The advisory panel includes among others:  Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council Company; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana. 

According to Jonathan Worsley, organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the conference has been launched to reflect the region�s tourism growth. He said: �Arabia is one of the world�s fastest-growing regions for travel and tourism; in fact, tourism is driving the economies for many of these countries.�

The Conference is being launched for the following reasons:

• Dubai and many city-states throughout the region are fast becoming major hubs for the development of tourism and the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference offers an excellent platform for the industry to meet investors and developers.
• To allow the industry to speak at the highest level to promote economic growth, employment and investment for the region.
• To encourage operators and investors from the region and around the world to meet in a resort setting allowing for discussion and networking opportunities.
• Most regions of the world have a major hotel investment conference and the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will be the event for the Middle East region based in Dubai. 

Industry leaders were quick to lend their support and form an advisory panel to set the agenda for the conference. Sarmad Zok, CEO of the Saudi Arabia-based Kingdom Hotel Investments, said: �We are looking to AHIC to encourage and foster the growth and development of the hotel industry in a region that desperately needs more investment activity and governmental initiatives.�

According to Tony Williams, vice president of resorts and projects for Emirates Holidays, the launch of AHIC mirrors activity in the UAE. He said: �This supports the development of the emirate and general development of the region. With a target of 15 million visitors by 2010, the future of Dubai is ambitious, and therefore we need the hotel rooms to support this increased demand.�

Peter Cardnell, director general of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, added: �We are keen to be involved to ensure that the region continues to be recognised as one of the most exciting, rewarding and high potential markets for hospitality investments.� 

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will run from April 30 � May 2, 2005, on the eve of the Arabian Travel Market, at Dubai�s new Madinat Jumeirah resort. The conference is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences.

Francesca Ambrosini
Conference Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7505 6008
Email: [email protected]
 www.arabianconference.com