Read all of the highlights from the 2021 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, held July 26-28 in Los Angeles.

Click on each headline below to read more.

Second quarter demand growth beat expectations, but rising COVID-19 cases cast a pall on the travel recovery, experts said at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Hotel executives speaking at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit said they have concerns over the eventual return of business travel and when international travel restrictions will ease.

Ashford Hospitality Trust President and CEO Rob Hays said his company expects to carry significantly less debt going forward even as it's seen a performance rebound fueled by leisure travel.

U.S. hotel executives at the ALIS conference said the industry must adapt to the needs of the labor force to continue to provide guests the experiences they want.

In a video interview, the CEO of Radisson Hotel Group, Americas, said the company continues to work with franchisees on brand standards and the labor shortage while focusing on growing its brands and brand awareness.

Banking on continued outsized guest and investment demand for extended-stay hotels, officials with Red Roof announced a new prototype for its HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof brand.

Mint House founder and CEO Will Lucas said his company was created in response to lagging tech across the hotel industry and a desire for high-end luxury accommodations.

As the costs of recruiting new employees continue to grow, hoteliers speaking at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit said it's increasingly important to treat employees well and make data-driven decisions to return to profitability.

In a video interview, Mike Deitemeyer, the CEO of the largest third-party hotel management company worldwide, shares how his company has changed during the pandemic and how it has been supporting owners and hotel staff.

Hotel CEOs say they still expect the deals market to open up over the next 18 months.

Faced with staff shortages as travel demand booms, leaders of experiential hotel brands say it can be difficult to maintain standards to guests' expectations, especially as rates increase.

In a video interview, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust CEO Jon Bortz said that as the hotel industry recovers, his company has sold properties to reinvest in its other hotels while pursuing opportunistic deals.

Noble Investment Group founder and CEO Mit Shah said he believes the best hotel deals might come two to three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Danny Hughes, executive vice president and president of the Americas for Hilton, said both hoteliers and guests are "finding their way out of the pandemic," which was the impetus for offering housekeeping only to guests who request it.

In a video interview, Accor's Heather McCrory talks about how her company has been affected by the pandemic but continues to move forward with development in North America, particularly with its lifestyle brands.

In a video interview, IHG Hotels & Resorts' Elie Maalouf said the company continues to grow as guests still want to travel, even if that demand is temporarily interrupted.

Difficult guests and job security worries make working in the hotel industry unappealing to many. BWH Hotel Group President and CEO David Kong said the industry must change that to dig out of a labor crisis.

Davidson Hospitality Group President Thom Geshay said his company has sought out unique properties to grow its portfolio amid a crowded landscape of third-party management.

In a video interview with Hotel News Now, Outrigger Hospitality Group President and CEO Jeff Wagoner spoke about his company's recent acquisitions, recovery plans and the demand for Outrigger's hotels.

Hotel executives attending the in-person conference in Los Angeles were coming to terms with the lack of group and business travel that is hurting downtown hotels of all sizes, as well as other grim realities.

The sense of hopefulness that the hotel industry and society at large are at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic was evident during the first day of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Cautious optimism takes a different meaning now as hoteliers generally believe the worst is over, but there's still plenty outside of their control that could cause them problems in the near future.