Award to be presented at HICAP Update Southeast Asia, 26-27 May 2010

Costa Mesa, CA, USA - March 31, 2010 -  The organizers of the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) are delighted to announce that this year�s HICAP Trailblazer Award will be presented to Edmond Ip, CEO, Hotel Division, Kosmopolito Hotels International Ltd. at the HICAP Update Southeast Asia, scheduled for 26-27 May 2010, at the Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore. The first Trailblazer Award was presented in 2009 to Peter Barge of Jones Lang LaSalle who will make the presentation to Edmond Ip.

The Trailblazer Award is presented selectively to an individual who has been a leader and pioneer. Ip is the very epitome of a leader who has pioneered the way forward for many in the hotel industry.  Ip is being recognized for his many achievements as a hospitality industry veteran, with over 35 years� experience in hotel management, development and finance.   Ip was most recently Chief Advisor, Chief Operating Officer - Greater China and Managing Director for InterContinental Hotels Group.

�We�re very excited to recognize Edmond�s many groundbreaking contributions to our industry,� said Robert Hecker, Managing Director, Horwath HTL. �His roles in the early days of Hyatt�s expansion in Asia, co-founding Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, spearheading IHG�s growth in Greater China and establishing the IHG academy network for fostering China�s next generation of hotel professionals are just a few of his industry trailblazing accomplishments and contributions.�

�Edmond has always been one of those personalities in our industry who stand out, not just for his achievements, but also for his great way with people,� said Jim Burba, President of BHN. �Edmond has been an influential leader, mentor and a humanitarian; inspiring those around him.�

Ip, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, started his career in hotels with Hyatt in the early 1970�s. Since then he has made considerable and significant contributions to the industry throughout his long and storied career.  Recognizing the need to nurture and train future generations of hospitality leaders and professionals, Ip  established the IHG Academy in partnership with 22 tourism institutions and universities in China to provide training for hotel management students in eight Chinese cities. He is also involved in a number of charity initiatives, including Project Hope, which provides children in need with educational opportunities, scholarships, new school construction and expansion in China.

About the Hosts:

BHN is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. With more than two decades of experience, over 80 events completed or in production to-date, and more than 59,000 international delegates, BHN conferences have become �must attend� events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business and to learn about the latest trends. BHN events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in San Diego; the ALIS Summer Update in Los Angeles; the Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) to be held in El Salvador in 2010; the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Miami; the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong; HICAP Update Southeast Asia in Singapore; HICAP Update Japan in Tokyo; and the Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) in Mumbai. The BHN website at www.Burba.com is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world.

Horwath HTL � Asia Pacific since its establishment in 1987, has been involved with over 2,000 projects throughout the region in all phases of the property lifecycle for clients ranging from individually held businesses to the world�s most prominent hotel companies, developers, lenders, investors and industrial corporations. Horwath HTL � Asia Pacific currently operates out of offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Sydney, and Auckland and hosts hotel investment conferences in Hong Kong, Australia, China, and India.

To learn more about HICAP Update Southeast Asia (26-27 May 2010), HICAP Update Japan (24 May 2010), and HICAP (13-15 October 2010), please visit the conference website at www.HICAPconference.com.