It's more important than ever that hotel owners, developers and operators gather together to share ideas and, when possible, do deals. They'll get their chance at the second Midwest Lodging Investors Summit, which will be held at the Chicago Marriott on Michigan Ave. on July 19-21. Lodging Hospitality and Penton's Real Estate Group are sponsoring the event, while the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State is the Summit's academic partner.

Like last year's Summit, which drew more than 500 industry leaders, the 2009 MLIS will be three days of general sessions, panel discussions and social events. Here are the highlights:

• The opening general session on Monday, July 20 will bring together hotel owners with several brand executives to discuss common challenges and strategies. In a second general session that morning, a group of veteran hotel operators will share their tips on how to succeed in today's tough operating environment.

• On day two, Tuesday, July 21, a group of hotel valuation experts will chronicle movements in hotel values and what effect they'll have on the sale of lodging properties.

• The keynote speaker at lunch on Monday will be Patrick Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016, the civic organization that hopes to lure the Olympic Games to Chicago. He'll present an update on the campaign and what the Olympics would mean for Chicago and Midwest hospitality industries.

• A lineup of 16 panel discussions will cover a myriad of hotel investment topics — from financing to management contracts to cost containment and more.

For more information and to register for the Summit, go to www.MidwestLodgingInvestors.com