Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association

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Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association

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Welcome to the MLHA page. We represent the interests of professionals in the lodging, hospitality and tourism industries across Montana.

The Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association represents lodging professionals who own, manage or work for hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfast inns and our new Hospitality Council includes several tourism organizations. The lodging membership comprises hundreds of businesses statewide and we strive to maintain an active Sales & Marketing Council as well as a strong Allied Membership. The association is affiliated with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) located in Washington, D.C. This national organization allows members to access programs made available by AH&LA including the Information Resource Center and the Educational Institute where members receive the latest information on staff training opportunities. In addition, AH&LA also provides members with many lodging related publications. For additional information please visit our website: http://www.mtlha.com/index.php

10/15/2026

Come for the connections. Stay for what’s happening across Montana tourism.

The 2026 MLHA Trade Show opens Tuesday night with one of the conference's most social events: our Trade Show Grand Opening & Reception, sponsored by Stockman Bank.
Vendors are competing in the "Your Favorite Place in Montana" booth-decorating contest; attendees can join the "Characters from Montana’s History" costume contest.

Then on Wednesday, join us for the Montana Tourism Luncheon, sponsored by Ecolab, featuring tourism industry perspectives, the presentation of the Allied Member of the Year Award, and vendor drawings.

Three days. Plenty of reasons to be in Billings.

10/13/2026

Five speakers. Big ideas. One conference.

The 2026 MLHA Conference & Trade Show brings together a speaker lineup focused on the issues hospitality leaders navigate every day, from the guest experience and team leadership to resilience, technology, and operations.

✔️ Mandy Murry — Enhancing the Guest Journey
✔️ Karen Miller — The Science of Making Magical Moments + Leading with the Brain
✔️ Justin Lewis — Managing Through Chaos + The Leadership Compass
✔️ Conor Smith — Practical AI for Hospitality Leaders + Applying AI in Hospitality
✔️ Nichole Mehling — Leading Through Fire

Come ready for practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and conversations you can take back to your property and your team. The program begins Tuesday afternoon with Mandy Murry’s opening keynote and continues throughout Wednesday with general and breakout sessions.

10/09/2026

Wednesday night, we celebrate the people who make Montana hospitality special.

Join us for the 2026 MLHA Hospitality Awards Banquet as we recognize this year’s award recipients:

❤️ Lodging Person of the Year: Zachary Ford
❤️ Sales & Marketing Person of the Year: Jessica Fusco
❤️ Allied Business Person of the Year: Ed Baran
❤️ Tourism Friend of the Year: Shelli Mann
❤️ Heart of Hospitality: Patricia Crampton

The evening begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., with guests seated at 7:00 p.m. The program will include the MLHA Award Ceremony, an Honor Guard presentation, and a photo booth open from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Semi-formal dress is encouraged.

Make plans to join us as we celebrate the people, service, and leadership that make Montana’s hospitality industry something special.

10/07/2026

Don’t check out before Thursday.

The sessions may wind down Wednesday afternoon, but some of the most important MLHA business happens Thursday morning.

The 2026 Conference closes with the MLHA Membership Meeting, including:
✅ A look at MLHA’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan
✅ A legislative update
✅ The latest STR industry data and trends
✅ Officer and Board candidate presentations and elections
✅ And more association business that will help shape what comes next for MLHA

If you’re making your conference plans, make sure Thursday matters.

10/06/2026

The 2026 MLHA Conference & Trade Show is designed to send you back to work with more than a notebook full of ideas.

Over three days, you’ll hear new approaches to guest experience, dig into leadership and resilience, see how AI can work in real hospitality operations, and get the industry insight you need to plan for what’s ahead.

From Mandy Murry’s opening keynote on enhancing the guest journey to sessions on creating magical moments, managing through chaos, leading with the brain, practical AI, and more, the agenda covers nearly every challenge hospitality leaders are navigating right now.

And just as important: time to connect with the people who understand Montana hospitality.

October 20–22 | Billings Hotel & Convention Center
Big Sky, Big Goals.

Registration is open now.

10/03/2026

Don’t miss out on the conversations, connections, and ideas waiting for you at this year’s MLHA Conference. 🤠

For Malissa Hollan, General Manager of Best Western Plus Riverfront in Great Falls, the conference is a chance to learn from sessions on topics she deals with every day — from AI in operations to leading through uncertainty — while also connecting with fellow hoteliers from across Montana.

Those relationships don’t end when the conference does. They become a network you can call on long after you head home.

Join us October 20–22 in Billings for Big Sky, Big Goals.

10/02/2026

AI is one thing to talk about. Putting it to work in your operation is another.

Conor Smith returns for a second session at the 2026 MLHA Conference & Trade Show, titled "Applying AI in Hospitality Operations," focused on practical ways hospitality businesses can use AI in the real world.

From improving staff productivity and streamlining day-to-day operations to enhancing guest service, Conor will explore how AI can make a meaningful difference while preserving the personal touch that defines great hospitality.

If you’re wondering what AI can actually do for your property or team, this is your chance to move from ideas to application.

October 20–22 | Billings Hotel & Convention Center

09/29/2026

When the path forward isn’t always clear, strong leadership starts with knowing what keeps you pointed in the right direction.

At the 2026 MLHA Conference & Trade Show, Justin Lewis, former Director of Operations and Development for Timberline Hospitality, returns for his second breakout session, "The Leadership Compass."

This session will focus on leadership—how we stay grounded, make thoughtful decisions, and guide our teams through the challenges of working in a fast-moving industry.

Join Justin in Billings and add another practical leadership conversation to your conference lineup.

October 20–22 | Billings Hotel & Convention Center. Registration is open. Make plans to join us in Billings!

09/26/2026

For Haley Wilson, some of the best ideas come from getting in the same room with other people who understand Montana hospitality.

The MLHA Conference is a chance to connect, compare notes, and learn from others facing many of the same challenges and opportunities across the industry.

This year, Haley is especially looking forward to digging into one of the biggest conversations happening right now: how AI and new technology can actually be useful in hospitality.

Hear what Haley is looking forward to, then make plans to join us October 20–22 in Billings for Big Sky, Big Goals. 🤠

09/25/2026

What does neuroscience have to do with great leadership? More than you might think.

Karen Miller returns for a second session at the 2026 MLHA Conference & Trade Show with Leading with the Brain, exploring how understanding the way people think, react, and connect can help us become more intentional and effective leaders.

As a certified brain-based coach, Karen brings neuroscience into her work, helping individuals and groups have better conversations and reach better outcomes.

Join Karen for a practical look at how the brain shapes how we lead, communicate, and work together—and what that means for hospitality leaders every day.

October 20–22 | Billings Hotel & Convention Center. Registration is open. Make plans to join us in Billings!

Address

P. O Box 1272
Helena, MT

Telephone

+14064498408

Website

https://www.mtlha.com/

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