Asian American Hotel Owners Association - AAHOACON26
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About the event

AAHOACON26

In the city where independence was declared, we gather to honor the freedom to lead, the pursuit of opportunity, and the legacy of those who built an industry from the ground up. As our nation celebrates 250 years, AAHOACON26 marks a milestone of its own — a tribute to generations of hoteliers and a call to the next to carry the torch forward. Join us in Philadelphia for a landmark event that bridges the past, present, and future of our industry.

  • Event Dates - April 8-10, 2026
  • Location - Philadelphia, PA
  • Speaker Budget - $5000-$25,000

AAHOA represents a highly sophisticated ownership community operating in an environment shaped by:

  • Economic volatility and margin pressure
  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges
  • Rapid technology and AI adoption
  • Rising guest expectations without sacrificing human connection

The speakers below were curated to support hotel owners, operators, and association leaders navigating these realities—balancing innovation and automation with the human experience that defines hospitality.

Each speaker has been selected for their ability to:

  • Speak credibly to ownership-level decision-making
  • Respect operational realities in hospitality and franchised environments
  • Deliver insights that are practical, relevant, and adaptable across properties and regions
Dr. Tiffany Moon
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Sustainable Success, Leadership Resilience, and Joy Under Pressure

Dr. Tiffany Moon is a board-certified anesthesiologist, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized keynote speaker whose work bridges high-stakes leadership, sustainable performance, and the human realities behind complex businesses. As an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern Medical Center, she has spent her career operating in environments where clarity under pressure, accountability, and long-term stamina are essential. Her academic work includes more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, and she has been honored as a Distinguished Educator by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

In addition to her medical and academic career, Dr. Moon brings a firsthand understanding of hospitality ownership and development through her family’s involvement in the hotel industry. Her husband, Daniel Moon, leads hotel development for the family-run Sam Moon Group, a prominent real estate and hospitality development firm in Texas. The group’s portfolio includes major hotel projects such as the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District and the former Renaissance Legacy West, now operated as a Graduate by Hilton. Through this proximity, Dr. Moon has deep exposure to the realities of hotel ownership, development cycles, brand partnerships, and the pressures owners face balancing people, performance, and long-term investment strategy.

Dr. Moon is also widely recognized as a television personality, having made history as the first Chinese-American cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Dallas. Her visibility in media adds a unique dimension to her presence on stage, combining credibility, relatability, and cultural relevance. She is the author of Joy Prescriptions, a USA Today #1 bestselling book that offers a science-backed and deeply personal exploration of burnout, perfectionism, and leadership fatigue in high-performing environments. As a keynote speaker, Dr. Moon blends research, lived experience, and compelling storytelling to help owners and executives understand how burnout, decision fatigue, and loss of motivation directly impact judgment, culture, and long-term business outcomes.

  • Speaking Fee: $20,000 + $2,000 flat travel fee + hotel and event city ground transfers
  • Travels from Dallas, TX

Speaker Highlights

Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/tiffany-moon

Speaker Website - https://www.tiffanymoonmd.com/

Why Dr. Tiffany Moon is a fit for AAHOA

  • She brings a rare dual perspective, combining experience in high-stakes leadership environments with direct exposure to hotel ownership and development through her family’s hospitality portfolio.
  • Dr. Moon understands the pressures facing hotel owners managing long-term investments, development timelines, operational complexity, and people leadership in volatile economic conditions.
  • Her work reframes burnout and fatigue as leadership and business risks that impact clarity, decision-making, and organizational performance—highly relevant for owners overseeing multiple properties.
  • She speaks credibly to sustainable success without sacrificing ambition, aligning with AAHOA members focused on longevity, growth, and stewardship of their businesses.
  • Her insights resonate with hospitality leaders navigating workforce strain, motivation challenges, and the personal toll of constant responsibility and accountability.

