HSMAI’s 2026 Mike Leven Leadership Conference Heads to LA

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International is set to bring its 2026 HSMAI Mike Leven Leadership Conference to Los Angeles in March, drawing chapter leaders from across the Americas to focus on the future of hospitality leadership.

Exclusive Leadership Gathering Comes to Los Angeles

According to publicly available event information, the 2026 HSMAI Mike Leven Leadership Conference will take place March 17 to 18 at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport. The invitation-only gathering is designed for chapter leaders from HSMAI’s Americas region and is supported by the Michael and Andrea Leven Foundation as a recognition of volunteer leadership across the association’s network.

Event listings indicate that the conference will convene more than 100 hospitality leaders from over 30 chapters, along with members of the Americas board, commercial advisory boards, rising leader councils, and leadership alumni. Organizers position the meeting as a forum where senior decision-makers in sales, marketing, revenue, distribution, and operations can align on priorities for the year ahead.

Positioning Los Angeles as host reflects the city’s role as a gateway for both international and domestic travel, with the airport hotel setting expected to make access easier for chapter representatives flying in from across the region. The Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles is frequently used for airline and travel-industry events, offering large meeting spaces tailored to conferences of this size.

Registration details published by HSMAI Americas show a tiered fee structure designed to support broad participation from the chapter network, including complimentary access for collegiate presidents and reduced rates for current chapter presidents, presidents-elect, and managing directors.

Focus on Skills, Strategy, and Chapter Impact

Conference descriptions highlight a program built around keynote presentations, collaborative working sessions, and interactive roundtable discussions. The stated goal is to provide chapter leaders with practical tools and fresh perspectives to apply in their local markets, from membership engagement and programming to commercial strategy and advocacy.

Previous editions of the Mike Leven Leadership Conference have emphasized sharing best practices among chapters, with case studies on member recruitment, educational content, and partnerships. Reports on earlier conferences show that chapters have been recognized for innovative events, scholarship initiatives, and creative approaches to sponsorship and community connection.

For 2026, HSMAI’s broader agenda around commercial strategy, data-driven decision-making, and the rise of artificial intelligence in distribution and marketing is expected to shape the conversations. The leadership conference is scheduled in the same month as several other major hospitality and investment gatherings, positioning it within a dense calendar of industry dialogue on growth and transformation.

Available materials from HSMAI’s partnership prospectus describe the Mike Leven gathering as less about short-term deal-making and more about long-range influence, alignment, and the strengthening of local leadership capacity across the Americas.

A Platform for Recognition and Community Building

A key feature of the Mike Leven Leadership Conference historically has been its role as a stage for honoring standout chapter performance. Published coverage of prior years highlights the Frank W. Berkman “Best of the Best” Awards, which recognize chapters for achievements in membership growth, leadership, programming, and operational excellence.

These awards, named for a former HSMAI executive director, have become a benchmark for chapter success, with winning chapters frequently citing the recognition in local communications and member outreach. Public information from recent conferences shows that chapters have been acknowledged for large-scale fundraising events, educational series, and initiatives that link academia and industry.

The 2026 conference prospectus indicates that an awards luncheon remains a central element of the program, with dedicated sponsor opportunities tied to that ceremony. For attendees, the luncheon is presented as both a celebration of peer accomplishments and a chance to gather practical ideas that can be adapted in their own markets.

Beyond formal recognition, the Los Angeles event is positioned as a setting for informal networking among leaders who often face similar challenges in different destinations, from talent retention and revenue volatility to shifting traveler expectations and evolving digital marketing channels.

Strategic Value for Partners and Stakeholders

HSMAI’s 2026 partnership materials frame the Mike Leven Leadership Conference as a concentrated touchpoint for organizations seeking deeper engagement with decision-makers across the hospitality commercial disciplines. The event’s scale is modest compared with large trade shows, but the audience profile is heavily weighted toward director-level and above leaders overseeing sales, marketing, revenue, and distribution.

Prospectus language emphasizes opportunities for sponsors to align with HSMAI’s mission and to connect with a network of leaders who influence budgets, brand strategy, and local programming. Offerings include visibility at the conference, participation in select sessions, and year-round exposure through chapter program directories and leadership communications.

For hotel companies, technology providers, destination marketing organizations, and education partners, the Los Angeles meeting is presented as a way to build relationships within HSMAI’s chapter ecosystem rather than focusing solely on transactional outcomes. By engaging with chapter boards and volunteer leaders, partners can position themselves as contributors to the development of the next generation of hospitality leadership.

The 2026 edition arrives as the industry continues to navigate structural changes in distribution, revenue optimization, and traveler behavior. By gathering its chapter leadership community in a global gateway city, HSMAI is aiming to leverage the Mike Leven Leadership Conference as a catalyst for alignment on how local chapters can support members through another year of rapid change.