Launch of Institute of Hospitality Evening Discussions on Hot Industry Topics

• 'Profit Crystal Ball' on 8 November 2007
• 'Who will be the Winners in 2012?' on 20 November 2007

The Institute of Hospitality is delighted to announce the first two events in a new series of Evening Discussions on current major industry issues, where panels of experts will debate and inform on key topics affecting the profession.

The first two evening discussions will be held in London in November 2007. On 8 November, the future prosperity of the hospitality and leisure industry is to be put under the microscope at the Apex City of London Hotel by a panel of distinguished experts, chaired by Hotel Industry Consultant Melvin Gold FIH.

Entitled 'Profit Crystal Ball', the evening discussion will be undertaken by a panel that includes Bernard Donoghue, Head of Government and Public Affairs at VisitBritain; Robert Milburn, UK Leader for Hospitality and Leisure, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC); Bob Silk, Relationship Director, Barclays Hospitality and Leisure Team; Peter Lederer CBE FIH MI, Managing Director of Gleneagles and President of the Institute of Hospitality; and Professor Gary Akehurst, freelance management consultant, researcher, author and an Emeritus Professor of Marketing at the University of Wales.

They will be examining evidence from the present and past two years that can throw potential light on predicting factors affecting hospitality and leisure industry business performance trends and developments in 2008.

On 20 November, the potential effects of the 2012 Olympic Games on the UK hospitality industry will be scrutinised at the London Marriott Hotel, County Hall, by a panel of distinguished experts, chaired by Jane Sunley FIH, Managing Director of learnpurple. They will debate amongst other related issues how the industry is going to ensure it has a fully trained, professional workforce in place for 2012 and beyond.

Entitled 'Who Will Be The Winners in 2012?', the evening discussion will be undertaken by a panel that includes Brian Wisdom MIH, Chief Executive, People 1st; Kurt Janson, Policy Director, Tourism Alliance; Nadine Collins, Senior Olympic Skills and Employment Manager, London Development Agency; Andy Morris, Managing Consultant, Egremont Group; and Tim Bowley, Human Resources Director, Premier Inn.

The above two events are free to all Institute of Hospitality members; and £55 plus VAT to all non-members. Both begin at 5.45pm with a drinks reception, followed by the panel debate at 6.30pm.

For full regularly updated information of these events and future ones in the series, please visit the Institute of Hospitality website: www.instituteofhospitality.org/seminars , where booking forms for the evening discussions can be downloaded. In addition, bookings can be made by contacting: David Golder on telephone: +44 (0)20 8661 4924; fax: +44 (0)20 8661 4901; or email: david.golder@instituteofhospitality.org

The Profit Crystal Ball | Institute of Hospitality Seminar 8 November 2007 Apex City of London Hotel London, United Kingdom More Information | Website

Who will be the Winners in 2012? | Institute of Hospitality Seminar 20 November 2007 London Marriott Hotel London, United Kingdom More Information | Website