Recommended Keynote

Joy Prescriptions: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Lead with Clarity, Connection, and Purpose

In high-pressure environments like hospitality ownership, success is often measured by growth, scale, and endurance—yet many leaders quietly experience burnout, fatigue, and a sense of disconnection despite outward achievement. In this inspiring, research-backed keynote, Dr. Tiffany Moon challenges the deeply ingrained belief that perfectionism and relentless hustle are the price of success.

Drawing from her USA Today #1 bestselling book Joy Prescriptions, Dr. Moon shares her personal journey of achievement without fulfillment and the pivotal moments that led her to rewrite her definition of success. Blending compelling storytelling with evidence-based insights from medicine, psychology, and leadership research, she explores how perfectionism quietly erodes clarity, decision-making, and connection—both at work and at home.

Designed for owners and leaders carrying constant responsibility, this keynote offers practical strategies to replace unsustainable expectations with healthier, more effective leadership habits. Audiences will learn how to reconnect with purpose, strengthen relationships, and cultivate joy as a strategic advantage—not a luxury—enabling them to lead with greater clarity, resilience, and long-term effectiveness in both business and life.

Audience takeaways include:
  • How perfectionism shows up in leadership and ownership—and why it undermines performance
  • Practical, science-backed tools for sustaining energy, clarity, and motivation under pressure
  • How authenticity and connection improve leadership effectiveness and decision-making
  • A reframed definition of success that supports longevity, fulfillment, and impact

Highlights

  • Board-certified anesthesiologist and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
  • USA Today #1 bestselling author of Joy Prescriptions.
  • First Chinese-American cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Dallas.
  • Direct connection to hotel ownership and development through the Sam Moon Group, including the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District.
  • Founder and CEO of multiple consumer brands and the LeadHer Summit.
  • Featured in Forbes, USA Today, Variety, and Harper’s Bazaar.

“Tiffany Moon’s Joy Prescriptions is a must-read for anyone seeking more balance, purpose, and joy at home and at work. Her honest take on overcoming perfectionism and building real connections is inspiring and relatable, and her practical advice empowers readers to find happiness on their own terms. This book is a roadmap for anyone looking to take charge of their own happiness.” — BARBARA CORCORAN, Shark on Shark Tank, founder of The Corcoran Group, and author of Shark Tales
“Emotional health is a crucial ingredient to overall well-being. Joy Prescriptions connects the two components of living well, offering actionable insights on living with intention, balance, and vibrancy.” — DR. CASEY MEANS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Energy
Jay Kiew
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Change Fluency™, AI & the Future of Human-Centered Leadership

Jay Kiew is a globally recognized change navigation strategist and keynote speaker known for helping leaders integrate innovation and artificial intelligence without sacrificing culture, connection, or trust. With more than 15 years of experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives, Jay has delivered over $2 billion in measurable impact across organizations by designing and executing mission-critical change programs.

His corporate background includes leadership roles at Deloitte, TELUS, and ADP, where he oversaw complex technology and organizational transformations, including multimillion-dollar digital initiatives and enterprise-scale adoption programs. Jay’s work focuses not on technology itself, but on how leaders and teams adapt to change, build capacity, and maintain alignment in rapidly evolving environments.

A half-blind cancer survivor, Jay brings a deeply human perspective to leadership under pressure. His proprietary Change Fluency™ framework equips executives and teams with practical strategies to navigate uncertainty, reduce resistance, and lead with clarity during periods of disruption. Recognized as a global thought leader in AI, innovation, and change management, Jay regularly advises organizations on how to integrate emerging technologies in ways that enhance, rather than erode, the human experience at work.

  • Speaking Fee: $15,000 + $2,000 flat travel + Hotel
  • Based in Vancouver, Canada

Speaker Highlights

Gravity Speakers Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/jay-kiew

Speaker Website: https://www.changefluency.com/

Why Jay Kiew is a fit for AAHOA

  • He addresses artificial intelligence through a human lens, aligning directly with AAHOA’s need to adopt technology without losing service quality or personal connection.
  • Jay’s focus on leadership decision-making and adaptability resonates with hotel owners evaluating where AI adds value and where it creates risk.
  • His Change Fluency™ framework provides a structured, practical approach for owners and executives navigating disruption across operations, workforce, and guest experience.
  • He helps organizations differentiate themselves in increasingly commoditized markets, a key concern for hospitality owners competing on experience rather than technology alone.
  • His messaging supports long-term competitiveness while acknowledging economic uncertainty and organizational strain.

