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Horst Schulze speaking at the International Luxury Hotel Association conference – Image Credit ILHA
The International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE Las Vegas conference focused on technology integration, investment trends, and evolving guest expectations in the luxury hospitality sector.
The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) held its INSPIRE Las Vegas conference, bringing together industry leaders to discuss current trends and challenges in luxury hospitality. The event addressed the integration of technology, capital investment strategies, and shifting consumer preferences.
The conference opened with a session featuring Horst Schulze, who discussed the importance of maintaining human connection in luxury hospitality. Schulze emphasized practices such as empowering employees to resolve guest issues immediately and focusing on guest care rather than commoditization.
A session titled “Boardroom Perspectives: Turning Headwinds into Opportunity” examined the state of investment in luxury hospitality. Panelists noted that luxury assets continue to outperform other asset classes globally, with branded residential components becoming a standard feature in new developments. The discussion also addressed rising construction costs, with ultra-luxury projects exceeding $5 million per key, and the appeal of “trophy assets” in iconic locations.
Technology was a recurring theme throughout the conference. In “Beyond Human Hours: How AI Employees Are Transforming Hotel Profitability,” speakers discussed the use of AI-driven digital employees to automate tasks such as chargeback processing, commission audits, and no-show fee collection. The session highlighted that automation allows staff to focus more on guest experience.
Another session, “Insights for Improvement: Turning Hospitality Data Into Better Guest Experiences, Smarter Operations, and Stronger Sales,” featured examples of digital concierge services. Resorts World Las Vegas reported that its digital concierge handled over 259,000 guest requests in the past year, with half completed without human intervention. Panelists discussed the importance of guest choice between technology and personal service, as well as the use of data to personalize guest experiences.
The session “Intelligent Luxury: Redefining Guest Experience Through Smart Tech,” led by Honeywell, focused on secure and intelligent systems such as Zero Trust networks and Small Language Models. The discussion covered guest privacy, personalization, and operational efficiency.
Encore provided audiovisual production and event management for the conference, including stage design and content delivery formats such as podcast and TV studio-style environments.
Additional sessions addressed topics such as margin intelligence, wellness, and changing guest expectations. Panels discussed strategies for managing slower revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth, the role of wellness and personalized health programs, and the use of digital storytelling and social media to engage guests.
Networking events, including the President’s Dinner and Sips & Serenity hosted by Avendra International, provided opportunities for industry professionals to connect.
The conference was supported by a range of partners contributing to content, production, and hospitality.
