ARABIAN HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE 2017
25-27 APRIL, MADINAT JUMEIRAH, DUBAI
The 13th edition of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2017 (AHIC), the annual meeting point, knowledge and networking platform for the hotel investment community, will bring together 700 global leaders from the world’s largest hotel chains, in a series of CEO keynote sessions. Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton, said, “The Middle East is a very important market and Hilton sees tremendous potential growth in the years ahead. I am honored to keynote AHIC, and I look forward to a great conference and many productive conversations.” H.E Sheikh Mubarak AlAbdullah Al-mubarak Al-sabah, founder and non-executive chairman of Action Hotels, won the 2017 AHIC Industry Pioneer Award. He has spearheaded the economy and mid-market hotels in the region, and broken new ground internationally with Action Hotels, making it the only Kuwaiti company and only hospitality company within the region to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. The advisory board also awarded the 2017 AHIC Leadership Award to Ghaith AlGhaith, CEO of flydubai.
Highlighting trends
This year’s theme, ‘Global Catalysts for Change’, will tackle the impact of the ongoing digital revolution, the emergence of the Internet of Things, the advent of the sharing economy and the changing face of the consumer on today’s hotel business.
Influence of the East
Pierre-frédéric Roulot, CEO of Louvre Hotels Group, owned by Shanghai-based Jin Jiang International Hotels Co, will address the growing influence of the East on the international hotel industry. “We are witnessing record travel between Asia and the Middle East and Louvre Hotels Group is positioned to play a strategic role in the regional travel growth,” Roulot said.
Newcomers?
According to Rani Gharbi, vice president of development (North America) at Virgin Hotels, the MENA region has been and will always be very important. Some of Virgin’s sister companies have already well established business in the region, including Virgin Mobile in KSA and Virgin Megastores, from Dubai to Beirut. “While Virgin Hotels may consider key Middle Eastern markets in the near future, our current focus is to work closely with our strong network of Mena-based investment firms and family offices to invest in or develop Virgin Hotels in North America and Europe,” Gharbi said. He added, “We have close relationships with Middle Eastern partners and are continuously exploring investment and development opportunities with them in North America and Europe. As such, AHIC is an ideal venue for Virgin Hotels to show its support to our close friends and partners in the region.”
Keynote speakers Dr. Badr Al Badr, CEO, Dur Hospitality Steven Daines, COO new businesses and CEO, Hotelservices Africa and Middle East, Accorhotels
Rani Gharbi, vice president, development (North America), Virgin Hotels Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International Amine Moukarzel, president, MENA, Louvre Hotels Group Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Stefan Leser, group CEO, Jumeirah Group Jean-paul Pigat, senior economist, global markets and treasury, Emirates NBD Pierre-frédéric Roulot, CEO, Louvre Hotels Group arabianconference.com