Strategy, Innovation, Leadership
2024
Program Agenda
2024 - Arrival -
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Pre-Conference Networking Reception at The Pub - Nashville
Address: 400 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
The Pub Nashville is located directly across the street from the Thompson Nashville, about a 1-minute walk.
This is always a casual, fun start to our week together. All those who arrive early are welcome to join us! Special thanks to our summit Premier sponsor - Canary
Website: The Pub Nashville
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Registration Table Opens – Goldtop Pre-Function
11:00AM-12:00PM Pre-conference Activity Buffet Lunch in LA Jackson
Pre-conference Activity Buffet Lunch in LA Jackson
PRE-CONFERENCE Networking Activity Check in - Goldtop Pre-Function
Registration is required to attend the pre-conference activity. If you haven't RSVP'd yet please do so now before the spaces fill up.
https://hftp.wufoo.com/forms/cio-summit-preconference-activity-rsvp-form-2024/
PRE-CONFERENCE Networking Activity - Grand Ole Opry VIP Tour/Artist Experience
*Buses will depart from the hotel at 12:30PM, please be in the lobby ready to go at 12:15PM
Opry House Backstage Tours
Join one of Opry’s expert guides for an exclusive backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry House and get an intimate look at the people, places and stories behind the show that made country music famous. Our tour will start with a state-of-the-art Circle Room theatre experience in their premium lounge, hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Then, set off on an all-access look at the stars’ dressing rooms, backstage area, Studio A, and maybe even get a chance to stand on the legendary Opry stage.
Adding to the magic, there will be a special appearance by Charlie Worsham — a celebrated artist whose decade-long career has earned praise from NPR, Rolling Stone, and more. His latest album, Compadres, features collaborations with friends like Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, and Lainey Wilson. Charlie’s versatility shines through in his work with artists like Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Currently touring with Dierks Bentley’s band, he recently won the 2023 ACM Award for Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year. When he’s not on stage, he’s hosting Pickers Radio on Apple Music Country.
Registration Table Opens – Goldtop Pre-Function
First-time Attendee Meet and Greet – Terrace/Goldtop Pre-Function
Welcome Reception & Icebreaker Activity – Terrace/Goldtop
The CIO Summit focuses on peer-to-peer interaction. It is important to us that you meet everyone and we are very creative when it comes to networking. Join us for cocktails and Rich's infamous icebreaker. It can be silly, but we guarantee it is always fun. Please don't be late, you won't want to miss this. Dinner will begin immediately after the icebreaker.
Welcome Dinner - Goldtop A&B
Join us for an enjoyable networking dinner at the hotel in the Goldtop Ballroom. After dinner, continue the fun at the rooftop bar of the Thompson Hotel, LA Jackson, for a great view of the city along with amazing cocktails & camaraderie!
For the After Party join us at the LA Jackson rooftop --
LA Jackson indoor/outdoor rooftop is the perfect destination for an evening of celebrating or just an end of the day cocktail! Located in the heart of the Gulch, LA Jackson guarantees you and your crew a good time no matter the occasion. Imbibe with our crowd-favorite espresso martinis or check out our seasonal specialty cocktails for something new. And of course, you could always ask your bartender for your favorite classic instead!
Voted Nashville Scene’s Best Rooftop Bar 5 years in a row (technically 6 including writer’s choice, but who’s counting?)
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Take a morning run or check out the amazing gym at the Thompson.
Registration Table Opens– Terrace/Goldtop Prefunction
Breakfast - LA Jackson
Welcome to the Summit - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
Speaker: Rich Siegel, President & Publisher Hospitality Upgrade
Educational Session #1 - Hot temps, Hot chicken, Hot data: State of the US Hotel industry - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
Discover the current hotel industry trends and the outlook ahead.
Speaker: Jan Freitag, National Director, Hospitality Analytics Costar
Game show - KAHOOT! with Cameron Hammond
Show us how much you know about mainstream culture, Nashville and the industry at large. We will be keeping score throughout the day, and the high scorer will walk away with a brand, new car ... just kidding, but we do have a prize for the winner!
Educational Session #2 – Forming AI Habits and AI Personas to Reduce Staff Turnover - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
The hotel industry is already battling epic changes borne from a rapidly expanding digital marketplace. Retailers, bankers and newspapers have all been turned upside down. The implications for AI are important to understand for hotels operating in a world where consumers are beholden to the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Airbnb. Then along comes ChatGPT.
The main points of this session are:
- The generative AI productivity paradox and potential solutions
- How generative AI creates joy in the workplace
- The role of AI personas in enhancing team productivity
Speaker: Michael J. Goldrich,founder and chief advisor of Vivander Advisors
BREAK - Terrace/Goldtop Prefunction
Educational Session #3 - Mixing Technology and Entertainment, One-on-One with the Grand Ole Opry - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
Ever wonder what it takes behind the curtain and red carpet to keep a major entertainment and hospitality company running? Learn how Opry Entertainment Group uses hospitality technology to deliver its iconic live entertainment products. It's always interesting to hear how adjacent industries use traditional hotel technology stacks and to hear stories around AI and Machine Learning in any use cases.
