Programme

 Saturday 1 May 2010  Sunday 2 May 2010  Monday 3 May 2010

The AHIC 2010 programme includes interviews with leading hoteliers, forecasts from top economists, panel discussions on the latest developments, trends and best practice in the hotel investment industry. Over 80 industry leaders make up the 2010 speaking faculty, all aiming to make the programme as interesting and diverse as possible.

View all Plenary Sessions
View all Breakout Sessions

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Sunday 02 May 2010
07:30 - 08:45Registration, Morning Coffee & Pastries in the Exhibition Area
08:30 - 08:45WELCOMING REMARKS
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, Bench Events; Board Director, STR Global
08:45 - 09:15MACRO-ECONOMIC KEYNOTE
Insight into the Middle East and North Africa's economic outlook. Where is MENA placed versus the rest of the world?

Nenad Pacek, Founder and President, Global Success Advisors Ltd & Co-Founder, CEEMEA Business Group

Followed by Q&A session facilitated by Andrew Sangster, Editor & Publisher, Hotel Analyst
09:15 - 09:40HARD TALK SESSION: GENERATING REVENUE AND FURTHERING BRAND REACH VIA ONLINE BOOKINGS

Is there a transition from wholesalers to hotel online booking systems and dynamic packaging?

Moderator:
Michael D Johnson, Dean, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

Panellists:
Felix Laboy, President , Sabre Hospitality Solutions
Krista Pappas, Global Director & Head of Business
Bing Travel – A Microsoft Company

09:40 - 10:00THE IMPACT OF FUTURE AIRLINE TRAVEL PATTERNS ON HOTEL INDUSTRY DEMAND IN MENA

A conversation with the one of the fastest growing airlines in the world today.

Michael D Johnson, Dean, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and
 
Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways

10:00 - 11:00LEADERS' PANEL - GLOBAL & MENA HOTEL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITES

How are industry CEOs protecting and growing their businesses? Where and how are they unlocking investment opportunities?

Moderator:
Mark Wynne-Smith, CEO Europe, Middle East & Africa, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels

Panellists:
Eric Danziger, President & CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group
Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group
Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group
Pierre Frederic Roulot, President, Golden Tulip Hospitality & Louvre Hotels
Sarmad Zok, Chief Executive Officer, Kingdom Hotel Investments

11:00 - 11:30Coffee Break in the Sponsors' Exhibition
11:30 - 12:15SUCCESSFULLY TAPPING INTO THE REGIONAL ARAB TRAVEL MARKET
Where are the gaps in the market for new supply? Who has been successful? How large is the potential market?

Moderator:
Alex Kyriakidis, Global Managing Partner - Tourism, Deloitte

Panellists:
HE Sheikh Mubarak Abdulla Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Chairman, Action Hotels
HE Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman, Abu Dhabi National Hotels
Mansour Amer, Chairman, AMER Group
Selim El Zyr, President & CEO, Rotana
12:15 - 13:00ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF TODAY'S HOTEL INVESTOR
Understanding the objectives of MENA's investors.

Moderator:
Jalil Mekouar, Executive Vice President - Head of Middle-East & Africa, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels

Panellists:
Souad Benbachir, CEO, T-Capital
Mohamed Al Sari, Managing Director, GGICO
Roger Blackall, Director of Hotels & Hospitality Division, Premier Group WLL
Joe Sita, President, IFA Hotel Investments
13:00 - 14:15Networking Lunch
14:15 - 15:30Session 1: HOW TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP A HOTEL PROJECT EFFECTIVELY IN MENA?
Overcoming the key issues in developing a hotel project in MENA.

Moderator:
Kevin Scholl, Senior Vice President, WATG

Panellists:
Samer Abu Ayash, Senior Vice President - Design & Construction, Kingdom Hotel Investments
Stuart Etherington, Vice President Project Management, Kempinski MEA
Norman Forsyth, Director of Architecture and Technical Services, ALDAR Hotels and Hospitality
Patrick Heuze, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group
14:15 - 15:30Session 2: OUTWARD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENA'S INVESTORS AND OPERATORS
Looking at options for diversifying your portfolio outside the region. Top tips for excellent returns.

Moderator:
Robert Koger,President, Molinaro Koger

Panellists:
Frederico Silva Costa, National Secretary of Programs for Tourism Development, Ministry Of Tourism, Brazil
Kevin Murphy, President & CEO, Asiawide Hospitality Solution
14:15 - 15:30Session 3: A FOCUS ON THE LEVANT
Regional dynamics, growth and expansions possibilities in the Levant. Keys to succeeding in the region.

