The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2019 has unveiled its program for the 15th edition. It will bring more than 900 hotel investors, owners and operators together at the AHIC Village in Ras Al Khaimah. This year’s theme, ‘Synchronised for Success’ will tackle current tensions in the owner-operator relationship.
Topics to tackle
The program will feature more than 100 speakers from around the world. It also will uncover innovative approaches to business and analyze market trends. Furthermore, the speakers will highlight ways to foster relationships between stakeholders and help future-proof evolving demands.
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and Founder of AHIC, said: “This year’s program has been painstakingly developed in consultation with hotel owners, investors, operators and consultants from across the region.” He then elaborates on the growing need to educate the market and synchronize the efforts of all stakeholders.
“AHIC will once again provide a forum for owners and operators to gather and discuss the issues at the heart of their business. A ‘day of disruption’ will bring invaluable learnings from outside of the industry. This includes sessions led by Google, the Foundation for Art and Blockchain and The Coca-Cola Company. Other plenary sessions will include exclusive data analysis on future market demand from HVS, STR, Colliers and Drees & Sommer,” Worsley said.
In addition, there will be content streams targeted specifically for hotel developers, owners, and investors. These aim to synch investments with future market demand. Other relevant happenings held will cover:
Jay Rosen, Head of Investment & Finance at The Red Sea Development Company said, “The development of large scale integrated destinations containing multiple hotel and residential properties creates new challenges for developers, owners and operators seeking to provide seamless experiences to visitors. Consequently, this kind of collaborative framework can yield significant benefits to the operators and the destination as a whole.”
Ahead of the event, Dr. Badr Al Badr, CEO, Dur Hospitality, commented: “In Saudi Arabia, all key stakeholders in the hotel investment industry are benefitting from Vision 2030. As a result, the wheels for socio-economic transformation already in motion. The time is right for hotel investors and operators to embrace this evolution and work together. Consequently, this will allow us to capitalize on the opportunities it presents to bring new and exciting hospitality concepts to a market,” he concluded.
Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said: “This year’s theme reflects our ongoing efforts to work with our stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism sector to accelerate the Emirate’s progress, increase its appeal and attract local/foreign investment in an environment that sustains long-term growth.”
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector.
Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC).
She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book.
She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter.
Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
