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State of the Industry

  • August 19, 2026   4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

On August 19, hospitality professionals from across the DMV came together for the 2026 HSMAI Washington DC State of the Industry, an afternoon of timely market intelligence, industry perspectives and connections with peers.

The annual program brought together leaders from across the hospitality and travel landscape to examine the trends shaping business today and the considerations that should be informing 2027 planning.

A Look at the Trends Shaping Hospitality in the DMV

Throughout the program, attendees heard perspectives on the forces influencing travel and hotel performance across Washington, DC and the broader region, including:

  • Washington, DC hotel performance and forward-looking demand trends
  • Meetings and events activity and evolving booking patterns
  • Air travel and developments impacting Washington Dulles International Airport
  • Traveler behavior and market demand
  • Commercial opportunities and challenges facing hotel leaders
  • The growing role of technology and data in hospitality strategy

Rather than focusing on any one discipline, the conversation provided a broader view of the marketplace and the interconnected factors influencing sales, marketing, revenue and commercial strategy.

Insights from Industry Leaders

The 2026 State of the Industry featured perspectives from:

  • Jessica Carey, Vice President, Customer Operations, Knowland
  • Richard Golinowski, Vice President and Airport Manager, Washington Dulles International Airport
  • Blake Herring, VP, Travel Intelligence Solutions Consultants Americas, Amadeus
  • Jennifer Hill, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy, Kalibri
  • Robin McClain, Chief Marketing Officer, Destination DC

Together, the speakers provided attendees with timely context for navigating the remainder of 2026 and beginning to plan for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

“My first HSMAI DC SOTI event was nothing short of time well spent, connecting with like-minded hospitality leaders, meeting new faces, and gaining timely, relevant insights from an exceptional group of industry experts. I’m already looking forward to the next HSMAI DC event!”

— Mei Luo, Global Luxury Brand & Marketing Leader

Continue the Conversation with HSMAI Washington DC

The State of the Industry is one of several HSMAI Washington DC programs designed to bring hospitality professionals together around timely market intelligence, practical ideas and meaningful industry connections.

Thank you to our speakers, partners and everyone who joined us for the 2026 event. We look forward to continuing the conversation at upcoming HSMAI Washington DC programs.

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