Past Meeting Topics

This list details the Meeting Topics that have been presented at the Spring and Fall meetings each year.

MEMBERS: Log In to the Member Area to download the detailed handouts from these meetings.

NEW YORK CITY (2010)

• Hospitality in Distress: Employment, Transactional and Operational Issues
• Legal Issues Involved in the Acquisition of Unionized Properties
• Gift Card, Gift Certificates, Loyalty, Award and Promotional Programs
• State of the Industry - Spring 2010
• Data Privacy Issues
• Responding to a Data Breach
• Alcohol: Responsible Vending in Mass Audience Locations
• Navigating the New Virtual World

AUSTIN (2009)

• Dealing with Changes in Management and Operations in a Tight Economy
• Legal Issues in Owning & Operating Convention Centers
• Immigration Law: Thinking Strategically in a Growing Economy
• What Social Science Teaches Us About Rules, Procedures and Ethics
• Labor Law Update
• Legal Questions We Are Asked
• 3rd Party Criminal Actions: When Bad Things Happen at Good Places
• "Green" Issues in the Hospitality Industry -- LEED 101

SAN FRANCISCO (2009)

• Ethical Issues from the In-House Counsel Perspective
• Is the Sky Falling: The Impact of the Economy on Hotel Performance, Transactions and the Capital
• The Lender - Borrower Waltz: Recent Trends and Developments in Loan Workouts and Defaults
• Travel Law and Developments: California Disclosure Language; Coupons and Certificates; porting Adventure Tours; Full Fare Advertising Rule; Consumer Disclosure Notice; California Seller of Travel Law; Sweepstakes and Contest Rules; Taxes and Fees
• Labor and Employment Developments in the Lodging Industry
• 2009 Property Tax Strategy Recommendations: Legal and Valuation
• Hotel Investments 2009 and Beyond: Two Perspectives: the Analyst and the Broker
• The ADA and Department of Justice Hotel Sweep: ADA Outline; ADA Sweeps; ADA Survey
• Liquor Licenses: Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog
• Alcohol Licensing Considerations
• The Effect of the Economy on Convention and Business Travel: San Fransicso CVB - San Francisco Travel - San Francisco Tourism

DENVER (2008)

• Transactional Trends in Lodging Industry
• Hotel Management Agreements Today
• Hotel Law: Emerging Issues
• Close the Deal
• Firearms in Hospitality Venues / Workplace Violence
• Security for Large Events
• Employee Free Choice Act / Union Issues
• Dana, Card Check and the EFCA
• Litigation Issues Involving Food Borne Illness and Environmental Toxins in the Hospitality Industry
• Immigration Issues Facing Hospitality Industry
• Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act: New Regulations
• Ethics Session: Candor to the Tribunal, Rule 3.3-Rules of Professional Responsibility

PHILADELPHIA (2008)

• Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion
• IRS "Private Use" Rules Applicable to Bond Financed Facilities
• Curtis Student Hotel Release
• State & Local Menu Labeling Comparisons
• Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus
• NYC Menu Labeling Decision
• Ethics in the Popular Media
• Adventure Travel & Outdoor Activities - Release, Assumptions & Waivers
• Fun Run Release
• Liability Waivers and Ski Resorts
• Tour Waiver & Release
• Legionnaires Disease & the Hospitality Industry
• Legal Aspects of a Hotel Outbreak of Legionnaires Disease
• Recent Dram Shop Liability Cases
• Miscellaneous Alcohol Beverage Litigation

NEW ORLEANS (2007)

• Ten Commandments of Union Avoidance
• Ten Commandments for Avoiding Wrongful Termination Lawsuits
• ADA in Employment
• ADA and Public Accommodations
• Legal Aspects of Public and Private Air Charters
• Policing Your Hospitality Business
• What Supervisors and Managers Can and Cannot Say about Unions

PHOENIX (2007)

• On-site Sales of Alcohol Beverages
• Wage & Hour Issue for Hotels
• Panel: Jurisdictional Issues in Hospitality Law
• Panel: Jurisdictional Issues in Hosp. Law2
• Panel: Jurisdictional Issues in Hosp. Law3
• Panel: Jurisdictional Issues in Hosp. Law4
• Panel: Jurisdictional Issues in Hosp. Law5
  
• Issues in Unauthorized Practice of Law
  
• Food Borne Illness and Viruses
• Condo Hotels Made Simple1
• Condo Hotels Made Simple2
• Condo Hotels Made Simple3
• Condo Hotels Made Simple4
  
• Ethics for In House Counsel Redux
• Ethics for In-House Counsel Redux2
  
• Avoiding Your Own Mud Bath at the Spa; Liability Issues for 2007
• Guest Privacy Update

ATLANTA (2006)

