StayVA Annual Conference: What You Can Expect

Calling all StayVA members! Our annual conference is quickly approaching. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of this event, a brand new attendee, or an aspiring innkeeper interested in our organization, this this is definitely the conference for you. Here's what you can expect to experience at this year's conference.

Annual Conference Offerings:

1. Vendors: Photographers, website designers, realtors and hospitality experts, what do they have in common? The vendor fair will have each of these industries represented. Talk to them about how they can increase business for your hospitality establishment. Browse the vendor fair, meet and chat with these industry professionals.
2. Breakout Sessions: Learn about innsitting, AirBnB, going green, online reputations, food travelers and more. These sessions will be held each day of the conference. Stay tuned! We'll have a detailed schedule to make the most of your time.
3. Cooking Contest: This has been a hit event in the past few years. And this year promises to be every bit as much fun! Conference attendees will get to enjoy samples, as well as talk to the Chef. Plus Patrick Evans-Hylton, award-winning chef and journalist, will be live-tweeting the event.
4. Keynote Presentations: Sunday’s Keynote Speaker will be Steve Elton, VP of Branding and Marketing at Brown Jordan Company. He will answer the question, “What is today’s traveler looking for and how can you provide it?” Monday’s Keynote Speaker will be veteran innkeeper Phil Jenkins. He will discuss why, “Guest Satisfaction is Worthless. Guest Loyalty is Priceless.” Lastly, Sunday’s Keynote Speaker will be M. Shannon Hernandez, founder of the Writing Whisperer. Shannon’s discussion will include key points from all of the other conference’s sessions.  Plus, it will include her own expertise, culminating in the best ways to “gain more visibility for your business.”

And don’t forget! We’re also offering an Aspiring Innkeeper Workshop on February 20, 2016, which offers access to the conference vendor fair! We look forward to seeing you at the 2016 Annual Conference.