The Session
The Madison Area Hotel & Lodging Association and the Wisconsin Women in Lodging ran a Lodging Learning Exchange at The Edgewater in Madison on Monday 5 October 2026. The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association published its notice on 6 October. WHLA's events page gives the start as 2 p.m.
The afternoon covered professional development, skill gaps, training money and career paths across Greater Madison.
Bill Elliott on TPIDs
Bill Elliott, president and chief executive of WHLA, opened with a session titled Unlocking Growth: The Future of TPIDs. He set out how a tourism promotion improvement district lets lodging owners and operators self-assess a dedicated fee for local tourism marketing.
WHLA's resource page sets out the mechanism. A TPID runs on the lines of a business improvement district and applies to lodging alone. Hotels, motels and short-term rentals self-assess the fee, and the fund is private-sector money. The stated objective is more paid overnight stays and higher revenue per available room across the district. The page puts the model at 25 states and more than 220 active districts.
The Panel
Four panelists joined the second session, Elevate & Empower: Continuous Learning in Hospitality. They were Dr. Lynea LaVoy of Madison College, Maureen Martin of Destination Madison, Ranette Maurer of the AC Hotel Madison Downtown and Amy Supple of The Edgewater.
WHLA states the operational problem in its own words: professional development takes a backseat to daily operations. The panel worked through how to identify skill gaps, ask for training money and build career paths that hold staff.
A networking block ran between the two sessions. The programme closed with appetisers and drinks from The Edgewater, and WHLA credits SpringHill Suites as sponsor.
The Pipeline
The Wisconsin Women in Lodging is a WHLA chapter and a state affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. WHLA states the group began in 2013 and carries more than 200 members. Membership is free to staff at WHLA member properties, companies, chambers and CVBs, and to students and instructors at member colleges.
Three funding routes sit inside the group. The Amplify Award is $2,000 for emerging leaders at WHLA member properties. The Moxie Award is $1,000 for professionals who show initiative in their organisation and community. The Kari Zambon Memorial Scholarship runs each year for a hospitality student. The group has opened a mentorship programme that pairs emerging leaders with experienced mentors.
The Next Dates
MAHLA is one of three WHLA chapters, beside the Greater Green Bay Lodging Association and the Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association. MAHLA dues are $2.00 per room for lodging members and $200 for associate members.
The Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show runs 1-3 November 2026, with registration and an opening reception on the Sunday, the trade show and the awards dinner on the Monday and the closing keynote on the Tuesday. WHLA states the trade show carries more than 80 exhibitors.