A number of new features will be introduced at this month's Americas Lodging Investment Summit. The fifth annual event will be held Jan. 23-25 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Among the new features is a seminar on effective negotiating. The session, led by KARASS, will explore negotiation strategies, techniques, tactics, tips and skills. Other sessions will cover the hottest topics in hotel finance, development and operations. But ALIS is mostly about dealmaking. One new feature is Speed Meet, in which attendees can meet and chat with other industry professionals in brief time periods.

For information on ALIS, go to www.ALISconference.com.