Register yourself and your management team today!
Register yourself and your management team today!
Full
Registration
Includes admission to all conference functions,
including educational sessions, meals and any events both days.
Full
Registration
Full
Registration
Includes admission to all conference functions,
including educational sessions, meals and any events both days.
Includes admission to all conference functions,
including educational sessions, meals and any events both days.
Single-Day
Registration
Includes admission to conference functions, including educational sessions, meals and any events for one day only.
Single-Day
Registration
Includes admission to conference functions, including educational sessions, meals and any events for one day only.
Educational Programming
Learn new things to inspire your work in these 2025 educational sessions.
GENERAL SESSIONS
Sponsored by
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Pacific
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Think Like A DifferenceMaker Leader: Discover how to Unlock your Personal & Team Potential
Austin J. Franklin
As leaders, we each have the ability to make a meaningful difference. Despite disruptions and uncertainties, we can still flourish. When we make a meaningful difference, lives become inspired, situations positively shift, and desired results are often achieved. Austin will lead a discussion that invites hospitality professionals to explore research-based ideas that will position their organizations for a future-ready and thriving workplace.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
12:45 - 1:30 p.m. | Pacific
GENERAL SESSION
Federal Advocacy for Lodging & Tourism
Chirag Shah, American Hotel & Lodging Association
This session will explore key federal advocacy priorities shaping the lodging industry, including workforce development, short-term rental regulations, and tax policy. Learn how national efforts are influencing legislation and protecting the industry's future.
Sponsored by
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
8:25 - 8:55 p.m. | Pacific
GENERAL SESSION
ORLA Member Meeting
Jason Brandt, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association
ORLA continues to build on our successes in advocacy, providing products and services of value to members, curating industry intelligence, and developing our workforce. Hear a briefing on the state of the Association and participate in the election of the ORLA, ORLAMS, and Oregon Hospitality Foundation Boards of Directors.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Pacific
GENERAL SESSION
Essential AI Tools for Hospitality
Janell Goplen, Coltella
Discover five must-have AI tools transforming hospitality operations—from text-to-reservation systems to smart front desk communication. This interactive session will showcase real-world examples and live demos to help you identify and apply the right tech for your business.
Sponsored by
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BREAKOUT SESSION 2
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
2:15-3:15 pm • Riverside A
Navigating Opportunities: Balancing Privacy and Data Protection with Growth
Josh Piper and Eva Novick, Miller Nash LLP
This session will explore growth strategies through licensing and franchising, outlining the benefits and risks of each model. It will also cover privacy and data security challenges in franchising, offering best practices for protecting sensitive information and ensuring legal compliance.
Sponsored by Baker Tilly
BREAKOUT SESSION 1
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
2:15-3:15 pm • Riverside BC
State and Local Advocacy in Action
Greg Astley, Jason Brandt, and Makenzie Marineau, ORLA
ORLA’s government affairs team leads a panel discussion on key outcomes from the 2025 legislative session and share insights on what’s ahead for 2026. This session will also cover state and local advocacy priorities and how members can stay engaged on the issues that matter most.
Sponsored by Deacon
BREAKOUT SESSION 4
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
3:25-4:25pm • Riverside A
The Year of the AI Doctor: How to Help Your Team, Boost Your Bottom Line, and Fix Our Broken Health System with One Decision
David Sanders, MD, CodyMD
In this session, you’ll hear a fresh, personal take on our broken health system—going beyond the usual statistics to a story that inspires new possibilities. You’ll see why 2025 is the Year of the AI Doctor, with a clear and practical demo showing how this technology is already transforming lives today and shaping the future. Finally, restaurant and lodging operators will walk away with actionable strategies to embrace this generational shift—improving employee wellbeing, strengthening financial performance, and contributing to healthier communities.
BREAKOUT SESSION 3
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
3:25-4:25 pm • Riverside BC
Conversion-Focused Marketing for Off-Season
Wade McCarthy, Travel Oregon, and Marcus Hinz, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
Discover how statewide lodging tax dollars fuel off-season tourism. Travel Oregon and OCVA will share current and future strategies for investing these funds to boost demand, with a focus on maximizing returns and driving visitation during Oregon’s off-peak seasons.
BREAKOUT SESSION 6
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
11:00-12:00 pm • Riverside A
Staying Compliant: Employment Law Essentials
Sean P. Ray, Attorney, Barran Liebman LLP
From hiring practices to wage laws, Oregon’s lodging and restaurant operators face a complex employment law landscape. This session covers key compliance updates and practical strategies to help businesses navigate evolving state and federal requirements with confidence.
Sponsored by SAIF
BREAKOUT SESSION 5
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
11:00-12:00 pm • Riverside BC
Successful Restaurant Service Models
Panel: Israel Morales of Kachka and Chad Mackay, Fire & Vine Hospitality
Hear from a panel of restaurant operators as they share real-world insights, best practices, and lessons learned from evolving service and compensation models. Walk away with practical takeaways you can apply immediately to improve efficiency, guest experience, team performance, and financial sustainability.
Sponsored by Hospitality Insurance Program (HIP)
BREAKOUT SESSION 8
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
12:10-1:10pm • Riverside A
No Tax on Tips and Oregon Impacts
Bob Johnson, Baker Tilly
This session will discuss the impact of No Tax on Tips legislation for Oregon’s industry workforce. Will federal tax changes directly impact Oregon income tax collections? What are the implications for our businesses, our workers, and Oregon’s general fund revenue projections? Leave this session with newfound expertise on the historic changes impacting industry tax collections which went into effect retroactively on January 1, 2025.
Sponsored by Jordan Ramis PC
BREAKOUT SESSION 7
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
12:10-1:10 pm • Riverside BC
Tapping Into the Workforce: How to Find Skilled and Dedicated Employees Through CBO Partnerships
Rebecca Donley and Ella Sturdevant, Oregon Hospitality Foundation
Panelists from Opportunity Oregon, IRCO, and Vocational Rehabilitation
A Community-Based Organization (CBO) is a non-profit entity dedicated to providing support, services, and resources to a designated community. Several Oregon-based organizations are actively seeking hospitality pipelines for their job-seeking clients. This panel talks about the unique benefits of working with the organization's client group and discussing the training, skills, and support employees receive during the job-seeking process. Learn how CBOs utilize these qualities to find the right applicants for you.
Sponsored by Garth T. Rouse & Associates