Moderator:
Karim El Asmar, Managing Partner, Hodema Consulting Services

Panellists:
Hala Matar Choufany, Managing Director, HVS Global Hospitality Services
Bani Haddad, Vice President Development, Middle East & Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group
Rani Gharbie`, Director of Development - Middle East and Africa, IHG
Panos Loupasis, Business Development Director, Taameer Real Estate Investment Company
Amine Moukarzel, President, Flamingo Hotel Management Company
14:15 - 15:30BREAKOUT SESSIONS START
15:30 - 15:45Coffee Break in the Sponsors' Exhibition
15:45 - 17:00Session 4: HOW TO FINANCE YOUR PROJECT?
What and where are the new sources of debt and equity finance? Understanding the funding criteria and aligning expectations.

Moderator:
Gaurav Shivpuri, Director - Capital Markets, Jones Lang LaSalle MENA

Panellists:
Fouad Chraibi, Chairman, H Partners Investment Fund
Tim Luckhurst, Director, Real Estate Advisory Middle East, RBS Global Banking & Markets
Fergal Harris, Head of Commercial Real Estate - Middle East, Standard Chartered Bank
15:45 - 17:00Session 5: LOOKING AT THE ROLE OF ASSET MANAGERS
Determining the right approach, in house, outsourced or superfluous?

Moderator:
Christopher Evans, Partner, Hamilton Hotel Partners

Panellists:
John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer - Middle East & Africa, IHG
Walter Hall, Chief Operating Officer, RMAL Hospitality PJSC
St John Kelliher, General Manager, wasl Hospitality
Siegfried Nierhaus, Managing Director, Atlas Hospitality LLC
Marco Nijhof, Head of Hotels, Kuwait Real Estate Centre
15:45 - 17:00Session 6: THE KEY INGREDIENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Meet people who are making sustainable development a reality.

Moderator:
Lyndall De Marco, Managing Director, Only Sustainability

Panellists:
Raj Chandnani, Vice President, Director of Strategy, WATG
Gregoir Chikaher,Director & Global Hotels & Leisure Leader, ARUP
Michael Hartman, Vice President, Siemens
Michel van der Hoeven, Senior Vice President - Development, Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas
William Langmade, President, Purchasing Management International
17:00 - 18:15Session 7: HOW TO STRUCTURE THE OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT?
Sharing the Risk and Sharing the Reward.

Moderator:
David Sanson, Partner, DLA Piper

Panellists:
Alain Debare, General Manger, Action Hotels
Jason Herthel, Senior Vice President - Hotel Development, Viceroy Hotel Group
Helmut Knipp, Senior Vice President - Development, Langham Hotels International
Paul Pisani, Vice President - Hotel Development, Corinthia Hotels
17:00 - 18:15Session 8: WHICH BRANDS PERFORM BEST UNDER STRESS?
How is brand profitability being adapted to cope with the downturn and keep owners happy?

Moderator:
Gerhard Hardick, Chief Executive Operating Officer, Roya International

Panellists:
Martin Armitstead, Senior Vice President - Development EMEA, Wyndham Hotel Group
Paul Bell, Managing Director, ALDAR Hotels & Hospitality
Andrew Clough, Senior VP Development, MEAP, Hilton Worldwide
Dr Gerald Huber, Regional Director GCC, Schletterer Wellness And Spa Design
Marko Hytonen, Area Vice President - Middle East, The Rezidor Hotel Group
17:00 - 18:15Session 9: FOCUS ON NORTH AFRICA
Who are going to be the major regional players? Is infrastructure in place to ensure sustainability of tourism? Where are the opportunities which will provide long term returns?

Moderator:
Philippe Doizelet, Managing Director, Horwath HTL

Panellists:
Nawfal Bendefa, Managing Director, Actif Invest
Omar Bennani, Chief Executive Officer, Moroccan Tourism Development Agency (SMIT)
Neil George, Vice President, Acquisitions & Development EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Charlie Langlais, Chief Operating Officer - Middle East Africa Indian Ocean & Caribbean Islands, Accor Hospitality
18:15 - 18:15BREAKOUT SESSIONS FINISH
18:30 - 21:00Networking Reception at Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa hosted by Emaar Hospitality
Emaar Hotels & Resorts invites AHIC delegates to an exclusive evening at the world’s first Armani Hotel, designed by Giorgio Armani and located in the distinctive Burj Khalifa.

Platinum Sponsors

Emerald Sponsors

Gold Sponsors