Let the good times (and information) roll at the AHIA Fall meeting in New Orleans this fall. Our very full schedule helps you meet your ethical continuing legal education credits and will help you keep abreast of emerging trends for 2018 in the sharing economy, public policy issues, labor/employment, hotel management, transactions, liquor liability and more.
NEW THIS YEAR
Hotel reservations are by rooming list only! Please contact AHIA by email or 1.937.586.3703 to secure your room reservation
Pre-conference tour of the WWII Museum on Wednesday afternoon – just $20 per person (that’s a $7 savings from general admission)
Dine-around for Wednesday evening – choose from three great New Orleans restaurants
Beginning with this meeting, we are making reservations via rooming list. The room rate is $199 single/double. To make your reservation, please reply to this email and let us know your arrival and departure dates and if you want 2 queens or a king. That’s all you need to do! You will receive your confirmation number at the end of September – but we WILL acknowledge your request immediately. You will need to present your credit card at registration at the hotel.
Drury Inn and Suites, 820 Poydras Street, New Orleans
We are finalizing plans for a special VIP tour of the WWII Museum, just a 10 minute walk from our hotel. The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. AHIA has a special VIP rate of just $20 per person for Wednesday afternoon, 25 October. When making your travel arrangements, please plan to arrive in New Orleans so that you can depart for the museum from our hotel by 1:30 pm.
Friday Morning Session
Our educational program will conclude by 11:30 on Friday with Kitchen Sink – Music Licensing, Tied House and Emerging Trends. We hope you can plan your travel so that you can stay for the entire educational program on Friday morning – and maybe even enjoy New Orleans for the weekend.
Evening Events
Wednesday Dine Around
One can’t think about New Orleans without thinking about the food! AHIA has made reservations at three great restaurants for dinner after the Wednesday opening reception hosted at Lee Sher’s office across the street from our hotel. You have your choice of one of three restaurants to enjoy with your AHIA colleagues: Arnaud’s, Shaya, or Tableau. Please review the restaurants and choose your restaurant when you register for the meeting. Note: you are responsible for paying for your dinner at the restaurant at the end of the evening.
Arnaud’s
Located steps off of Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, Arnaud’s offers classic Creole Cuisine and exemplary service in beautifully restored turn of the century dining rooms. Since its inception in 1918, Arnaud’s has remained true to its traditions and courtesies.
Shaya
Chef Alon Shaya’s namesake restaurant marries his Israeli upbringing with Southern flavors and modern techniques, striking a balance between innovation and tradition. Alon approaches Israeli cuisine as a grand mosaic, drawing influence and inspiration from North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Greece. The contemporary menu reflects the ongoing evolution of Israeli food and celebrates the abundance of Louisiana, underscoring Alon’s close relationships with local farmers
Tableau
Located on picturesque Jackson Square at Le Petit Theatre, Tableau is Dickie Brennan’s newest restaurant.
The menu showcases regional ingredients and classic French Creole dishes with a unique twist. The cuisine is sophisticated, yet true to tradition, with great depth of flavor. Guests enjoy a front row seat to the culinary action beside the open kitchen in the restaurant’s main dining room.
On Thursday, we have a special evening planned for the group at a beautiful venue just a few blocks from our hotel. After dinner, you’re just a block away from the French Quarter if you want to enjoy its ambiance. This dinner is included in your registration.
