Following the conclusion of the Canadian Hotel Investment Conference, top industry leaders returned to the Black & Blue Steakhouse for the 2026 ORHMA Canadian Hotel VIP Leadership Dinner. What began over a decade ago has evolved into a cornerstone annual tradition, uniting executives from across the country to strengthen the bonds of industry leadership at these annual events both in Toronto and Vancouver.

A Focus on the Future

Hosted by Jason Cheskes, President of Above The Line Solutions, the evening provided a unique venue for colleagues to refresh existing relationships and cultivate new connections. Opening the dinner, Cheskes addressed a timely theme: the critical importance of facilitating professional development and networking opportunities for the industry’s up-and-coming leaders. The sentiment resonated with attendees, many of whom noted the pivotal role such conferences and events played in their own career trajectories.

Emad Yacoub, President and CEO of Glowbal Restaurant Group, made a point of joining Jason to personally welcome the group to the restaurant and encouraged all to visit to the newly opened Toronto location of Riley’s Fish & Steak with his uniquely charming humorous approach.

Voices from the Industry

The value of the gathering was echoed by Mark Reeves, IHG Vice-President of Franchise Support, who noted:

Mark Reeves, IHG Vice-President of Franchise Support, shared “Thank you Jason for organizing such a great event…it was quite a reunion for all of us as the business of hospitality has us all working diligently in our own worlds and we rarely are able to network with colleagues and friends in the industry in this way.  It was a very worthwhile evening for us all and a reminder of how much we do collectively. I look forward to more of these opportunities and the upcoming Ontario Hospitality Conference.”

Guest included Accor, Marriott, Wyndham, Choice, Hotel Equities, Innvest, Hyatt, Sandman, Best Western, IHG, Westmont, Atlific, Coast, Realstar, Omni, LHM, Mariet, Listel, MasterBUILT, Diamond, Genesis, Bayview Hospitality, Synvest, Primevest, as well as ORHMA, HAC, GTHA, National Bank and CFO.

This year’s sponsors of the dinner included RHB, Rogers, Eden Textile, Serta Simmons, Gordon Williams Corp, Nerval, Western Financial and Foodbuy. Recognition of to Frank Yeo of Mercury publications for his ongoing support and arranging the event photographer also was included.

Looking ahead

Tony Elenis, President and CEO of ORHMA, shared that the 5^th Ontario Hospitality Conference with the OHI-We Are Hospitality Hall of Fame Awards will be taking place this year October 19-20.   For more information, please visit www.ontariohospitalityconference.com

The next Canadian Hotel VIP Leadership dinner will take place October 29^th following the Western Canadian Lodging Conference.

• Photos courtesy of Frank Yeo & Mercury Publications 
• (*All Photos can be viewed at https://phillipchin2018.pixieset.com/20260428orhmavipdinner/ or with the QR code below) 

TORONTO – (May 7, 2026) – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced the appointment of Linda Griffin as area general manager, Canada, overseeing a portfolio of full service and focused service hotels across Ontario, Québec and British Columbia. In her new role, Griffin provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Hilton Québec, Hilton Toronto, Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Belleville, and Hampton Inn by Hilton Chilliwack, working closely with hotel leadership teams to advance service excellence and team engagement across the region. Based in Ontario at Hilton Toronto, Griffin works closely with Hilton’s regional and property teams to support operations, leadership development and memorable guest experiences across Canada, returning to a property that marked one of the earliest milestones in her Hilton career in 1989.

“Linda is a respected Hilton leader with an extraordinary depth of operational experience and a leadership style rooted in consistency and collaboration,” said Kristen Stampe, area vice president of operations, Hilton. “Known for building strong performance-driven cultures and leading with a future-focused operational mindset, Linda has a passion for creating authentic experiences for guests. Having grown her career with Hilton across multiple regions and returning to lead our Canadian portfolio, she brings both a deep understanding of our culture and a global perspective that will continue to strengthen our hotels and teams.”

