OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER

CHRIS RIDDELL

Chris is an award winning global futurist and industry recognized inspirational keynote speaker on emerging trends in our hyper connected world. He is a global pattern hunter, discovering and identifying how humans are changing and adapting  to high speed change, unlocking insights for businesses and leaders in today’s highly disrupted digital world.

A global trailblazer, Chris has worked for some of the largest and most defining businesses and brands in our modern world. Having lived and worked in countries such as the UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait, China, New Zealand and lately Australia, his understanding of our new world is compelling and thought provoking to say the least.

Notably, Chris Riddell was the first ever Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for MARS Incorporated, architecting the corporate digital strategy behind brands including Whiskas, Pedigree, Wrigley, Starburst, Masterfoods, Snickers and Maltesers.

Chris Riddell is frequently called on as a futurist, speaker and expert commentator to give insights into consumer technology trends within traditional media. As a regular on Sky News Business, The Project on Ten, Channel 7’s The Morning Show, The Daily Edition prime time shows, and ABC 774 Radio, Chris Riddell’s insights and expertise as a trend spotter extend far beyond the walls of the corporate world.

Futurist for the leaders of tomorrow, and keynote speaker for businesses of today.

To get access to the hottest trends, and hottest consumer insights go to www.chrisriddell.com and subscribe using the code: HFTP2019

General session pANELIST

Moderator: WILLIAM "CHIP" ROGERS

William “Chip” Rogers joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) as President and CEO in January 2019. Rogers comes to AHLA with more than 20 years of experience and a proven track record of success. He previously served as the president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest U.S. hotel owners association, since 2014. Under his leadership, the AAHOA grew membership by 30 percent and revenue by 62 percent.

Prior to joining AAHOA, Chip had a long career as a public servant. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly six times, and was unanimously elected to serve two terms as the Senate Majority Leader. He was elected the first national chairman of the Majority Leaders conference and served on the national boards of directors for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation.

PANELIST

KEN GREENE

Ken Greene is president, Americas for Radisson Hotel Group. He responsible for leading operations, development and technical services in the Americas.

In his role, Greene is focused on the performance, and expansion of the Americas portfolio which includes over 700 hotels in operation and under development across the company’s core brands: Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Inn® by Radisson, Park Plaza® and Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson. In addition, he oversees the company’s managed portfolio in the Americas, ensuring operational excellence and optimizing performance. 

Prior to joining Radisson Hotel Group, Greene was the Chief Executive Officer of Greenehouse Consulting, a Toronto-based start-up that provides management consulting and advisory services on company strategy, branding, and real estate transactions. Prior to that, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer for Delta Hotels and Resorts, where he transformed the company by repositioning it as a leader in the Canadian upscale, full-service hotel segment.

panelist

GREG MOUNT

Greg Mount joined RLH Corporation as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2014 bringing more than 25 years of experience to the company. Prior to joining RLHC, Mount served as President of Richfield Hospitality, Sceptre Hospitality and Richfield Hospitality China, where he executed a number of strategic deals including the acquisition and merger of Whiteboards Labs into Sceptre Hospitality.

Previously, he held senior roles at Sage Hospitality, as well as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he led the full-service division responsible for developing franchises and management contracts for the Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Luxury Collection brands in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Before joining Starwood, Mount held senior operating positions at Interstate Hotels Corporation and Marriott International Hotels, working his way up through a number of hotel and regional management positions before moving into development.

PANELIST

PETER STREBEL

Peter Strebel, a 30-year-plus veteran of the hospitality industry, is president of Omni Hotels & Resorts where he continues to elevate the vision of Omni while insuring all operational areas within the company align with the long-term goals and objectives for the brand. He works with teams to continue to enhance the existing high-level of guest service as well as oversee the growth and expansion plans the brand has in the pipeline.

The company’s former chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales, Strebel was responsible for creating and driving innovative branding, communications, marketing and business development strategies to increase awareness, capture market share and build revenue for the luxury hotel brand.

Strebel also formerly served as senior vice president of operations for the company where he oversaw the development of brand-wide property standards, guest rooms and other operational areas for the luxury hotel brand’s growing convention collection and resort portfolio. 

Closing General Session SPEAKER

John Picard

John Picard is a visionary and design innovator who understood the “internet of things” long before connectivity became the driver that it is today. Celebrated for his keen understanding of the innovative principles of natural systems designs, John connects visionary thinking with emerging technologies to drive successful projects for corporations, commercial buildings, college campuses and even entire towns. Amongst his many noteworthy design projects are the City Center Hotel Las Vegas; the elegant Grand Wailea in Maui, Hawaii (the first greening of a world-renowned resort); and a 20-million-square-foot mixed-use development called Atlantic Station in Atlanta. 

Today John is working in Silicon Valley, with seven companies who have a fierce dedication to engineering and prototyping. He is connecting them together so that the skin, security, energy, water, controls, mechanical, lighting and building occupants are all talking together in real time -- buildings that are sensate, adaptive, regenerative, cost effective and healthy. The more a system is connected to itself, whether an economic system or immune system, the healthier it is. The same holds true for buildings. John’s work rests upon a comprehensive systemic understanding that unlocks the connective power of people and technologies to transform the built environment, and everything around it. He is designing the connectivity of things with very specific applications to every company and industry.