 

Recommended Keynote

EVOLVE: Innovation in the Age of AI

To be customized around the audience, themes and content direction for the speaker

In this age of artificial intelligence, how will work evolve beyond ChatGPT?

As the world adopts AI, organizations will struggle to find their competitive edge. After all, using the same groundbreaking platforms will result in the same groundbreaking results – ultimately leading to a lack of differentiation between competitors.

Individuals and industries must learn to differentiate themselves in the age of AI – or be disrupted. Amidst the noise, three foundationally distinct skills - Wonder, Vision-Casting and Connection - are emerging.

In this experiential 60-min keynote, innovation strategist Jay Kiew will share how trailblazing organizations are driving disruption in the age of AI. He will also unpack Compass, a leading change navigation playbook that will equip audiences with the strategies needed to skillfully navigate the evolution of work.

Audiences will come away with…
  • Simplify the AI ecosystem, pinpointing the areas of greatest impact and opportunity.
  • Develop the AI fluency necessary to drive disruption at work come Monday.
  • Adapt Compass, the change navigation playbook to nurture successful transformations.
Perfect for…
  • Learners curious about how the AI ecosystem is evolving
  • Leaders who want to embed AI and automation within their organizations
  • Executives looking to understand where market leaders are applying generative AI

Highlights

  • Created over $2B in impact for 400+ executives through transformation initiatives.
  • Former leader at Deloitte, TELUS, and ADP overseeing enterprise change programs.
  • Recognized global thought leader in AI, innovation, and change management by Thinkers360.
  • Project Management Institute Future50 honoree for work in AI adoption.
  • World’s youngest Distinguished Toastmaster at age 19.
  • Regularly featured in Forbes, USA Today, Financial Times, and Globe and Mail.

"Jay Kiew delivers an energetic, thought-provoking, and highly engaging keynote on AI, breaking down barriers to adoption and inspiring new perspectives on technology. His deep knowledge, humor, and dynamic presentation style keep audiences captivated, regardless of their AI expertise. Jay makes AI practical and accessible, sparking curiosity about how it can be leveraged in the workplace. His session is insightful, entertaining, and packed with valuable takeaways, making it a must-see for anyone looking to embrace the future of AI." - National Safety Council
"Definitely makes you think about innovation in a different perspective for the construction industry. Engaging, inspiring, educational. Excellent presentation. Amazing speaker, engaging and made it relevant to the group Upbeat, engaging, relevant. Jay was a thought provoking and charismatic speaker. Love how Jay invited us to drive change by thinking differently."  - Concrete Ontario
"It's been truly amazing to see how the Citizen centric team has contributed to shaping Richmond's Public Works and Parks supervisory leadership training program over the past few years. Jay has made a substantial impact on our teams, having developed over 500 of our supervisors. As our supervisors have brought PELTI to life, I can see the ripple effects in making us the most appealing, livable and well-managed community in Canada." - John Irving, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Richmond
"Jay's leadership training and strategic facilitation has been transformative for the City's Public Works department, driving a substantial shift in our organizational culture. Jay has guided our teams to understand our broader corporate values, fostering an enriching environment of collaboration across supervisory teams. Jay embedded mentorship programs right into our leadership development programs, which have been integral to this process, providing support and camaraderie as we navigate through challenging scenarios. The positive influence of Jay's relatable and empathetic approach is evident, working closely with our leadership team toco-create curriculum and content. His unique ability to balance corporate requirements with understanding real-life challenges has ushered in a new era of higher expectations and commitment within our department." - Suzanne Bycraft, Director, Public Works, City of Richmond
Shira Miller
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Engagement, Optimism, and Culture as Competitive Advantage

Shira Miller is an award-winning keynote speaker, executive coach, and Chief Communications Officer of National DCP, the $3 billion supply chain organization serving Dunkin’ franchisees across nearly 10,000 locations. Her career began in hospitality with Days Inns of America, and she has remained closely connected to hotel and franchise associations throughout her professional journey.

