Hilton garden inn Brand Conference HGI meets up in Orlando Coming off a successful year in 2014, the senior executive team at Hilton Garden Inn convened its 2015 Global Brand Conference in Orlando last month, intent on laying the foundation for more success this year and into the future. ◾1 The global head of Hilton Garden Inn, Adrian Kurre (left), and Hilton Worldwide EVP of global brands, Jim Holthouser (right), present GM Billy Meadows the 2014 Hotel of the Year and Connie Award North America Award on behalf of the Hilton Garden Inn Mobile East Bay/Daphne, Ala., which received this honor for the second consecutive year. ◾2 Hilton Garden Inn recognized its highest achieving properties. Nearly 50 individual and hotel awards were presented to recipients chosen from the brand’s portfolio of more than 600 hotels worldwide. ◾3 Hilton Garden Inn donated six original art murals as part of a local effort with Hands On Orlando. At the conference, more than 1,500 team members colored an individual tile that contributed to the creation of the murals. Hands On Orlando helped to distribute the murals to local non-profits and schools. Travel Future Lab Interactive think tank for young travelers On January 16, the Young Travel Professionals held their first ever Travel Future Lab at the Park Hyatt New York, in conjunction with Hyatt Hotels. The day-long conference was fashioned after an interactive think tank, and focused on the next generation of travelers and how brands can better understand and appeal to them. ◾1 Left to right, from Hyatt Hotels Corp.: Gus Vonderheide, VP of global sales; Tristan Dowell, VP of global sales-luxury and consortia; and Ty Helms, SVP of global sales. ◾2 On stage, from left: Ryan O’Rourke, training manager for Jet Set Viagens; Samara Doucette, sales manager, east coast, for Rocco Forte Hotels; Hyatt’s Tristan Dowell; and Michael Holtz, owner and CEO of SmartFlyer. PHOTOS COURTESY Stephen Brashear PHOTOS COURTESY Hyatt Hotels & Resorts