The agenda includes 'Hard Talk Interviews' and ‘Round Tables’ with hospitality leaders.
DUBAI, UAE – The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC 2014), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman Dubai Airports President Dubai Department for Civil Aviation Chairman and CEO of Emirates, is gearing up for a 2 days’ extensive programme from 4-5 May at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
AHIC 2014 has over 550 delegates registered this year, and is going to be held in its tenth year under the theme; ‘A decade of defining the hotel investment landscape’. The conference has a line of renowned speakers from the industry leaders, senior hotel investors, developers, operators and advisors, engaging in top panel discussions on the growth in hospitality and tourism sectors in the region.
“Vision for GCC and Beyond’ is one of the key panel discussions taking place on the first day of the Conference, set to discuss the GCC governments” plans for sustainable growth. It also discusses their plans for demand generators and tourism infrastructure, and how the public private partnerships are facilitating investment into this sector.
The session combines some of the regional renowned names from both public and private sectors, where Anita Mendiratta Founder and Managing Director of CACHET Consulting, will be in conversation with: H.E. Issa Mohammed Al Mohannadi Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, Fahd Al-RasheedChief Executive Officer and Managing Director of King Abdullah Economic City, Amr Abdel Ghaffar Regional Director of Middle East of UNWTO, and Amine Moukarzel President of Golden Tulip Hotels MENA.
Commenting on their participation at this panel discussion at AHIC this year, Mr. Fahd Al-Rasheed, Managing Director and CEO of KAEC said:
“We are delighted to be part of AHIC 2014 Conference as it is one of the very few conferences in the region that attracts global hospitality leaders to discuss investment opportunities”. As such, it presents us with a unique platform on which to showcase the numerous advantages of investing in King Abdullah Economic City, which leading local and international companies have chosen as their base for regional operations and where we are developing a coastal resort lifestyle in prestigious residential communities.”
“We have already established world class touristic and hospitality facilities in the upscale Bay La Sun district with its marina and hotel offering unrivalled leisure, business and conference facilities, which are soon to be followed by more hotel and service apartment developments to cater for the growing demand coming from local, regional and international vacationers and business travellers attracted by Saudi Arabia’s year-round sunny climate and continuing economic prosperity.”
Elsewhere on the programme, the agenda includes few sessions taking the format of a ‘Hard Talk Interviews’ with key hospitality leaders, including:
- HARD TALK WITH: Alex Kyriakidis, President & Managing Director Middle East & Africa, Marriott International
- HARD TALK WITH: Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founder and Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, on his vision for 2020 and beyond
- HARD TALK WITH: Ahmed Ramadan, Founder & Group CEO of Roya International
- HARD TALK ON RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT WITH: Kevin Underwood, Global Leader of Leisure and Culture of AECOM, in conversation with Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, Immediate Past President of Maldives
- HARD TALK WITH: Frits Van Paasschen, Chief Executive Officer and President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, on his view of the hotel investment landscape globally.
AHIC 2014, which is organised by Bench Events and MEED and, will include key participants such as: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Jumeirah Group, King Abdullah Economic City, ACCOR, Al Habtoor Group, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development – SMIT, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Hotel Group, AECOM, Argentina Ministry of Tourism, Citymax Hotels, Colliers International, Drake and Scull International, ESPA, Faithful + Gould, FRHI Hotels and Resorts, Golden Tulip Hotels Suites, Hotel Partners Africa, HVS, IFA Hotel Investments, JA Resorts & Hotels, Jones Lang LaSalle, Meliá Hotels International, Premier Inn, Roya International, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA), Schneider Electric, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Shaza Hotels, STR Global, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Tourism Finance Corporation Kenya, and Worldhotels.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
