~ Hoteliers and investors from the US and the Caribbean gather to discuss the way forward.

The 20th Annual International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit & Trade Show opened on Wednesday with hundreds of hoteliers exchanging the most current industry tips and trends.

To the theme of “Changing the Hospitality Landscape With Our Partners”, hoteliers from the U.S. and the Caribbean gathered for the opening of the three-day event to discuss industry updates including hotel debt, equity and creativity.

“Business collaborations can be formed from associations with other groups that are pursuing the same goals,” said Andy Ingraham, CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers, which organizes the summit. “When we look at the [Asian American Hotel Owners Association] and the deals that we have made together, we realize that we cannot only make a difference, but we can thrive.”

NABHOOD CEO Andy Ingraham welcomes attendees at the opening of the summit.

The evening kicked off to the tunes of Junkanoo music from The Bahamas, a prelude to the upcoming keynote address by Prime Minister of The Bahamas Perry Christie on Friday. Throughout the summit a host of other regional panelists from the U.S. and the Caribbean are slated to discuss various topics, including an Industry Outlook session, a workshop for Small Hotels of The Caribbean and a Caribbean Development and Investment forum, among other sessions.

As always a contingent of Hospitality students from the Caribbean and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S are also in attendance to gain further insight on the industry. General sessions and workshops will be held Thursday and Friday with student workshops on Friday and Saturday morning followed by the NABHOOD career fair and job expo. The NABHOOD corporate dinners will take place Thursday evening to allow new and potential owners to spend time with their presferred hotel brand.

“This is the summit to be at for discovering new opportunities in the hotel industry and finding good partners to align with,” said Ingraham.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT: The summit is designed to educate attendees on how to become a hotel owner or investor, share minority investment trends, explore supplier opportunities and decide how to market to minorities and diversity issues affecting the industry.

For live updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: @NABHOOD.

By Inderia Saunders, IndiMedia Consultants

Source: Horizons Marketing Group Intl. Inc.