AHLA Foundation’s FORWARD/26 Event Draws Over 1,000 Hospitality Professionals in Atlanta

The AHLA Foundation held its FORWARD/26 event at the Signia by Hilton in Atlanta, drawing more than 1,000 hospitality professionals from across the United States. The two-day event focused on influence and featured main-stage presentations, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities for executives, early- to mid-career professionals, and leaders across various business functions within the industry.

FORWARD/26 featured over 20 breakout sessions and presentations led by more than 50 speakers, including executives from the hotel and lodging industry and individuals from other sectors. Notable speakers included Bobbi Brown, Chief Creative Officer and Founder at Jones Road Beauty; Tiera Kennedy, Singer-Songwriter for Tiera Music; and Justin Knight, President and CEO of Apple Hospitality REIT.

Sessions included a Cross-Industry Perspective on Leadership and Influence panel featuring Alicia Tillman, Delta Air Lines Chief Marketing Officer, and Dagmar Boggs of The Coca-Cola Company, moderated by Anu Saxena, President and Global Head of Hilton Supply Management and Chair of the AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees. Other sessions included Empower Hour: Negotiating Successfully as a Woman with Kathryn Valentine, CEO of Worthmore Strategies; Own the Room: How to Talk So Your Audience Will Listen (And Act) with Anna Goldsmith, Producer at TEDxPortsmouth; a Leading With Influence panel on mentorship and leadership development; and a Women Leaders on Hotel Ownership discussion featuring leaders from ownership, operations, finance, development, and industry advocacy.

The event also included the Community Hub, a space for networking and skill development, such as reading profit-and-loss statements. Attendees could meet with speakers at the Speaker Corner and participate in the Flash FORWARD Mentoring Program, which offered one-on-one mentoring conversations.

The FORWARD initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of women in executive leadership roles in the hotel and lodging industry by providing mentorship, education, and community-building opportunities.

FORWARD/26 was sponsored by American Express, Ecolab, Encore, Hilton, HSM, and WITS Experiential. FORWARD/27 is scheduled for May 5-7, 2027, at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C.