“There is something incredibly special about returning to Hilton Toronto and the properties that played such an instrumental role in shaping my career with Hilton - it truly feels like a full circle moment,” said Griffin. “I’m grateful for the experiences, both in Canada and globally, that have shaped my journey, and I look forward to supporting our Canadian hotel teams as we build on Hilton’s legacy in the market through a shared commitment to service excellence and empowered teams.”

Over more than three decades, Griffin has built a distinguished global career spanning five continents and eight countries including Canada, with senior leadership roles across North America, Europe and the Mediterranean. She studied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson Polytechnic University, now Toronto Metropolitan University, and began her career at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel (now Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale) in 1988. She held reservations and front office roles at Hilton Toronto and Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites.
Driven by a passion for travel and professional development, Griffin pursued an international career with Hilton that included leadership positions at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, followed by a role with Hilton’s Front Office Development team based in the United Kingdom. She later served as area revenue manager for the Mediterranean, supporting 17 Hilton hotels across Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Returning to on-property leadership, Griffin held senior operational roles at the former Hilton Athens (now Conrad Athens The Ilisian) before being appointed to hotel and cluster general manager positions across Turkey, Romania and the United Kingdom, including the former Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest and Hilton London Kensington. Her career also includes leadership roles with Jumeirah Group and Dimensions Health Centers Inc.

For more information about Hilton’s properties in Canada, please visit Hilton.com.

In celebration of OHC’s 5th year, and with the support of our sponsors, several exciting offers have been added!

Hosted by the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), the Ontario Hospitality Conference (OHC) is the province’s leading annual gathering for hospitality professionals, taking place on October 19 & 20, 2026.

With the industry recognizing the importance of supporting the development of hospitality professionals and industry connections, OHC is making it possible to have those who have not attended the conference in the past, 50% off registration to gain from the experience and strengthen their industry network. This year, our sponsors have made it possible to offer packages including hotel stay to make it easy to participate in the opening reception and OHI Hall of fame awards. To assist those travelling from a distance, ORHMA will also be covering VIA Rail travel to the conference for attendees.

With a strong focus on supporting, developing, and connecting hospitality leaders, OHC2026 features 55+ vendors showcasing solutions to help grow your business, engaging sessions led by industry experts, valuable networking opportunities, and the annual OHI Hall of Fame Awards, delivering practical insights and meaningful connections for those looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Join the industry at the 2026 Ontario Hospitality Conference and celebrate our 5th year!
For further information, please see https://www.ontariohospitalityconference.com/"

A new report, released by The Staffing Agency titled Beyond the Boom: Canada’s Hospitality Labor Market in 2025 and the Road to 2030, shows spending in Canada hit $104 billion in 2025, with employment higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Dining rooms are full again and travel has returned, yet the industry is still struggling to hold on to workers.

The Canada-focused report shows that hospitality operators are hiring, but not securing long-term staff. Termed as ‘labor paradox’, the report states that margins are getting strained by part-time roles where students, newcomers and temporary workers fill critical shifts. That keeps operations running, but drives turnover and weakens reliability.

Costs are compounding the issue. Labor is no longer just hourly pay. It now includes higher wage floors, added premiums in expensive cities, benefits and the ongoing cost of turnover and training. Margins are tightening even as demand holds. “In Canada, the wage increase isn’t a threshold; it’s the new baseline,” said Steven Kamali, CEO of The Staffing Agency. “The question now isn’t if we can pay more, but if we can make the model work.”

Another trend revealed in the report is that housing has emerged as the defining fault line. In major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, workers can’t afford to live near their jobs. So, commute becomes longer and shits go unfilled. Union activity is also rising in urban centers, reshaping scheduling, pay structures, and operations.

Kamali adds, “The pressure is not limited to Canada. In the United States also, wage growth is outpacing productivity in many markets, while housing constraints continue to shape labor availability. Canada’s reliance on international talent adds another layer of sensitivity to policy changes.”

The path forward should be to build a more reliable talent pipeline, address housing near job centers, and tailor workforce strategies by region. Without this, growth will remain uneven. You can view the full report here.