18th Annual Hotel Investment Conference Announces Speakers for March 12-14 Event
Officials of the Hotel Investment Conference announced key speakers for the 18th annual Hotel Investment Conference scheduled for March 12-14 at Atlanta's Crowne Plaza Ravinia. The Hotel Investment Conference is one of the industry's four major annual nationwide events designed specifically for hotel owners and investors. 'We have enjoyed record attendance the past two years, and we believe that that trend will continue, based on advanced...
Officials of the Hotel Investment Conference announced key speakers for the 18th annual Hotel Investment Conference scheduled for March 12-14 at Atlanta's Crowne Plaza Ravinia. The Hotel Investment Conference is one of the industry's four major annual nationwide events designed specifically for hotel owners and investors. 'We have enjoyed record attendance the past two years, and we believe that that trend will continue, based on advanced reservations,' said Bob Hunter, conference founder and president of Hunter Realty. 'We had more than 600 people from 35 states, Canada and China participate in last year's three-day event, and we expect a larger and more diverse group this year. Despite our growing size, we remain the most accessible of the four major conferences. Our size allows us to attract the best speakers, yet gives everyone an opportunity to network in a relaxed atmosphere.'
The conference theme is 'Room with a View: What Do the Experts See.' Dr. Donald Ratajczak, consulting economist, will set the tone with an economic forecast for 2006 and its impact on the lodging industry. Keynote speakers will be Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., president of RJR Development, LLC, a firm that owns 29 hotels valued at more than $1 billion and is the largest U.S. African-American hotel investment company; and Horst Schulze, president and CEO of The West Paces Hotel Group and former leader of Ritz Carlton Hotels.
'Our keynoters are first-rate-Tom Baltimore runs one of the top owner/development companies in the country and is a remarkable success story, and Horst Schulze, former president and COO of the Ritz-Carlton hotel company, is one of the most celebrated figures in our industry,' Hunter noted. 'In addition, we will have 92 speakers, 15 roundtables and 12 breakout sessions covering a wide array of topics of interest to hotel owners. Our topics are quite diverse, ranging from condo-hotels and hotel waterparks, to emerging trends and development. We also will be discussing issues that are always of interest, including financing, hotel acquisitions and hotel management. With such a diverse group of speakers and varied backgrounds, we hope attendees will come away with some thought-provoking ideas about the hotel industry's immediate future.'
Some of the featured speakers include: Tom Keltner, president brand performance and development group, Hilton Hotels Corporation; David Kong, president and CEO, Best Western International; Hasmukh P. Rama, CEO and chairman of JHM Hotels; Stephen L. Schwartz, chairman and CEO, First Hospitality Group, LLC; Gary A. DeLapp, president and CEO Extended Stay Hotels; Justin Knight, President, Apple Reit Companies; and Joe V. Green, president and CFO, Winston Hotels.
'Networking remains a cornerstone of the Hotel Investment Conference,' Hunter said. 'In addition to the sessions and receptions, we will continue our highly popular dine-around event, which is concurrent small dinner groups that allow 10 participants to share a meal and some informal conversation with our key speakers.'
Interested parties may register for the conference on line at
The Hotel Investment Conference, designed for hotel owners and operators, is one of four annual nationwide events that attract the hotel industry's top leaders. Proceeds from the event benefit Georgia State University's hotel school.