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| | Mark your calendar for November 23–24 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and get ready for two days of connection, inspiration, and celebration with Ohio’s hospitality community.
Under this year’s theme, “Navigating the Horizon: Shaping Tomorrow Together,” the conference brings hospitality professionals from across Ohio together to learn, connect, and look ahead. With timely industry conversations, leadership insights, the Allied Network Tradeshow, and the Ohio Stars of the Industry Gala, there will be plenty of opportunities to make meaningful connections and take ideas back to your property and team.
We’re looking forward to bringing the industry together and seeing you there!
Interested in Volunteering? Please contact Brenna at brenna@ohla.org. |
| | Reserve your exhibitor booth at the largest gathering of lodging professionals in the state! If you are interested in expanding your brand visibility, there are still sponsorship opportunities available. Contact sara@ohla.org if interested. |
Top | | What a season of celebration! The 2026 Regional Stars of the Industry Luncheons brought hospitality professionals together across Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati to recognize the incredible people who go above and beyond for Ohio’s lodging industry.
From celebrating this year’s nominees to reconnecting with colleagues and cheering on coworkers, each luncheon was a great reminder of the people who make our industry so special. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make these events such a fun and meaningful celebration.
But the celebration isn’t over just yet! Our Regional Stars will now move on to the next round, where they’ll compete for statewide titles at the 2026 OHLA Annual Conference & Gala. We can’t wait to see who takes home the top honor.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 Regional Stars, and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s luncheons unforgettable!
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Top | | Unable to attend the conference this year? You can still be part of the excitement by donating an item to our silent auction benefiting the Ohio Hote & Lodging Educational Foundation.
Gift baskets, gift certificates, hotel stays, experiences, and other unique items are always appreciated. Your contribution helps make the silent auction a success while supporting the association’s efforts help the next generation of hoteliers thrive. |
Top | | Who holds positions of elected office makes a difference in the direction and priorities of the entire state. Ohio has just seen the biggest change in these dynamics in two decades. This will require different approaches in advocacy and different ways of working with government. Learn more about the new leaders in Ohio and some of the challenges ahead in the full government affairs update. |
Top | | As a member you gain access to essential resources, expert advocacy and a dynamic statewide network dedicated to your success. Whether it’s staying ahead of regulatory changes, celebrating industry excellence, or growing your professional connections, your membership ensures you remain informed, empowered and positioned for continued growth in an ever-evolving industry. |
| | If you love connecting with people and have ideas about how we can grow and engage our association, this is a great way to get involved.
Membership Committee is open to all OHLA members. If you are interested and want to learn more or if you have a suggestion of potential committee member, please reach out to Sara@ohla.org |
Top | | Explore sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 OHLA Annual Conference & Gala, the largest gathering of lodging professionals in Ohio. The Sponsorship Guide outlines a variety of ways to get involved, from high-visibility conference sponsorships to the Gala, networking events, sessions, and more.
Contact Sara Tennyson-Harlan at Sara@ohla.org to sign up! Click “Read More” to see how you can engage and what each involvement can do for your company. |
Top | | Join the OHLA Emerging Professionals on Thursday, November 19, for an afternoon of giving back at the Children's Hunger Alliance Warehouse! Help sort and pack meals for children and families facing food insecurity across Ohio while connecting with fellow hospitality professionals. Make a meaningful impact, build relationships, and support our community through this rewarding volunteer opportunity. |
Top | | Coming home from Paris, where I spoke at A World for Travel, I’ve been thinking about what Ohio’s next chapter in tourism will require of its hotels. New investment creates opportunity, but capturing that business takes preparation.
In Columbus, the planned Merchant Hotel and airport terminal expansion make this a timely conversation. As the destination’s offering evolves, hoteliers should ask: Who are we trying to attract, what will they expect, and how are we preparing together?
Start with a conversation between your sales and operations teams and your local destination organization. Which visitor segments and meetings are they pursuing? What requirements are appearing in buyer conversations? Where could your property improve its service, local experiences, or ability to document sustainability efforts?
Then identify one gap to address in your 2027 plan, with a budget, an owner, and a measure of progress. That might mean training staff, developing a local partnership, or collecting the information planners need to evaluate your property. |
| | Traveling in Ohio is a great opportunity to make more sustainable choices. Keep Ohio Beautiful shares simple ways travelers can reduce food waste, from taking only what you’ll eat at hotel breakfasts and buffets to planning meals, choosing local foods, and recycling right. Small habits can make a big difference in keeping Ohio’s communities clean, green, and beautiful.
Read more for practical tips to make your next Ohio stay more sustainable and learn how you can support Keep Ohio Beautiful’s mission. |
| | What Cogwheel’s Saying: Smart Takes Worth Reading
For most hotel leadership teams, marketing lives firmly on the cost side of the ledger. It looks like a series of short-term expenses: seasonal campaigns, promotional pushes, and localized media spend designed to patch immediate occupancy gaps. When budgets fall short, they are the first expenses to get cut.
It is time to change that perspective.
When you shift from a campaign mindset to an infrastructure mindset, the entire financial equation changes. Marketing ceases to be an expense line item and becomes an investment: a high-value revenue asset that builds long-term equity, reduces reliance on expensive OTAs, and directly drives up the valuation of your asset. |
| | Workers' Compensation & Safety Updates
This month, Sedgwick’s Risk Services Newsletter highlights important workplace safety topics and timely resources to help employers protect their teams. The November issue covers machine safety and preventing pinch point injuries, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, workplace first-aid basics for cuts and scrapes, and OSHA’s new alliance focused on preventing serious injuries and fatalities. The newsletter also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong safety culture through ongoing awareness and fresh perspectives.
Together, these resources offer practical guidance to help employers identify workplace hazards, prevent injuries, promote employee well-being, and strengthen safety practices to create a safer work environment. |
Top | | The WIL Advisory Council is kicking off their collection drive for students transitioning into the workplace by collecting small items that can help them walk into their first interviews and first days with confidence.
Collections will be held at the Regional Stars of the Industry Awards and Annual Conference. Click "Read More" for a list of our collection items. |
Top | | Help the next generation of hoteliers thrive by donating an item to the 2026 OHLA Annual Conference & Gala Silent Auction, benefiting the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (OHLEF)!
Gift baskets, gift certificates, hotel stays, unique experiences, and other exciting items are welcome. Your donation will help support scholarships, education, and professional development opportunities for Ohio’s hospitality workforce and those aspiring to join the industry. |
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Upcoming Events
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November 19, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM | Online Webinar |
| November 19, 2026
2:00PM - 4:00PM | Children's Hunger Alliance1105 Schrock Road, Ste 505, Columbus OH 43229 |
| November 23 - 24, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Columbus350 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215 |
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