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Let’s face it—building hotels these days is no small feat. Rising costs, tighter timelines, and evolving guest expectations make every decision feel high-stakes. That’s why over 100 hotel design, construction, and facilities leaders gathered for HotelSpaces 2024 at the historic La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs. This wasn’t some generic tradeshow. It was 2 ½ days of candid conversations, meaningful connections, and practical strategies to rethink how we build for the future of hospitality.
Starting Strong
HotelSpaces 2024 kicked off with activities that set the tone for connection and a bit of friendly competition. A lively pickleball tournament brought both skill and camaraderie to the court, Meanwhile, a scavenger hunt through Old Town La Quinta turned the streets into a playful adventure, with teams racing to solve challenges and do head-to-head challenges against other teams.
Sunday Icebreaker Activity - Pickleball & a scavenger hunt
The day ended on an inspiring note with a keynote from former UFC fighter turned humanitarian Justin Wren, who shared how his work with Pygmy communities in the Congo is building not just wells but futures.
Talks That Sparked Conversations
The talks at HotelSpaces showcased what the future of building and construction could look like:
- Lane Sanders, Development Director at El Cosmico, and Graeme Waitzkin, COO at ICON, showcased their 3D-printed hotel underway in Marfa, TX. Beyond the innovative construction techniques and materials, they shared how they're preserving the soul of El Cosmico while reimagining it for a new location.
- Andrew Connorton, VP of Programming + Design at Aparium Group, shared the story behind Denver’s Populus Hotel, one of the country's first carbon-positive properties, emphasizing how thoughtful design can meet sustainability goals.
- Ben Uyeda, Co-Founder of RESET Hotel, took transparency to a new level, sharing real-time wins and challenges from his modular Joshua Tree project. By testing design concepts on social media, he's letting future guests shape the hotel's development - a refreshingly open approach to hotel design.
L to R: Lane Sanders & Graeme Waitzkin, Andrew Connorton, and Ben Uyeda
Connections That Count
At the heart of HotelSpaces were the one-on-one sourcing meetings, a cornerstone of what makes the event unique. These sessions gave both suppliers and attendees the chance to dive into meaningful conversations, to understand each other’s needs, and explore solutions together:
“HotelSpaces prioritizes networking in a way that is really unique. The relaxed, one-on-one sessions really allow industry leaders to connect from a “real world” perspective. This is an event that you can come to and leave with great relationships, whether there is a business opportunity or not.” -Vice President of Renovations, IMR Hotels
"Good meetings with several clients and the ice breaker at the beginning was a good way to connect." -Head of Sales, Digital Solutions Group, Watts Water
Mastermind Discussions
The masterminds are where peers truly connect. These roundtable discussions brought together industry leaders who face similar daily challenges - from managing brand standards to project management to sustainability goals. Here everyone could openly share wins, brainstorm solutions, and learn from other’s who get it.
“Efficient Multi-Project Management Strategies was excellent! A chatty group with everyone truly offering valuable assistance across the table...much appreciated!” -Director of Project Mangement, Xanterra
What’s Next
HotelSpaces was all about making meaningful connections, sharing innovative ideas, and having a blast while doing it. Mark your calendar now for when HotelSpaces heads to Scottsdale, AZ, November 2-4, 2025, at the new Caesars Republic Hotel. We can't wait to keep the energy and collaboration going.
The new Caesars Republic Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ
Catch highlights on our YouTube channel and follow us on LinkedIn for what's next because the best ideas in hospitality happen when leaders come together.
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