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.

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View all Breakout Sessions

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Monday 03 May 2010
07:45 - 08:30		Morning Coffee & Pastries in the Sponsors' Exhibition
08:30 - 08:45		BREAKFAST BRIEFING ON IRAQ: HIGH RISK...HIGH YIELD? Presented by Richard Thompson, Editor, MEED
08:30 - 10:45		Welcome Back and Prizes Edmund O'Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events
08:45 - 09:45		THE COUNTRY FORUM What you need to know to invest intelligently in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco. Listen to those shaping the direction of tourism and hotel investment. Moderator: John Defterios, CNN Marketplace Middle East Panellists: Dr Salah AlBukkayet, Vice President Investment, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities HE Mohamed Zoheir Garana, Tourism Minister, Egypt HE Yassir Zenagui, Minister of Tourism & Handicraft, Kingdom of Morocco HE Dr Rajiha Abdul Ameer Ali, Minister of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman
09:45 - 10:45		PIPELINE PROJECTS (OR PIPE DREAM) AND THE IMPACT ON OPERATING PERFORMANCE IN MENA Reviewing major hotel developments and setting the record straight on the region's pipeline. What is the view of investment opportunities presented by the Tourism Ministers on the previous panel? Moderator: Andrew Sangster, Editor & Publisher, Hotel Analyst Panellists: Guy Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah Group Christian Karaoglanian, Chief Development Officer, Accor Hospitality Omer Kaddouri, Senior Vice President, Rotana Roeland Vos, President - Europe Africa & Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide A special report on the pipeline by John Podaras, Director, TRI Hospitality Consulting
10:45 - 11:00		Coffee Break in the Sponsors' Exhibition Area
11:00 - 11:20		Presentation of 2010 AHIC Awards for: Best New Hotel, Best Hotel Staff Accomodation and Young Leader MENA
11:50 - 12:10		OWNERS AND OPERATORS HARD TALK - PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK AND WHY? How can we foster win-win owner operator relationships and improved synergies? Moderator: Frank Croston, Partner, Hamilton Hotel Partners Panellists: Jean-Paul Herzog, President - Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide Kirk Kinsell, President - Europe, Africa & Middle East Mike Scully, Managing Director, Hospitality, Seven Tides Richard Riley, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi National Hotels
12:10 - 13:00		THE LUXURY HOTEL MARKET IN 2010 AND BEYOND How do you maintain investor confidence and price integrity with RevPAR and profitability under pressure? Where are you finding the hot spots for luxury? Moderator: Mary Gostelow, Editor, Gostelow Report & WOW.travel Panellists Liam Lambert, President, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group & Emaar Hotels & Resorts Nicholas Clayton, President, Viceroy Hotels Group Robert Gaymer-Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Sofitel Worldwide
13:00 - 13:30		2010 AHIC LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER Presented to SHEIKH SULTAN BIN TAHNOON AL NAHYAN, Chairman, TDIC & Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Followed by a conversation with John Defterios, Host of CNN Marketplace Middle East.
13:30 - 14:30		Networking Lunch
14:45 - 16:00		ASK THE EXPERT SESSIONS This is your chance to get advice pertaining directly to your business, from leaders in their field. The sessions will be run as round tables and dialogue is encouraged. It is a great opportunity to get practical advice from the experts and also to learn from your peers. We advise you to sign up for sessions on our website as we will only be running the three most popular. Navigating the Market in Morocco Practical advice on what steps you need to take to succeed. Navigating the Market in Oman Practical advice on what steps you need to take to succeed. Navigating the Market in Saudi Arabia Practical advice on what steps you need to take to succeed. Navigating the Market in Syria and Lebanon Practical advice on what steps you need to take to succeed. Service Standards - what am I doing wrong and what could I be doing right? Advice for Distressed Asset Owners Put your situation forward and find out what our expert would do if they were you!
16:00 -		AHIC 2010 CONCLUDES