TORONTO — As a kickoff to the Hotel Association of Canada conference, a gathering of hotel leaders enjoyed an evening of networking and conversation. The seventh-annual Hotel VIP Leadership Dinner attracted 60 of the industry’s leading presidents, who were able to put aside competitive differences for a night to enjoy a three-course meal at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
The annual event was organized and hosted by Jason Cheskes, president of Above the Line Solutions — a company involved in many areas of hospitality procurement.
Top-level executives from all segments of leadership, including brands, management groups, associations and key transaction-support companies were well represented. Attendees included such brands as Marriott, Wyndham, Realstar, Urgo, Travelodge, Hilton, Best Western, Red Lion, Sandman and Choice. Also strongly represented at the dinner were ownership, development and management companies, including Atlific, Superior, Sunray, InnVest, LHM, Pacific Reach, Listel, Sterling, Aimbridge and Holloway, along with finance and real-estate companies CWB, CFO Capital and Colliers and association leadership from BCHA, and AHLA.
Cheskes stated “while the event was at fully capacity, I hope to be able to have additional people join us to enjoy the event in the future.”
This year’s event sponsors included LG Electronics, Ecolab, Shaw Communications, Serta Simmons, Eden Textiles, RHB Enterprises, Foodbuy and Quad Distribution.
Hilton Hotels’ Jeff Cury remarked “it’s no wonder people enjoy this event so much. It really is a unique opportunity Jason has created to gather with colleagues from across the country with the only agenda being to just enjoy a meal together and get to know each other better personally.”
