Sep. 5--OGDEN, Utah--Just over five months before they play host to the world, Utah hoteliers and lodging professionals will be playing the guest role in Ogden. 

The Utah Hotel & Lodging Association will hold it 2001 Annual Convention & Trade Show, titled "Lighting the Fire of Hospitality," on Thursday and Friday in Ogden, which will be home to the downhill and super-G ski races at Snowbasin and curling at the Ice Sheet when Utah hosts the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in February. 

"It's the prelude to the Olympics," said Jim Budge, general manager of Ogden's Ben Lomond Historic Suite Hotel and UH&LA president. 

"We will have some conference capabilities, and there will be some classes being held, to give further information, instruction and education on how to handle certain circumstances during the Olympics -- what to do with your guests, how to direct them, that kind of thing." 

The Olympics will likely be a big topic of conversation throughout the two-day event, from the opening golf tournament Thursday morning to the trade show Friday afternoon. 

A series of seminars at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center will be kicked off by Krista Rahe of Denver-based Rahe Communications, Thursday at 9 a.m. Rahe's presentation is titled, "World Bridge: Bridging the Communications Gap Among Cultures." 

Budge said more than 250 registered conference goers will themselves use at least 125 to 130 or more Ogden-area hotel rooms. 

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(c) 2001, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.