The events began with an introduction by conference chair Jonathan Tisch of Loews Hotels and then followed with an opening panel featuring our favorite blogger Bill Marriott and hotelier extraordinaire Barry Sternlicht. (Check Out the CNBC interview.)

Then, at lunch, we heard the ever-daring Donald Trump speak. He was what you would expect: pompous, talkative, and quite funny. He was particularly adamant about his Scotland real estate project getting done that's hit a few bumps in the road recently.

That followed with over a dozen separate smaller panels that covered issues from the luxury segment to the green construction movement. Overall, a wealth of knowledge from industry leaders was dished out at every panel throughout the conference and we learned a lot.

One especially interesting panel was entitled "Development: Going Green" and featured major development executives from Related Group, Gemstone Hotels, and Marriott in which the panelists discussed, in detail, specifics regarding certain initiatives and cost measures of going green.

Mark Boekenheide, SVP of Related Group, showed renderings of the Related Westpac Snowmass project displaying how Related has attempted to solidify its green development with LEED Certified buildings and environmentally friendly operational solutions (e.g. low flow toilets).

Then, Monday night came! And hoteliers know how to party. We began at the Waldorf for a conference cocktail and then headed to the top of Rockefeller center for the Wyndham Party. At the party, Wyndham CEO Stephen Rudnitsky announced they would be buying U.S. Franchise Systems from Hyatt.

Next, after seeing enough views of Central Park, we headed to the Starwood party that celebrated the new Aloft brand.

It was an interesting mix of club music, neon lights, Starwood executives, go-go dancers, and some teenage candy girls.

Then, we headed over to the Royalton Hotel for a chic cocktail thrown by Morgans Hotels Group. Finally, we ended the night at the top of the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking district for the cramped Jones Lang LaSalle party.

It was quite a night.

The following day was a bit less eventful as we heard some more panels, watched awards be given out, listened to an interview with Starwood's CEO, and did some more schmoozing.

Overall, it was a great conference, and we can't wait to be back in New York next year.

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