Fifth AHIC set to confront key issues facing hotel investors and operators; 100 industry speakers to share action points

Dubai, 19 January 2009: In the wake of predictions of stagnant growth in global tourism by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Jonathan Worsley, co-organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), calls for the region's hospitality sector to stand firm and together.

He stressed that it is prudent for hospitality leaders to join hands and work together in managing the destination as a whole, and not just the projects under their remit.

"It is again time to look at destination management as a collaborative effort and not just at individual property or project management. Industry leaders need to discuss the big picture and look at how they can collectively manage in-bound traffic and maintain consumer spending levels."

Meanwhile, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts a downward shift in global Travel and Tourism Economy GDP contribution to one percent for 2009, in contrast to ten percent in 2008.

However, WTTC also expects the Middle East to buck this trend, suggesting that regional tourism will grow by one percent in 2009. This would place the Middle East as the second growth region in world, behind Asia.

Worsley encourages the industry to be vigilant and proactive in the current economic climate stressing that under such conditions there is little room for error.

"The region's tourism and hospitality leaders need to be particularly alert in these unprecedented times. With tourism long-since stamped as the catalyst of economic growth for a number of regional markets, the sector needs to be quick off the mark and show maturity in handling the current cycle," he said.

Worsley promised that the upcoming Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2009 (May 2-4 2009) will provide a timely platform for such debate.

"This year's AHIC theme 'The Challenge of Maintaining Growth' is quite apt at a time when target setting is presently a moveable feast.

"We are working now to ensure that the 2009 agenda is relatively fluid in structure so that content and topics can be right up-to-the-minute and in-line with market movements in May," he promised.

Edmund O'Sullivan, the event's co-organiser, said early interest for AHIC 2009 looks strong from both within the region and overseas.

"This is a critical stage in the world markets, and the hospitality investment sector must show confidence and creativity in vision while holding steady in riding the wave.

"AHIC is set to deliver a buoyant platform where leaders can discuss issues in real terms, and together be a force to support ongoing development."

The 2009 conference includes a half-day summit with spotlight on Saudi Arabia, networking receptions, plus a world-class speaking faculty including HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Chairman of the Board, Secretary General of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA); Dr. Henry Azzam, CEO Middle East & North Africa, Deutsche Bank AG; Paul Griffiths, Chief  Executive Officer, Dubai Airports; Sarmad Zok, Chief Executive Officer of Kingdom Hotel Investments; Sheikh Fawaz Alhokair, Chairman & Founder, Fawaz Alhokair Group; John Defterios, Host, CNN Marketplace Middle East and Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group among others.

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference is organised by Bench Events and MEED.  Details can be found on www.arabianconference.com.  

Platinum sponsors Ministry of Brazil, Sovereign Hospitality Holdings, The Rezidor Hotel Group and Wyndham Worldwide. 

Emerald sponsors The Address Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Jumeirah Group.

Gold sponsors Accor  Hospitality, Aldar Hotels & Hospitality, Almulla Hospitality, Arabian Travel Market, Corinthia Hotels, Davis Langdon LLP, Deloitte & Touche (M.E.), ESPA International UK, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International , Golden Tulip , Hamilton Hotel Partners, Horwath HTL, HVS, Jebel Ali International, King Sturge, Langham Hotels International , Layia Hospitality, Molinaro Koger, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, OBM International, Rotana Hotels, Shaza Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc,  Taj Hotel Resorts & Palaces,  TRI Hospitality Consulting, Vision Hospitality Asset Management, WATG. 

Media partners AME Info, CNN, Destinations of the World News, Hospitality News Magazine, HotelNewsNow.com, Hotel Analyst, Hotelier Middle East, Institutional Investor, Sleeper and TTN.

Supporters Bang & Olufson, The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, IBAHN, IH&RA, ITP, Villeroy & Boch, WTTC. 

-Ends-

About the organisers:
Bench Events
As organisers of top conferences for the hotel and investment industry, Bench Events is a growing entity which currently hosts hotel investment conferences in Berlin, Dubai and Moscow in partnership with other leading providers. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events is one of the organisers and founders of the International Hotel Investment Forum held each year in Berlin. In 2005, he was responsible for launching the successful Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai and in 2008, hosted the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference in Moscow. Worsley sits as an advisor to the World Travel & Tourism Council which represents many of the leading companies operating worldwide in the travel and tourism industry. He is also a shareholder and board director of STR Global which is the new entity for global benchmarking outside North America following the merger of The Bench, Smith Travel Research and Deloitte's Hotel Benchmark.

www.benchevents.com

About MEED
MEED is internationally recognised as providing essential business intelligence for anyone doing business in, or with, the Middle East and North Africa. With journalists and contacts across the entire Middle East and North Africa region, MEED provides reliable, up-to-date business news, analysis and data in both print and online. MEED attracts customers from across 78 countries worldwide.

www.meed.com

www.meedprojects.com  

For further information on marketing/logistics please contact:
Diana Gregory                                      
Tel: +971 (0) 4 375-7987                                
Email: Diana.gregory@meed-dubai.com          

Dee Booth
Tel: +971 (0) 4 433 5187
Email:  Dee.booth@meed-dubai.com

Media Enquiries to Strategic Solutions:
susan@strategicsolutionsonline.com  
tel +97150 6556126

sarah@strategicsolutionsonline.com
tel +97150 9803810

For further information on speakers/sponsors please contact:
Gillian Powell
Tel: +44 208 297 2053 
Email: gillian.powell@benchevents.com

Jennifer Pettinger
Tel: +971 (0) 442 17129
Email: jennifer.pettinger@benchevents.com

© Press Release 2009