The 16th annual Executive Vendor Summit has been POSTPONED
A Note from Rich Siegel...
We thank everyone from around the world who was registered to attend our 16th Executive Vendor Summit. The excitement from registration this year was through the roof. Yes, because of COVID-19 from the early days in China, the movement to Europe and now in the United States and around the world we knew there would be challenges keeping the idea of the EVS alive. The responses to my email on Thursday, March 12, were nothing short of amazing. It was beyond belief how many wrote don’t cancel -- we need it to happen. The vast majority said they were coming. Those who decided they couldn’t make it with all that is going on in the world today did a great job sharing their concerns why. Those responses had us thinking that as much as we wanted the industry to hear something positive about an event being scheduled, held, well attended and successful, the ever-growing challenges of travel, safety and doing what was right became our reality.
Yes, we have lost the fight and will do what is right and will reschedule the 2020 Executive Vendor Summit. Because of the shifting of so many industry events and the uncertainty of the future of travel we need to make sure dates we pick are practical because the event succeeds because of those who attend. It pains me to say that as we reflect on registrations this year before the outbreak of COVID-19 we were at an all-time high. With what is going on this year the need for an event like EVS becomes even more important.
Stay tuned and we will follow up regarding when and where EVS will be held!
Special thanks to the Drury Plaza in Nashville. I really wanted everyone to experience this beautiful hotel. I promise you that you would look at Drury Hotels totally differently if the EVS was held as planned. They have been beyond accommodating with our needing to reschedule. Reservations made in the Executive Vendor Summit Block will automatically be cancelled without penalty. As far as the money paid for registration for the shared costs of the Executive Vendor Summit these will also be refunded. Millicent will send a receipt for the registration refund this week.
Thank you all for your support of EVS, and it pains me beyond belief to write this email. The EVS is regarded as the most unique event in the industry and so many of the responses to last week’s email started with the simple statement that this is their favorite event of the year. Sometimes being the biggest is not important, being different and taking chances and not being afraid to reinvent the wheel is the way to go. That is the path we will always take!
Rich Siegel
Hospitality Upgrade
Join your C-level peers for two and a half days in March 2020 for Hospitality Upgrade's 16th annual Executive Vendor Summit. The event promises to engage you with thoughtful discussion topics, quality speakers and a relaxed networking environment. It's not what you know, it's who you know. And nobody does partners like we do.or assistance, please contact Anne Boon at anne@hospitalityupgrade.com or (678)802-5302.
Why do past attendees mark this as a must-attend event? Quite simply—it's the focus on peer-to-peer interaction. In an industry based on competition as much as partnerships, the Summit offers vendor executives a rare combination of networking, social events and program in a relaxed atmosphere. At other conferences and tradeshows, vendors are focused on selling products and services. At the Executive Vendor Summit, there are no customers and no selling. By taking the customer out of this event, attendees form critical relationships with peers and focus on the industry's successes, challenges and opportunities and how to provide better solutions.
This year's program is being finalized with many of the popular sessions of the past included and updated to reflect on the changes we are all experiencing today. Back by popular demand will be the CIO panel where a multitude of tech leaders from hotel companies will share where their technology focus and investment will be this year. The program will be finalized very soon as final schedules are being confirmed. We especially want to thank our Advisory Board for sharing their thoughts once again on this year’s program.
Contact: Anne Boon - (678) 802-5304, anne@hospitalityupgrade.com