Shira’s work focuses on activating engagement, optimism, and leadership clarity during periods of constant change. As a two-time TEDx speaker and author of Free and Clear, she blends personal storytelling with practical leadership frameworks to help organizations strengthen culture, retention, and performance without falling into toxic positivity.

Her signature Activating Remarkable™ framework equips leaders with tools to recognize individuals behind their roles, foster trust, and sustain motivation in high-pressure environments. Shira’s approach resonates strongly in hospitality settings, where culture, recognition, and communication directly influence service quality, employee retention, and guest satisfaction.

  • Speaking Fee - $10,000, plus $1500 flat travel buyout, plus Organizer to provide Hotel Accommodations.
  • Travels from Atlanta GA

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6iLKT0gZ7s

Speaker Website - https://shiramiller.com/

Speaker Reel - https://shiramiller.com/reel/

Why Shira Miller is a fit for AAHOA

  • She brings hospitality and franchise experience that aligns with AAHOA’s ownership and association audience.
  • Her work addresses engagement and optimism as strategic drivers, not soft concepts, which resonates with owners managing people and performance.
  • Shira understands the realities of leading through uncertainty and change fatigue in service-driven industries.
  • Her messaging supports leaders in maintaining culture and morale without ignoring economic and operational pressures.
  • She offers practical, repeatable frameworks applicable across multi-property and regional operations.

Suggested Topic

Activating Remarkable™: Build a Culture of Optimism, Engagement, and Success

In a world of nonstop change, uncertainty has become the new normal — and it’s taking a toll. A 2025 Deloitte study found that two-thirds of employees feel overwhelmed by the pace of change, and half worry they’re being left behind. The result? Burnout, disengagement, and diminished performance.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. When leaders know how to activate what makes people remarkable, they transform exhaustion into energy — and uncertainty into opportunity.

In this energizing and practical keynote, Shira Miller — Chief Communications Officer, two-time TEDx speaker, and executive coach — shares her proven three-step Activating Remarkable™ Framework to unlock the full potential of individuals and teams. Through powerful storytelling, real-world business examples, and actionable strategies, Shira helps leaders and organizations reignite engagement, spark innovation, and navigate change with confidence.

Audiences will learn how to:
  • Inspire engagement by recognizing the individual behind the role
  • Spark innovation through optimism and possibility-driven leadership
  • Navigate change with clarity, purpose, and resilience

When your leaders learn how to activate the remarkable in others, they create workplaces that thrive — achieving stronger results, higher engagement, and lasting success.

Participants will discover:
  • Build a culture of optimism, engagement, and success — without falling into toxic positivity
  • Recognize and see the individual behind every role, creating authentic trust and connection
  • Spark optimism and possibility to turn uncertainty into innovation
  • Create opportunities for growth that strengthen motivation, inclusion, and performance
  • Lead with authenticity and purpose to inspire lasting confidence in themselves and others
Organizational Benefits:
  • A more engaged, motivated, and resilient workforce
  • Stronger alignment on purpose and strategic goals
  • Higher retention and lower turnover, fueled by recognition-first leadership
  • Greater innovation and adaptability across teams
  • A culture where optimism and growth drive measurable business results
Audience Benefits:
  • Renewed sense of optimism and personal purpose
  • Practical, repeatable tools to activate potential in themselves and others
  • Greater fulfillment, clarity, and confidence to lead through change
  • Mindset shifts that transform pressure into possibility

Highlights

  • Chief Communications Officer at National DCP, a $3B supply chain organization.
  • Two-time TEDx speaker and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach.
  • Author of Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want.
  • More than 40 industry awards for employee engagement and culture transformation.
  • Former hospitality professional with early career roots at Days Inns of America.
  • Featured in Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, and major national publications.

