Existing users please login MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug 13, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —-Officials of the Southern Lodging Summit Memphis, an annual gathering of
hoteliers specializing in development and operations in the southern United States, today announced it will conduct an online charity auction in support of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), in conjunction with the 7(th) annual conference to be held here August 19-20. More than 20 items will be featured, including travel packages to such highly popular destinations as London, Orlando and Yellowstone National Park. “Foodies” may bid on an “unforgettable meal” prepared by acclaimed executive chef, Carol Ann Silkes, Ph.D., MBC, CEC of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management. Bidding has started and will remain open until 8 p.m., August 20. Interested bidders should go to www.mmhla.com and click on the auction icon. When the auction page comes up, click on “bid now.” Registration for the auction is required the “Register Now” icon is located on the page. A sampling of other auction items include: Scheduled from 6 p.m., August 18, until 2 p.m., August 19, the Southern Lodging Summit Memphis will open with a cocktail reception and dinner at The Peabody Hotel. The following morning, the conference will move to the Memphis Cook Convention Center where topics will focus on the national and regional lodging and travel outlooks, industry trends, and the changing faces of operations and finance. Laurence Geller, president, CEO, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, will be the keynote speaker during Wednesday’s luncheon. Celebrating its 7(th) year, the Southern Lodging Summit Memphis was co-founded by the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association and Pinkowski & Company, an independent hotel industry consulting firm headquartered in Memphis. The hospitality industry event brings together hotel professionals who target the southern United States for development and operations. The annual event draws a diverse crowd of owners, operators, sales executives, financial institutions, architects, attorneys, and hotel company representatives.
SOURCE Southern Lodging Summit Memphis