The Independent Lodging Congress yesterday announced that registration is officially open for the group's first in-person event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Taking place on July 12th and 13th in Philadelphia's Bok Building and PHS Pop-Up Garden-Manayunk respectively, INDIE Confab: Philadelphia will connect creative provocateurs and disruptors from the worlds of hotels, food & beverage, design, and finance.
INDIE Confab: Philadelphia will kick off on Monday, July 12th with a welcome dinner and an immersive experience in the Bok Building, one of Philadelphia's most up and coming revitalization developments before guests embark on an entire day of expert panels and networking opportunities on Tuesday, July 13th at the PHS Pop-Up Garden-Manayunk. With topics ranging from cannabis to the unique intersection of fashion, art and hospitality, INDIE Confab: Philadelphia aims to inspire and ignite strategic ideation for the next generation of independent hotel owners and operators.
Confirmed speakers for this year's event include some of Philadelphia's most innovative business leaders such as: Nick Bayer, Founder and CEO of Saxbys; David Gutstadt, Managing Partner & CEO of Fitler Club; Jonathan Grosser, Partner of Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld; Hasu P. Shah, Founder & Chairman of Hersha Hospitality Trust; Jay H. Shah, CEO of Hersha Hospitality Trust, Ellen Yin, Founder & Co-Owner of High Street Hospitality Group, Bela Shehu, Founder & Designer of NINO brand; Jared Cannon, Founder & CEO of Simply Good Jars, Yasmine Mustafa, CEO of ROAR for Good; Christopher Plant, Owner & President of KISMET CoWork and Brian Linton, Founder & CEO of United By Blue.
"We are thrilled to return to a sense of normalcy after such a tumultuous year by hosting INDIE Confab in the city of brotherly love and exploring the wonderful hospitality scene Philadelphia has to offer," said Andrew Benioff, Founder & Chairman of the Independent Lodging Congress. "The Independent Lodging Congress has become what attendees and speakers have called the 'gathering for disruptors in hospitality and travel,' and having the chance to usher in the human element of an in-person event will be a great opportunity to ask the uncomfortable questions that lead to provocative conversation and actionable resolution. We chose Philadelphia because we view it as a bustling destination and we are dedicated to giving our guests a chance to absorb the city's brilliant art, design, urban revitalization and architecture, especially in terms of independent hospitality."
The 2021 INDIE Confab: Philadelphia will offer attendees the opportunity to listen, learn and engage with industry powerhouses as they share stories of success and failure as well as their predictions for the future of the independent hospitality business. INDIE Confab: Philadelphia follows the success of previous Independent Lodging Congress events such as New Orleans Confab 2020, INDIE Congress 2019, INDIE Cultivate 2019 and Miami Confab 2019, to name a few. Some notable ILC event speakers in the past have included Venus Williams, tennis champion, best-selling author and President & Principal of V Starr Interiors and EleVen by Venus Williams Brad Wilson from Ace Hotels, Amar Lalvani of Standard International; Mark Harmon of Auberge Resorts; Susan Spinney of Expedia and more than 50 other leading hospitality industry executives and entrepreneurs.
Supporting sponsors of INDIE Confab: Philadelphia include Marks Paneth Accountants & Advisors and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. The INDIE sponsor is Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfield LLC and the Founding Sponsors are Eagle Point Hotel Partners and Llenrock Realty Partners.
With the current happenings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Independent Lodging Congress is taking proper precautions to protect all presenters and guests who attend INDIE Confab: Philadelphia by limiting the number of attendees and adhering to all of the city and states guidelines and protocols. The ILC is also taking steps to allow for social distancing and will be hosting many segments in an outdoor terrace. All guests and employees of INDIE Confab: Philadelphia will also be required to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the event date.
Members of the media who wish to cover INDIE Confab: Philadelphia can apply for press credentials in advance by contacting ILC@Magrinopr.com.
To learn more about INDIE Confab: Philadelphia and the Independent Lodging Congress, register or to become a sponsor for the 2021 event, please visit: www.ilcongress.com.