"I highly recommend Shira as a speaker, coach and motivator. If the you have a big group of people, she will be able to bring intimacy, interactivity and innovation to the group faster and better than nearly anyone I've seen" - Stephen Michael Brown, President, Cookerely Public Relations
"Shira was energetic and fun. The entire room left with a handful of tools on how to becoming more resilient and a healthy dose of positivity" - Wendy Leveillee, Sr. VP, National DCP
Scott Greenberg
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Owner-Focused Leadership, Workforce Performance, and Resilience

Scott Greenberg is a hospitality and franchise expert, bestselling author, and former multi-unit franchise owner whose work focuses on the human factors that drive business performance. As an international award-winning operator recognized for management excellence and customer service, Scott brings firsthand experience balancing people, profitability, and operational demands.

He is the author of The Wealthy Franchisee and Stop the Shift Show, and a frequent contributor to Entrepreneur, Nation’s Restaurant News, and Franchise Business Review. Scott’s work helps leaders build high-performance teams by strengthening mindset, emotional intelligence, and leadership clarity—especially in industries with large hourly workforces.

Scott’s keynotes combine humor, real-world business insight, and practical strategies designed to improve decision-making, engagement, and resilience. His experience resonates deeply with franchisees and hotel owners navigating labor challenges, market shifts, and the pressure to maintain consistency across multiple locations.

  • Speaking Fee - $20,000, plus $2000 flat travel fee for airfare, ground travel and expenses. Hotel is additional
  • Travels from Southern CA

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://vimeo.com/874904541?fl=pl&fe=sh

Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/scott-greenberg

Speaker Website - https://scottgreenberg.com/

Why Scott Greenberg is a fit for AAHOA

  • He speaks directly to hotel owners and franchisees with lived operational experience.
  • His focus on workforce performance aligns with AAHOA’s need to improve retention and engagement.
  • Scott addresses resilience and leadership clarity during periods of disruption and uncertainty.
  • His practical, relatable approach resonates with mid-scale and economy hotel owners.
  • He bridges emotional intelligence with business results, reinforcing culture without sacrificing accountability.

Suggested Topic

You’ve Got This! The Human Factors of Resilience & Results

Equip your team with actionable strategies to face adversity and come out stronger. Learn the art of Focused Control and strategies for collective strength and support.

In a world that’s constantly changing, resilience isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. Scott Greenberg doesn’t just inspire; he equips your team with actionable strategies to face adversity head-on and come out stronger. From understanding the psychology of decision-making to fostering a culture of support, this keynote is a toolkit for resilience and results.

This keynote helps leaders & teams who:
  • Are navigating the turbulent waters of market change and organizational
  • setbacks
  • Recognize the emotional pitfalls affecting their decision-making and seek practical solutions
  • Want to reignite the passion and performance of their teams
Attendees will walk away with tools to:
  • Master the art of “Focused Control” to cut through the noise and prioritize effectively
  • Learn the “Trigger-to-Trouble” process and how to disrupt it for better decision-making
  • Implement team-building strategies that foster a culture of collective strength and support

Read What Scott Says About Resilience & Mindset - https://scottgreenberg.com/speaking/developing-a-resilient-mindset-overcoming-adversity-adapting-to-change/

Think, Lead, Serve

How Mindset & Culture Lead to Profit & Performance

Discover the secret to skyrocketing profits and performance. This game-changing program will guide you through strategies that elevate your operations and organizational ethos.

In the fast-paced world of business, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds of daily operations. But what if the secret to skyrocketing profits and performance lies in the intangible elements of mindset and culture? This isn’t just a keynote; it’s a game-changer. Scott Greenberg will guide you through actionable strategies that will elevate not just your operations but your entire organizational ethos.