Speaker: Rao Kasibhotla, SVP and CIO for Ryman Hospitality Properties
Game show - KAHOOT! with Cameron Hammond
Show us how much you know about mainstream culture, Nashville and the industry at large. We will be keeping score throughout the day, and the high scorer will walk away with a brand, new car ... just kidding, but we do have a prize for the winner!
Transition to lunch
Lunch - LA Jackson
Educational Session #4 - Practical AI Applications for Hospitality - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
The sudden rise of Artificial Intelligence is unprecedented in its potential to revolutionize business practices, as well as the way we, as humans, live, work, play and travel. But what’s real and what’s hype when it comes to the practical applications of AI for hospitality—and what is the real impact on the people it’s meant to serve—your guests, staff and other stakeholders within your organization? Where is the best place to start and what is the human element needed for its deployment? This session will seek to separate fact from fiction, discuss AI-washing in the market, and foster a real dialogue about the use of these disruptive new tools.
Speaker: Aman Shahi, VP of Product, Canary Technologies
Featured speaker: Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Strategy Officer, Wyndham
Educational Session #5 – What Owners Want - an Asset Management panel - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
When you have a room full of CIOs what better opportunity to discuss what owners are discussing. In this panel we will share the perspective from a REIT, management company and a lifestyle brand. Find out what keeps the panel up at night and what they wish CIOs would start or stop doing. What matters most and what doesn’t matter at all? You won’t want to miss this entertaining session that’s likely to spark some animated discussion.
Speaker: Julian Bish, Global Director IT Business Relations, Hyatt Hotels
Panel: Prakash Shukla, Managing Partner, WayFare Ventures; Rebecca Cocchiola, Senior Vice President Singerman Real Estate: Chris Morosetti, CEO of Magna Hospitality
Game show - KAHOOT! with Cameron Hammond
Show us how much you know about mainstream culture, Nashville and the industry at large. We will be keeping score throughout the day, and the high scorer will walk away with a brand, new car ... just kidding, but we do have a prize for the winner!
CIO Summit Surprise Team-building Activity - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
You won't want to miss this unique and definitely memorable networking and team building challenge
Group photo - Location TBA
AFTERNOON BREAK & NETWORKING - Terrace/Goldtop Prefunction
Game show - KAHOOT! with Cameron Hammond
Show us how much you know about mainstream culture, Nashville and the industry at large. We will be keeping score throughout the day, and the high scorer will walk away with a brand, new car ... just kidding, but we do have a prize for the winner!
Educational Session #6 - Integrating GenAI in Hospitality: Legal Frameworks and Security Protocols - Goldtop Ballroom A&B
In this presentation, we will explore the transformative potential of Generative AI (GenAI) in the hospitality industry, considering key use cases from internal operations to customer-facing applications. We will delve into the legal frameworks, contracting issues, and cybersecurity challenges associated with integrating GenAI, providing practical insights into how to navigate these technologies securely and effectively. Finally, we will discuss governance strategies to support responsible and sustainable AI deployment.
Speaker: Erin Snodgrass, Foster Garvey
Meet in Hotel Lobby.
Buses will depart at 6:45PM to head to the Gibson Garage.
Thursday Night Dinner - The Gibson Garage
Get ready for a night of fun and music at the Gibson Garage, where Nashville's guitar legends come to life. This isn’t just a dinner - it’s an immersive experience in the heart of Music City. Explore the heritage of Gibson guitars, try out legendary instruments, and be prepared to put your singing voice to the test on the karaoke stage. Adding to the fun, Song Division will bring the music to life with two of Nashville’s top talents. Benji Harris, a versatile guitarist who’s toured arenas and played on national TV, and Leigh Houison, a keyboardist who’s rocked iconic stages and backed up legends like Elton John. Get ready to belt out your favorite tunes with these pros by your side -- This will definitely be a dinner to remember!
Friday, September 6, 2024
Breakfast - LA Jackson
The Annual CIO Roundtable Discussion -- Goldtop Ballroom A&B
One of the highlights of the entire event has always been the final session of the CIO Summit. This session inspires conversation and debate and consistently leaves attendees wanting more. With CIOs seated in a circle (round), we will talk about things no one else dares discuss. In past years, we’ve talked about the elimination of your job and shared valuable trade secrets of how to negotiate funding for IT projects. This year’s intervention promises to tackle more tough questions and is definitely NOT politically correct! You’ll definitely want to stay for this session that tackles the issues concerning CIOs.
Moderator: Cameron Hammond, Senior Vice President Global Field Technology, Hyatt
Summit Thank you and Depart to the Airport. For all attendees and sponsors, The CIO Summit Lyft code will be shared to be used to your airport return. The code is CIO2024NASHVILLE and will be active from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Friday, September 6, 2024. Hospitality Upgrade will cover trips up to $35.00 USD*.
*If the fare exceeds $35.00 USD, the remainder will be charged to the card on your Lyft profile.
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