The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) continues to set the industry standard for conference speakers and programme content. Information on some of the topical and engaging sessions new for IHIF 2015 will be detailed over the following weeks.

The global hotel industry is constantly required to adapt to a multitude of trends in lifestyle, the economy and technology. It is how the various individuals and organisations within the sector respond to these changes that provides commentary, insight and debate across the community. A session dedicated to examining this area has been created for IHIF 2015. "Colliding Megatrends; Innovation, Disruption and Sharing – The Challenge of Change" will take place on Monday 2nd March between 15.45 – 17.30. The plenary session begins with a keynote address by Leo Johnson, Partner PwC and author of Turnaround Challenge: Business and the City of the Future and Dr. Graeme R. Codrington, International Director, TomorrowTodayGlobal. Both will lay out how colliding megatrends are posing unprecedented risks of disruption and unique opportunities for innovation over the next decade. This will be followed by interviews with Chip Conley, Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy, Airbnb and Frits van Paasschen, President & Chief Executive Officer, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc with the title "The World is Changing – It Is Ours To Win Or Lose". The combined session will be hosted by Michael Hirst OBE, Consultant CBRE Hotels. Commenting on the session, Hirst said: "The hospitality industry is going through a period of continuous change unlike it has ever seen before. The success of hospitality experiences depend on providing personalised services to an ever more demanding and changing customer base. All of this is

happening against a world in which economic, social, environmental, technological and capital structures are changing too. Providers of hospitality must clearly define their offering and ensure it efficiently delivers for guests. This session will explore the main challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Our guest speakers represent the very best in thought leadership and hospitality business management. Their perspectives will be invaluable in providing perspectives that will, I have no doubt, provide a thought provoking opening debate for the event".

One of the main benefits of attending IHIF has long been the ability to debate the key issues of the day. New to IHIF 2015 is a series of "In-the-Round" sessions which will take place on the morning of Wednesday 4th March. These sessions will provide a platform for smaller, more intimate and informative discussions which delegate feedback indicates would be a welcome addition to the conference programme. There will be 20 "In-the-Round" sessions, each being able to accommodate between 20-30 people in a relaxed round circle discussion group. Each session will be led by 1 or 2 industry experts who will prepare and guide the discussion. The topics for these sessions are available in the IHIF programme – click here and then visit page 13.

About IHIF

The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), produced by Questex LLC in partnership with Bench Events, is the premier hotel investment conference in the world, attracting the most prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies, tourism and government officials and advisers. Held in Berlin every March, the three-day event is attended by nearly 2,000 people from over 70 countries. Tactical education and networking functions deliver a powerful return on investment, valuable connections and opportunities for business expansion. Participants gain knowledge of industry trends, available financing and prospective growth markets from experts in the hotel industry. Other events within the IHIF series include: North America Hotel Investment Conference (NATHIC), Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC), Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) and Mediterranean Resort & Hotel Real Estate Forum (MR&H). For more information, visit www.ihif.com.

About Questex

Questex Hospitality Group, a division of Questex LLC, represents a senior audience of $650 billion in hotel assets, reaching one in two hotel owners and operators across the globe. With a portfolio of both media and live events, including Hospitality Investor, Annual Hotel Conference (AHC), International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), and Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R), Questex Hospitality Group brings together leaders in hospitality investment, development and operations to make the deals that shape recovery and growth in the sector.

Emily Newman
Communications and Content Manager
+44 (0)7771 686202
Questex