The Trade Show included select suppliers to the hospitality industry. The HAC held its Annual General Meeting on February 19 and then held an opening reception for all of the attendees. The conference featured the following sessions: Planes, Trains and Automobiles: What can the hotel industry learn about marketing, from other sectors of the hospitality industry? ; Getting the most from Design...Renovating and Repositioning: This panel explored a variety of design related questions with an underlying focus of understanding and achieving a return on investment.; The Challenge of Recruiting and Retaining Staff in a Tough Labour Market; When To Say No: Owners and management walk through the decision making process for new development and repositioning in a case study format. Focus on the interaction between the two and the differing viewpoints in order to understand issues, returns and related value considerations; The Internet: Friend or Foe? This session examined practical advice for incorporating a successful web strategy into the hotel marketing plan with speakers selected for their extensive backgrounds in web design, marketing and sales; Yield Management: Squeezing out that last Dollar: This panel explored the range of options available and the methodologies used to maximize room revenue; Adapt or Perish: In this panel, industry leaders discuss effective management skills and will provide case studies from their experiences; HAC/Fleishman-Hillard Canada 2007 Travel Intentions Survey: Join Tony Pollard and Gail Haarsma presented the results of the 2007 Survey of Canadian Business and Leisure Travel.

On February 20, 2007, the Hotel Association of Canada announced the following winners of the Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence at a gala dinner at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto:

• Humanitarianism Award: The staff of Les Suites Hotel, Ottawa
• Human Resources Award: Chantal Smitheram, Casting Director Brookstreet Hotel, Ottawa
• Energy and Environment Award: The Best Western Inn Kelowna, BC

Rex Murphy - a Canadian commentator for the CBC and Globe & Mail , gave the keynote address on the meaning of hospitality.

For more information on the Hotel Association of Canada, visit the its web site by clicking on this page and be sure to check back here for information on the 2008 Hotel Association of Canada National Conference & Trade Show!

Carla, Rex Murphy & Katia After Gala Awards Dinner

Larry Cechet, Select Hospitality Systems

Gala Desert