This keynote helps leaders & managers who:
  • Feel trapped in the never-ending cycle of operational demands
  • Are grappling with a disengaged or underperforming workforce
  • Aim to transform customer interactions into lasting relationships
Attendees will walk away with tools to:
  • Master the art of operating from your “point of clarity” to shatter performance barriers
  • Decode the DNA of culture: It’s more than just “being nice”
  • Transform your customer service from transactional to transformational

Read What Scott Says About Culture & Peak Performance - https://scottgreenberg.com/speaking/how-mindset-culture-impact-profit-performance/

“I wish to compliment you on the seminar you gave to our managers and employees. The esprit de corps you rejuvenated has infected our company. Many of the recommendations you gave our people have already been put in place. I’ve seen and overheard apologies being made between coworkers. You can’t help but hear people greeting each other by name. I could go on and on about the changes in our company since your presentation.
The research you did to personalize the presentations was overwhelming. Everyone who heard it knew that the seminars were for EDI and EDI alone. I am extremely pleased that your comments will be used in our employee work environment as well as
their personal lives. I was shocked by the amount of employees who came up to me to thank me for hiring you. You have undoubtably helped EDI Express to become a better company. On behalf of my partners, I thank you.” - EDI Express
“Thank you for speaking at our 2022 Global Franchise Conference in San Antonio, TX. Before we had the chance to meet, I read your book, The Wealthy Franchisee, and knew you were a terrific choice as our keynote speaker. Your wealth of knowledge and invaluable advice greatly engaged our franchisees, Team Members, Board of Directors and more. As it relates specifically to franchisees, they appreciate hearing from a leader whose been in their shoes and knows the challenges they’re facing every day. Our franchisees were left feeling invigorated and inspired from your messages of teamwork, how to improve the overall guest experience and how to strive for success.
It was quickly apparent that you had done your research on our brand and tailored your presentation to suit IHOP and our franchisees. With your help, our franchisees are ready to get back in the restaurants and continue to grow their business. Thank you for motivating our audience and arming them with tools to become more profitable and drive more traffic. You were a fantastic addition to our GFC, and we’d like to express our deepest gratitude.” - President, IHOP
Kaihan Krippendorff
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Travel & Hospitality Trends + AI Strategy for Owner-Led Growth and Differentiation

Kaihan Krippendorff is a globally recognized authority on strategy, innovation, transformation, and emerging business trends—known for delivering rigorously researched insights paired with practical tools leaders can apply immediately. He is the founder of Outthinker, a global think-tank of chief strategy, innovation, growth, and transformation officers and executives from large public, private, and Fortune 500 companies. Each year, Kaihan conducts hundreds of executive-level conversations and proprietary research that helps organizations make sense of disruption, reduce risk, and identify where to invest for long-term growth.

A former McKinsey consultant and bestselling author of six books—including Outthink the Competition, Driving Innovation from Within, and Proximity—Kaihan has been recognized by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus as one of the top 20 global management thinkers in strategy and innovation. His work has helped create more than $3.0 billion in new annual recurring revenue, and he is a sought-after strategic advisor for major organizations including Aetna-CVS, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, Procter & Gamble, IBM, and Yahoo!. His ideas are also frequently published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and other leading outlets, reinforcing his credibility as both a practitioner and a thought leader.

For AAHOA, Kaihan offers a particularly strong fit because he is not only a strategy and AI voice—he is also deeply experienced in the travel and hospitality ecosystem. His work has brought him to more than 60 countries and nearly 2 million travel miles, giving him a firsthand consumer lens into the guest journey, service expectations, and the realities of hotel operations at scale. Professionally, he has worked with major travel and hospitality brands including United Airlines, Choice Hotels, Marriott, Hilton, and IMEX. He brings a grounded, owner-relevant perspective on the forces reshaping the industry: digitization, shifting travel behavior post-COVID, personalization, labor shortages, and the rise of non-traditional competitors.

As a keynote speaker, Kaihan is known for high-energy delivery and for leaving audiences with frameworks—not just inspiration. He helps owners and executives reframe disruption as opportunity, identify where technology and AI can create efficiency and advantage, and protect the human experience that differentiates hospitality brands in an increasingly automated world.

