CATHIC Will Serve as Forum to Discuss Tourism and Hospitality in Turkey

Turkey's hospitality industry leaders will gather here in June for the Turkey and Neighbours Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Turkey's burgeoning tourism and hospitality industries.

CATHIC, to be held June 9-10 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, is supported by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association and represented by Turkish event partner Alkas. It is expected to attract the region's top hotel investors, operators, developers, advisors, architects and government officials.

In a recent interview, Murat Ersoy, president of Atlas Jet and chairman of the Turkish Tourism Investors Association, said 33.5 million tourists visited Turkey in 2013, which generated revenues of $24.5 billion in U.S. dollars during the first nine months. During the last five years there has been double-digit growth in accommodation services, boosting the hotel industry's profitability and attracting more investors.

"International hotel chains, closely following these developments, have started to bring their brands – both in the luxury and midpriced segments – by placing Turkey at the forefront of their expansion strategies," he said, adding that there are now 4,067 certified hotels in the country representing 1,059,000 beds. Ersoy will address the future of Turkey's tourism infrastructure at CATHIC.

Dr. Daniel Thorniley, president of DT-Global Business Consulting GmbH, will kick off the conference with an update of the worldwide investment climate. He will be followed by Cenk Sidar, chief executive officer & president of Sidar Global, who will present the regional perspective.

They will discuss the fundamental strengths underpinning Turkey's continued growth and development despite recent political issues. "Turkey remains the number-two key strategic investment market in Europe for western investors," Thorniley said. "Government policy is pro-growth," helping to make Turkey "one of the most exciting business opportunities in the world."

Additional confirmed speakers include Mehmet Onkal, managing partner of BDO Hospitality Consulting, who will present a market analysis of Istanbul, the Turkish Riviera and secondary cities; Omer Isvan, president at Servotel Corporation, and Rui Barros, managing director and senior vice president EMEA of Wyndham Hotel Group, who will discuss strategies for growth and development in Turkey; and Şenay Azak-Matt, general manager Turkey for Aareal Bank Group, who will share insights into debt and equity financing.

Visit www.cathic.com for more details and to register.