On September 25-26, 2024, MEP Green Design & Build proudly participated in the Latino Hotel Association (LHA) Annual Conference at the Hilton Dallas/Southlake Town Square in Texas. The event provided an ideal platform for our team to strengthen relationships within the hotel and resort sector while pursuing our goal to expand into the Caribbean and Latin American markets. With an office in Puerto Rico and a deep portfolio of expertise, including over 1,800 completed hotel and resort projects, this conference presented valuable networking opportunities to connect with industry leaders and discuss potential collaborations.
Pat Powell, our Director of Business Development, and Kiana Olmstead, Business Development Manager for the SE US and Caribbean, represented MEPG at the conference. As first-time attendees, we set up a table to showcase our engineering design services and connect with hotel owners, developers, investors, and architects. The conference’s intimate layout encouraged high-quality interactions, allowing us to engage in meaningful discussions with key stakeholders in the hospitality sector.
We also attended several seminars featuring influential speakers, including:
● Lynette Montoya – President & CEO of Latino Hotel Association
● Alexis Meruelo – Chief Vision and Purpose Officer of Meruelo Group
● Mike Lakusta – CEO & Founding Partner of EthniFacts, LLC
● Arlene Ramirez, CHAE, CHE, CHIA, CAHTA – President & Founder of Ascend
● Luigi Major – Managing Director of HVS
● Marina LaBaff – Franchise Founder of Monarch
● John Lancaster – Vice President Emerging Markets Development at Choice Hotels International
These leaders, among others, provided insights into industry trends, development opportunities, and market outlooks that align closely with our goals. The conference highlighted emerging growth areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, reinforcing MEPG’s strategic focus on sustainable, client-centered engineering solutions for the hospitality market in these regions.
As MEP Green Design & Build looks toward future collaborations, we are excited to contribute our expertise to this vibrant and evolving industry. The Latino Hotel Association’s Annual Conference proved to be a valuable experience for our team, laying the groundwork for potential projects and partnerships that align with our mission and our growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.