  • Speaker Fee - $30,000, plus Travel buyout of $2,000 (covers business airfare and ground for both home and event city), Hotel in addition.
  • Travels from Miami, FL

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mqwExE-yY&t=6s
Speaker Website - https://kaihan.net/travel-and-hospitality/#trends

Why Kaihan Krippendorff is a fit for AAHOA

  • He directly addresses the strategic pressures AAHOA members face—volatility, labor constraints, shifting travel behavior, and non-traditional competitors—through a clear, actionable strategy lens built for owners and executives.
  • Kaihan brings credible travel and hospitality experience, having worked with brands like Choice Hotels, Marriott, and Hilton, and he speaks fluently about both guest expectations and operational realities.
  • He helps leaders cut through AI hype with practical frameworks that clarify where technology creates real business value while reinforcing the “people are the differentiator” mindset that Sean emphasized.
  • His approach is ideal for a committee-led association audience because it balances big-picture trends with tools and takeaways that members can apply across multiple properties and portfolios.
  • He delivers proven, research-driven insights that help owners differentiate in a commoditized market—where competitive advantage increasingly comes from experience, execution, and smart adoption of technology.

Suggested Topic

Outthink the Competition: Proven tools and future-ready insights to win the future

We live in an accelerated age of technology, disruption, volatility, and uncertainty. It demands that we lead our teams and organizations in radically new ways. Success depends not only on our own ability to think and act strategically, but on our ability to enable our team to think boldly, think differently, share ideas, and act.  

Next-era leaders and teams need practical tools, structures, and frameworks that liberate them to achieve better business outcomes and problem-solve using AI, technology, contextual knowledge, and their own human creativity. Companies that activate this Outthinker Mindset are proven to be 6X more likely to recruit and retain top talent and 3X more likely to outperform financially – faster revenue growth, higher profit margins, greater business value.

Top 20 globally recognized management thinker, best-selling author, podcast host, and Founder of Outthinker, Kaihan Krippendorff helps you Outthink the Competition with his proven 5-step framework and toolset that can be applied immediately to move to the next level of success.  

Participants will leave with:
  • Insights into emerging strategic technology, trends, and approaches being used by top companies leading their markets
  • The Outthinker IDEAS Process: A proven framework for strategic thinking and driving growth that reduces risk and creates optionality.  
  • Actionable strategies for future readiness  
  • Clarity, confidence, and energy to move forward

Winning with AI, Technology, and People: Leading in the Age of Intelligent Systems

Leading in the Age of Intelligent Systems

“Technology doesn’t replace people — it amplifies those who know how to lead and think differently.”

Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping every industry, redefining how we work, make decisions, and compete. Yet amid all the hype around data, platforms, and algorithms, one truth remains: people are the differentiator. From the boardroom to the front line, success in this new era depends on our ability to integrate technology’s power with human creativity, intuition, and strategic thinking.  

In this forward-looking keynote, globally recognized business thinker, podcaster, and author Kaihan Krippendorff, offers insights and proven tools that you can use to make sense of AI and emerging technologies from both a top management perspective and a personal, day-to-day lens.

Participants will leave with:
  • Understanding of how AI, data, and automation are transforming their own business
  • A proven framework and tools that leverage and pull the best from both people and technology
  • A sense of agency and mindset of urgency/desire to accelerate use of AI and technology in their work
  • Insights of how to build teams and cultures that use technology to create efficiency and better business outcomes

Highlights

  • Founder of Outthinker, a global think-tank of strategy, innovation, growth, and transformation executives from leading companies.
  • Recognized by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus as a Top 20 global management thinker in strategy and innovation.
  • Former McKinsey consultant; strategic advisor whose work has helped create $3B+ in new annual recurring revenue.
  • Bestselling author of six books, including Outthink the Competition, Driving Innovation from Within, and Proximity.
  • Host of multiple strategy podcasts, including Outthinkers and The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast, reaching business leaders globally.
  • Deep travel and hospitality experience: has worked with United Airlines, Choice Hotels, Marriott, Hilton, and IMEX, and brings firsthand insight from extensive global travel and hospitality exposure.

“Kaihan shows how organizations can innovate, build, and adapt for the future.” - Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedIn and Co-author of Blitzscaling