• "Travel is fatal to ... bigotry ..."
• Let's Talk Resorts: Timeshare and Mixed-Use Hotels - (Owner Rental & Resale)
• The State of the Art in Management Contract Negotiations: Key Deal Points for Management and Owners
• US Hotel Industry Review and Forecast
• Ethical Issues from the In-House Counsel Perspective
• Cabernet and Chardonnay on Line: A Look at the Post-Granholm World - (Direct to Consumer Timeline) - (Direct Shipping Litigation)
• Native American Casinos and Sovereignty
• 2006 Chicago Hotel Labor Negotiations

SAN DIEGO (2006)

• Lessons Learned from Katrina, Rita and Wilma
• City Efforts of Collect Transient Occupancy Taxes from Internet Hotel Sellers
• UNITE HERE - The Great Hotel Strike of '06
• The Perils of Overbooking
• Maintaining Franchise Brand and Image Standards

NASHVILLE (2005)

• Inside Hospitality Industry Performance Metrics
• Legal Issues Facing the Airline Industry
• CVB Perspectives
• Music Licensing
• Recent Developments in Electronic Discovery
• Organized Labor and the Hospitality Industry
• Conducting Internal Investigations in the Hospitality Industry
• In-House Counsel Perspectives on Sarbanes-Oxley

WASHINGTON DC (2005)

• Condo Hotels: Opportunities and Pitfalls
• USA Patriot Act - OFAC Requirements
• Adult In-Room Video in the New Environment
• National Restaurant Association - Public Policy Agenda
• Multijurisdictional Practice
• SafePlace

DALLAS (2004)

• ADA Title I
• Managing Risk in Hotel Development, Construction and Renovation Projects
• Liquor Liability Update

SEATTLE (2004)

• Class Action Litigation Affecting the Hospitality Industry
• From Washington to Washington, Hot Topics in the Hospitality Industry
• Conducting Legal Audits for Hospitality Clients
• Internet Issues of Interest to Hospitality Clients
• Harassment Training for Hospitality Clients
• Sample Harassment Policy
• Intellectual Property Issues in the Hospitality Industry
• Protecting Attorney Client Privilege and Electronic Discovery

CHICAGO (2003)

• State/Municipal Wage and Tip Requirements
• Implications of the Bioterrorism Act for the Hospitality Industry
• Tax-Free Exchanges of Property
• Employment Benefits Update: HIPPA, FMLA and More
• Videotaping: Advantages/Disadvantages and Implementation Suggestions
• Selected Survey of State Privacy Laws
• Anger Management and Risk Control: Steps to Take Before and After An Incident

BOSTON (2003)

• Current Developments in Hotel Management
• Duties of Hotels to Guard Against Potential Terrorists
• Alcohol Liability
• Bar Nights, Happy Hours and Tastings
• Use of Hotel Customers' Confidential Information
• Meeting Contract Update - the APEX Initiative
• Hot Labor and Employment Issues

SAN FRANCISCO (2002)

• Arbitration in the Hospitality Industry 'A Cradle to Grave Overview' - AHIA Arbitration Presentation
• The Exempt Status of certain Management/Administrative personnel and recent developments in Dept of Labor enforcement
• Developments in laws governing alcohol beverages
• Ethical issues surrounding the practice of law in the hospitality industry
• Workouts and Foreclosures of Troubled Hotels and Resorts

ST. LOUIS (2002)

• The Effect of 9-11 on Group Sales Contracts - Force Majeure and Other Issues
• The Impact of 9-11 on One Hotel Business - A General Counsel's Prespective
• The Broad Impact of 9-11 on the Hospitality Industry - Short and Long Term Prespectives
• Discussion of Participants led by Industry Consultant Michael Mohoney from Price Waterhouse Coopers
• Where Do We Go From Here - An Organizational Development Discussion led by the Board of Directors and William Finnie
• Risk Prevention in the Hospitality Industry Following 9-11
• Key Employment Issues in the Hospitality Industry Following 9-11
• Immigration Issues facing the hospitality industry with an emphasis on the impact of 9-11

LAS VEGAS (2000)

• General California Law as it Applies to Hotel Operations
• Role and Issues Faced by Convention & Visitors Bureaus
• Premises Security: What's Reasonable Today?
• Violent Crimes, Loss Investigation, Claim Evaluation

NEW ORLEANS (2000)

• Casino Gaming: Anecdotes, Issues, and Discussion
• The Significance of Prompt Investigation for all Matters Related to the Hospitality Industry
• Federal Wage and Hour Law Impact on the Hospitality Industry

PHOENIX (1999)

• U.S. Sellers of Travel Laws
• Workplace Violence - Dealing with Employees of Guests
• Navigating the Maze - A Guide to Federal, State and Local Liquor Laws
• When Does Internet Presence Confer in Personam Jurisdiction?
• Current Labor / Employment Issue
• Arbitration - Panacea or Pratfall?

DENVER (1999)

• State of ADA
• Premises Security liability of Hotels for Injuries to Guests Caused by Violent Crimes
• Contract Litigation Arising from Meetings & Conventions
• Travel Issues
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance
• Arbitration of Discrimination Claim
• Colorado's New Procedures for Handling Attorney Grievance