Dine Around: Choice of Arnaud’s, Tableau or Shaya (reservations to be made at time of registration, please)
Thursday - October 26th, 2017
7:45 – 8:30 am
Breakfast and Networking (in lobby)
8:30 – 9:00 am
Welcome, Introductions and AHIA Business Meeting
9:00 – 9:45 am
Ethical Obligations of Legal Counsel about Human Trafficking, Brenda Wells, Founder & President, I-5 Freedom Network and Jeffrey Kessler, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
9:45 – 10:30 am
Litigating in Mexico, David Bender and Alberto de la Pena, Haynes and Boone, LLP and James Eiler, Murchison & Cumming LLP
10:30 – 10:45 am
Break
10:45 – 12:00 noon
Upcoming Trends in the Sharing Economy, Michael Fitzgibbon, Slice Insurance and Morgan Wallace, Counsel, Insurance & Litigation, Lyft
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Navigating Through the Swamp: A Review of Public Policy Issues Facing the Lodging Industry, Chip Rogers, President and CEO, AAHOA
2:00 – 3:15 pm
Legal Counsel 2018 Trends Scott Joslove, President & CEO, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, Joe Pereles, Drury Hotels Company, LLC, Mike Linley, Moose Restaurant Group, moderated by David Samuels, Lewis Brisbois
3:15 – 3:30 pm
Refreshment Break
3:30 – 4:30 pm
Labor/Employment, David Ritter, Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
4:30 – 5:15 pm
Open Forum - Members discuss topics of current interest and Refreshment Break
5:30 pm
Kickback in the Drury Lobby - enjoy free hot food and cold beverages prior to departing for our evening event
7:00 pm
Dinner at Pidgeon & Prince
Friday - October 27th, 2017
7:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast and Networking (in lobby)
8:00 – 8:30 am
Open Forum – Members discuss topics of current interest
8:30 – 9:30 am
Trends in Hotel Management – HMA’s, Franchise Agreements, and issues related to owner/operators transitioning for the first time to a management company. Nelson F. Migdal, Co-chair Hospitality Group, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
9:30 – 10:00 am
Transaction Update – Christopher Naughten, SVP - NCS Operations Manager, Fidelity National Title – National Commercial Service
10:00 – 10:15 am
Break
10:15 – 11:15 am
Kitchen Sink – Music Licensing, Tied House and Emerging Trends, Stacy Kula, Stoll Keenon Ogden and Dimitri Christopoulos, Christopoulos Law Group
Michael has had a variety of experiences over his 30 year career. As an underwriting manager with CNA, he oversaw a 100% increase in credit insurance GWP and launched automobile insurance nationally in Canada, achieving an ROE of 15%. Michael lead the Healthcare & Life Sciences team at Marsh as Senior Vice President. During this time, his team won three national business development competitions and ranked in the top five of 43 business units for profit-center contribution. As co-owner and President of a regional brokerage in Toronto, Michael and his team increased NOI to just under 30%, enabling the sale of the firm to one of Canada's largest insurers for above-market valuation.
Michael’s philosophy is: "If it isn't broken, then break it!". He is an Instructor at The Insurance Institute of Canada, a member of the Chartered Insurance Professionals and has held designated underwriting authority with Prudential, Lloyd's and Munich Re.
Michael B. C. Fitzgibbon, CIP Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer - Slice Insurance Technologies Inc.
Licensed to practice in Louisiana and New York, Jeff handles a wide variety of commercial litigation disputes. He has handled several labor and employment matters, including but not limited to claims of discrimination, retaliation, noncompetition agreements, and wage payment claims. In addition, his practice also includes complex commercial cases, environmental class action litigation, real estate litigation, insurance litigation involving claims for property damage and business interruption losses, and various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.
Jeffrey D. Kessler, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert LLC
David B. Ritter is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Department and co-chairs the Logistics and Transportation Practice Group. He represents management nationwide in virtually all areas of labor and employment law, including employment discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour disputes, non-compete, trade secret and restrictive covenants and employment torts.
David Ritter, Barnes & Thornburg
Chip Rogers serves as President and CEO of AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association. During his tenure as President & CEO AAHOA has established association records for membership, lifetime membership, event attendance, PAC fundraising, and revenue.
Chip also serves as a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council, the California State University Hospitality & Tourism Management Education Alliance Advisory Panel, Board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council Private Enterprise Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for Community Leaders of America.
Chip Rogers, President and CEO, AAHOA
Morgan Wallace serves as Corporate Counsel, Insurance & Litigation at Lyft, Inc. As part of Lyft's litigation team, she is responsible for the management of various matters in litigation and pre-litigation. She also advises on Lyft's Risk Solutions and insurance, along with governmental relations and regulatory matters pertaining risk.
Morgan Wallace, Corporate Counsel, Insurance & Litigation Lyft, Inc.
As a result of living in other countries and cultures and having worked in a variety of professional companies and NGOs, Brenda has developed an awareness to social conditions and a sensitivity to social justice. The incredulity that human trafficking exists within our midst and is such a fast growing epidemic inspired the formation of the I-5 Freedom Network. Knowing that awareness of the problem and reporting tips and observations are both essential and achievable, her goal is to create a neighborhood watch at the business level.
In addition to mobilizing businesses and communities to fight human trafficking, Brenda is also a Certified Corporate Trainer through Dale Carnegie and applies her training to reach i-5 Freedom Network audiences. Brenda also works as an independent Art Consultant. Loving the value of the visual experience that original art can offer, lovely or ugly, art is a powerful translator of the human condition.
Brenda Wells, Founder & President, I-5 Freedom Network