed include: hospitality and travel business trends, hospitality engines of growth including hotels, restaurants, spa's and cruise ships.  This session will use a multi-media approach to present a visual display of trends, hospitality and travel growth opportunities in China, as well as a look back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Moderator:  Dr. Fred J. DeMicco, Ph.D., professor and ARAMARK Chair, Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, the Lerner College of Business and Economics, the University of Delaware.  Panelists:  Peter Lim, director, international development, Wyndham Hotel Group International; Shelley Perkins, vice president, international human resources, Ritz Carlton Hotel Company LLC; and Michael S. Reilly, purchasing director, ARAMARK.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Eco-friendly Meets Eco-nomic"
Room 1E07
Orbitz searches for it.  RFPs are asking for it.  Are you getting your fair market share from it? Going green has moved beyond a market differentiator to a mainstream requirement.  While there is not one accepted definition for "green," learning and upholding best practices eliminates greenwashing accusations and satisfies guest expectations before they reach your lobby.  This panel of green corporate representatives from leading hotel chains presents action-oriented solutions that appeal to your guests and work for your bottom line.  Moderator:  Pat Maher, partner, The Maher Group.  Panelists:  Kathleen Matthews, executive vice president, global communications and public relations, Marriott International, Inc.; Faith Taylor, vice president, innovation and development, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; Gus Newbury, vice president, engineering, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Faith Taylor, vice president, innovation and development, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; and Carmen Baker, vice president of responsible business, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"The Importance of Investing in Your Assets During a Downturn" 
Room 1E08
Presented by Hotel Business
With an economic downturn clearly upon us, it is more difficult than ever to find the capital to invest in your hotel property. However, as demand drops and conditions tighten the need to differentiate your hotel will be greater than ever. This session looks at not only the importance of investing in your hotels but how to deploy that capital to realize the greatest return on investment and guest satisfaction.  Moderator:  Dennis Nessler, editor, Hotel Business.  Panelists:  Ellen Brown, executive vice president, acquisitions & development, Denihan Hospitality Group; Michael George, president & CEO, Crescent Hotels & Resorts; Robert J. Habeeb, president, First Hospitality Group, Inc.; Dave Sibley, president & CEO, hospitality management division, White Lodging Services; and Rick Takach, president & CEO, Vesta Hospitality.

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
"Travel 3.0"
Room 1E10
A look into the future of travel planning which is heading down a new technical savvy path directly affected by consumer posted ratings. It's no longer your grandparent's way of planning for a family vacation. Today's consumer turns to the internet when planning a trip for both the expert ratings and the consumer ratings. Hear how the premier rating companies are preparing to meet the needs of the future traveler.  Moderator:  Phil Hayward, editor, Lodging Magazine.  Panelists:  Darren Jones, director, inspections & ratings, Mobil Travel Guide; Glen Mac Donell, director, AAA lodging programs, AAA, Inc.; Brian Payea, trade relations manager, TripAdvisor; and Douglas K. Shifflet, chairman & CEO, D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Ltd. 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Demonstration:  Société Culinaire Philanthropique 
Demonstration Kitchen, Level 3
Chef Jean Jacques Bernat, owner, Provence en Boite, will take us to France with his classic bistro dishes. 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
"Lean is Green"
Room 1D03/04
Presented by Foodservice Equipment & Supplies 
Sustainability and energy efficiency continue to gain considerable notoriety as foodservice professionals try to make their operations more "green." Of course, making sure your operation functions at its leanest represents one of the most tried and true methods to lessen the impact your business has on the environment and lowers operating costs. The panel in this session will explore the notion that lean is really green by looking at ways to make sure foodservice operators leverage their equipment and supplies investment to maximize employee productivity and minimizing waste.  Moderator:  Joe Carbonara, editor-in-chief, Foodservice Equipment & Supplies.  Panelists:  Mark Godward, president, SRE; and William Sobanski, general manager, Foodservice Products Division of InSinkErator Division of Emerson Electric Company.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
"Recycling, Composting and Sustainable Packaging"
Room 1D03/04
In this day and age, there are restaurants that have become Near-Zero Waste Restaurantstm, where the concept of garbage has become antiquated.  These restaurants make use of all things formerly called garbage - from cardboard and aluminum to napkins, food and grease.  Learn how "waste" effects the environment and learn some simple ways to create a Near-Zero Waste Restauranttm.  Additionally, as with most items these days, there are a plethora of packaging items claiming to be "green."  Some are.  Learn about issues of biodegradability, compostability, recyclability, recycled content, chlorine bleaching and more.  With this information, you will be educated to make the proper purchasing decisions.  Speaker:  Michael Oshman, Executive Director, Green Restaurant Association.

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
"Leadership into an Uncertain Future: A Workshop for Students"
Room 1E09
Since the growing demands of the hotel industry will place most students in many leadership positions, this workshop will help them learn to build their own personal brand and expand their ways of thinking about leadership using lessons from sports and hospitality.   The workshop will focus on assessing leadership skills, presenting a range of key leadership ideas, and discussing what is needed in an increasingly fast-paced and constantly changing environment.  Speaker:  Dr. Fred Mayo, clinical professor, Robert Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management, New York University.

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
"Traditional vs. IP Telephone Systems"
Room 1E07
With opportunities such as convergence and integration and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), there is more to think about when selecting a successful telephone system. Designed for all experience levels, this session teaches you what to consider when purchasing a telephone system that best meets your property's unique requirements.  Speakers:  Don O'Neal, ISHC, president, O'Neal Consultants; and Jules Sieburgh, CHTP, consultant, O'Neal Consultants.

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
"Global FF&E Sourcing - What Everyone Should Know"
Room 1E08
Presented by Hospitality Design
Will offshore production of FF&E really be that much cheaper in the near future, considering rising costs in China, rising fuel prices and rising container costs?  This seminar will address this issue, while taking a look at the carbon footprint of overseas production.  What are American production options and what markets are emerging that could take China's place?  What new obstacles and risks do purchasers and designers face?  Moderator:  Michelle Finn, vice president, Hospitality Design Group/Nielsen Business Media.  Panelists:  Alan Benjamin, ISHP, ISHC, president, Benjamin West; Darlene Henke, president, Audit Logistics; Helen Jorgenson, ISHP, senior director of purchasing, design and construction, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.; and Noel Chitwood, president, American of Martinsville, Inc. 

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
"Senior Hospitality: Gearing Up for a Graying America" 
Room 1E10
As life expectancies rise and baby boomers enter their retirement years, accommodating seniors is increasingly a fact of life for hospitality businesses. However, to date, not enough thought has been devoted to the needs of older guests.  Mr. Catrett will provide an overview of the expectations of this important and growing market segment, while highlighting mistakes made by the healthcare industry to draw parallels on how the hospitality industry can avoid the same pitfalls. He will provide insight and advice on what the hospitality industry can do to prepare for and better service the growing number of aging baby boomers.  Speaker:  Jeffrey Catrett, dean, Les Roches School of Hospitality Management, Kendall College.