Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels

Singapore, March 27, 2001 - The 4th Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Investment Conference, jointly sponsored by Arthur Andersen and Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, has once again affirmed its position as the premier forum for the Asia Pacific hotel industry. Held on Wednesday, March 21, at The Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore, the one-day event attracted an audience of 280 CEOs, CFOs and Managing Directors of hotel owner/operating companies, representing the cream of Asia Pacific's international hotel industry. This year's conference was chaired by Alex Kyriakidis, Worldwide Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen, and had the largest turnout since it began in 1998.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the "Lifetime" Achievement Award to Dr. Hari N. Harilela, Chairman of the Harilela Group. The prestigious accolade recognizes Dr. Harilela's dedication, achievements and commitment to Asia Pacific's hotel industry and for being a source of inspiration to other hotel owners, operators and investors. The Harilela Group of hotels in Asia Pacific includes properties in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Penang, Bangkok and Sydney.

Conference proceedings included a series of overviews addressing the macroeconomic issues influencing Asia Pacific's hotel industry, its performance in 2000 and the investment and performance outlook for the region's key cities.

The Panel' session – an annual session of owners versus operators – attracted immense interest by featuring key industry figures such as Koos Klein (Hilton International), Miguel Ko (Starwood Hotels and Resorts), Richard Hartman (Bass Hotels and Resorts) and Dr. Aron Harilela (Harilela Group), with Peter Barge, CEO and Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels acting as moderator. As with previous years, this highly charged debate generated a lively discussion between two opposing groups.

A conference first for this year was the use of an audience voting system, which allowed the panel moderators to actively involve its attendees and solicit feedback on a variety of pertinent issues facing the industry.

In addition to the keynote presentations, a series of panel sessions focused on:

  • Australia Post-Olympics – drawing on the experience of the hotel and wider tourism industry, the panel highlighted lessons for future hostCities
  • E-Business in the Hospitality Industry – e-business experts and hoteliers discussed the benefits of both e-distribution and e-procurement.

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, the world's leading hotel investment services

group, provides clients with value-added investment opportunities and advice. Its recent two-year success story includes the sale of 13,994 hotel rooms to the value of US$1.4 billion in 48 cities and advisory expertise for 173,021 rooms to the value of US$32.6 billion across 343 cities. Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' services include transactions, mergers and acquisitions, financial advice and capital raising, valuation and appraisal, asset management, strategic planning, operator assessment and selection and industry research. Jones Lang LaSalle JLL is the world's leading real estate services and investment management firm, operating across more than 100 key markets on five continents.

Leah Davis
+1 480 219 8690
JLL