HR in Hospitality(TM) Conference Year Four Delivers More

HORSHAM, PA--(Marketwire - August 24, 2009) - The National HR in Hospitality™ Conference released its full conference agenda today on www.HRinHospitality.com, and it is clear to see that it was built with today's economic struggles in mind, offering attendees more bang for their buck. The fourth annual event, produced by Human Resource Executive® Conferences, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Cornell University ILR School, will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas, February 22 - 24, 2010. It is the only event where hundreds of high-level hotel, casino and restaurant professionals gather every year to receive practical advice from strategic, operational, academic and legal leaders in hospitality HR that can be put to immediate use when they return to their properties.

Divided into four segments -- HR Strategy, HR Operations, Employment Law and Labor Relations -- the program will take on a different structure than in past years, providing a greater variety of educational settings to suit different learning styles.

"We've changed the format for the 2010 conference to increase the breadth and depth of information attendees will receive," said Claude Werder, vice president for Human Resource Executive® Conferences. "Every attendee will have the opportunity to attend a plenary session and one breakout session in each segment. We've also added discussion roundtables on the first two days of the conference as well as an additional networking reception."

That being said, the best way to maximize learning and cover it all is by bringing a colleague or team. Teams of three or more qualify for hefty savings, and individuals save $350.00 with the Pre-Early Bird Discount, if they register by January 8, 2010. Registration for the event is now open at www.HRinHospitality.com.

Upping the ante to five plenary sessions this year, conference speakers are preparing to impart workplace-proven solutions to urgent HR challenges -- and distinct ways these solutions have been applied within specific industry sectors. "The business environment has never been tougher in our lifetimes than it is now, and the hospitality industry has unique challenges distinct from other industries," said Werder. "This is the only conference where hospitality HR professionals can learn from the best and brightest in their industry."

Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels Jonathan M. Tisch will kick off the conference in the HR Strategy plenary session, How Loews Employees Create Customers for Life. Following a luncheon in the Expo Hall, attendees can hear two professors of law, one in-house counsel and two outside attorneys review critical employment law cases from the past year and what they mean for HR practices and policies in the Employment Law plenary session, Top Cases and Legal Trends Impacting Hospitality HR Practitioners.

On Day 2 of the conference, CEO and President of Travelport Jeff Clarke will demonstrate how savvy HR teams use social media to project their employment brands and recruit in the marketplace during the HR Operations plenary session, For Better or Worse: How Social Media is Impacting the Hospitality Industry. And, for the first time ever, the thought-provoking Cornell University HR Executive Roundtable will be open to all conference attendees. More than 20 nationally recognized experts will address two of the hottest HR topics in the industry, yet to be announced.

"The Roundtable is even more vital this year because of our current climate -- both legislative and economic," said David Sherwyn, Associate Professor of Law at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. "From a legal perspective we will examine the increasingly changing landscape of legislative, administrative, and judicial initiatives; and from an operational standpoint we will discuss how to address human resource needs in a volatile economic climate."

The third and final day of the conference will feature a blue-ribbon panel comprised of a leading HR executive, academics and labor attorneys, moderated by a senior governmental affairs officer from the AH&LA, in the Labor Relations plenary session. In The 365-Day Organizing Campaign, they will examine the impact of EFCA on labor and employee relations in the industry.

Each segment will also offer several 75-minute, in-depth training sessions to expand on the plenary sessions. These breakout sessions will focus on HR challenges, best practices and legal issues specific to hospitality. In addition, sector-specific discussion sessions will facilitate question-and-answer dialogue between attendees and speakers on hot-button issues and potential solutions.

Between sessions on Days 1 and 2, attendees can enjoy refreshment breaks, luncheons and a reception in the Expo Hall while learning about products and services related to: Benefits Administration, Compensation Systems & Services, Diversity Hiring/Compliance Training, Employee Assistance Programs, Foodservices, HR Consulting, HRO, Insurance, Payroll Software & Services, Recruitment, Retirement & 401(K) Services, Safety & Security Services, Training, Wealth Benefits & Group Life, Disability & Workers' Compensation, and more.

From beginning to end, attendees will benefit from a well-rounded educational experience filled with strategies they can apply in their own HR unit to weather the current economic downturn and prepare for the recovery. "These are tough times, and this event was specifically designed to help in as many ways as possible," said Werder.

For registration details, including Pre-Early Bird Registration and the conference's full agenda, visit www.HRinHospitality.com. If you would like to hear more about team discounts, please contact Carolyn Hinson at chinson@lrp.com. For exhibitor and sponsorship information, visit www.HRinHospitality.com or contact Fred Kurst, Trade Show Manager: Southeast, Southwest, West, N.Y. and Europe, at (703) 393-8304; or Nancy Sommar, Trade Show Manager: New England, Midwest, Pa., N.J. and Canada, at (215) 784-0910, ext. 6231.

About the HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo

HR in Hospitality™ is developed and produced by Human Resource Executive® Conferences, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Cornell University ILR School, and endorsed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. HR in Hospitality™ is the premier event specifically for professionals in human resource management, employment law and labor relations in the hospitality industry.

In addition to the conference, the HR in Hospitality™ Expo Hall is open for two days and is designed to further assist attendees through exposure to products and services related to benefits, HRO, legal, payroll, screening and assessment, training and recruiting.

About HRE Conferences

Thousands of HR professionals network, research workforce solutions and make buying decisions at the three annual Human Resource Executive® events: HR Technology® Conference & Exposition, September 30 - October 2, 2009; HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo, February 22 - 24, 2010; and HR Week™, April 12 - 14, 2010. More information about these conferences can be accessed at www.hreconferences.com.