The first regional meeting will be held in Phoenix on Monday, September 21, 2009, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Mountain Time at the Arizona Biltmore hotel, the evening before the 2009 Lodging Conference.  Cost to register is $25 for members and $30 for non-members; on-line registration is available at www.hhoa.org.

�Our members and savvy investors told us that interest in hotel investments remains high, but restrained due to the economy and a general desire to cut expenses,� said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association.  �We have adapted our format accordingly and, where possible, will schedule our regional events to coincide with major hotel conventions, like the Lodging Conference.  The regional meetings will give attendees an opportunity to network with the major brands, lenders, developers, management companies and other key players, as well as obtain important insights into the hotel economy and investing.�  The new format in Phoenix will consist of:

6:00 p.m. Registration
6:15 p.m. Welcome and Introductions
6:30-7:45 p.m. Creating a Plan of Action: Buying, Selling, Developing and Financing a Hotel Project
7:45 � 9:00 p.m. Networking Reception

Speakers at this event will include: 

• Anthony Falor, COO, Focused Services Division, Hodges Ward &  Elliott; 
• Patrick Feltes, SVP � Hospitality Division, GE Capital Solutions; 
• Carlos Rodriguez, President, DVI Cardel and Rod Blu Investment Funds; and 
• Cathleen M. Lease, Lender Relations Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration, among others.

About HHOA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., HHOA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of Hispanic-owned, -developed and -operated hotels, further the participation of Hispanic-owned suppliers serving the hotel industry and increase executive level employment opportunities for Hispanics within the lodging industry.  The industry�s leading brands, including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Global Hyatt Corporation have joined the organization and have become major corporate sponsors.  

HHOA membership is open to hotel owners, developers, investors, financiers, real estate executives, investment bankers, professional advisors, analysts, franchisors, management company executives, industry product and service providers, hotel general managers, hotel sales and marketing managers, government agencies for tourism and development, hospitality schools, hospitality students or anyone seeking to do business within the Hispanic market.  

HHOA 
Angela Gonzalez-Rowe
202-587-5707
www.hhoa.org