It’s not too late to register and attend the third annual Midwest Lodging Investors Summit, which will be held July 11-13 at the Sheraton Chicago. As the lodging industry continues to recover from the recent downturn, MLIS is a great place for owners, developers, operators, marketers and lenders to come together to exchange ideas and explore deal opportunities in a relaxed but down-to-business atmosphere.

Lodging Hospitality and Penton’s Commercial Real Estate Network are sponsor the event in association with HVS Hotel Management. The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State is the Summit’s academic partner.

Over the three days of the event, attendees will experience a mixture of general session panels, breakout discussions and networking events, all geared to helping hoteliers improve their bottom lines. The conference pace is lively, and audience involvement is encouraged in every session.

Here are the highlights of what to expect at this year’s MLIS:

• The mornings of Monday and Tuesday each open with two general session panels. On Monday, executives from brand companies and management groups will discuss their common challenges and the solutions to those challenges. Don Landry, president of Top Ten Consulting and the conference master of ceremony, will lead the session.

• The second Monday morning general session looks at ways to capitalize on the ongoing improvements in the hotel industry economy. Mitch Miller of the Miller Law Group heads a panel of seasoned hotel executives who have cashed-in on previous market rebounds.

• The question of hotel values will be explored in Tuesday morning’s first general session titled “My Hotel is Worth What?” Susan Tjarksen, managing partner of Stabilized Asset Resources, will moderate the panel that will include hotel brokers and appraisers.

• The second general session on Tuesday, titled “What’s Hot, What’s Not,” explores which segments of the hotel industry are prime for investment and development in a rebounding economic environment. Teresa Matsui Sanders, president of Innworks, leads the discussion among several brand executives, operators and consultants.

• At lunch on Monday, hotel industry veteran Doug Geoga will give his perspective on the current and future outlook for the industry. Geoga is CEO of Salt Creek Hospitality, a hospitality investment firm sponsored by an affiliate of Soros Fund Management. For nearly 25 years, Geoga worked for the Pritzker family, including two stints as president of the Hyatt Hotel chain. Laurence Geller, chairman of Strategic Hotels & Resorts and keynoter at the first MLIS, will introduce Geoga.

• Twelve breakout sessions follow four content tracks: Hotel Financing, Opportunities, Segments and Hotel Operations. Speakers on the panels represent a cross-section of industry executives steeped in experience in ownership, operations, branding, investments, marketing and consulting.

• Two cocktail receptions and numerous coffee breaks will allow attendees to mingle with each other and visit representatives of the Summit’s 25 sponsoring companies and five association partners.

For more information and to register, go to the MLIS website.