AHIC 2018 to uncover the reality of hotel investment risks and returns in the global marketplace

Dubai, UAE. – The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2018 (AHIC) will offer strategic insights to the principles of hotel investment, development and construction; showcase regional and global hospitality projects with live investment opportunities; and provide more networking events than ever before.

Planning for 'AHIC on the Beach', the 14^th edition of the annual knowledge and networking platform for the hotel investment community, which will be held from 17-19 April 2018 at the purpose-built AHIC Village in the grounds of the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), is currently underway in collaboration with industry experts.

The 2018 programme is being shaped following the AHIC Advisory Board, held at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in Dubai, at which 37 of the Middle East's leading hotel owners, developers, and operators and consultants gathered to debate issues focused around the key pillars of hotel investment, innovation and inspiration.

The Advisory Board revealed a collective desire to build hotels for ROI, with land, development and construction costs all coming under scrutiny. Participants look to better understand value engineering, the use of renewable energy sources and sustainable construction for decreased costs – all topics that will be featured in the AHIC 2018 programme.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and Founder of AHIC, said: "Our annual Advisory Board meeting is an essential component of the programming for AHIC, and we are very grateful for the input of all members. Every year, the discussion is different and this debate was dominated by a clear focus on the costs of development versus the reality of returns. There was a thirst for knowledge around issues such as risk adjustment and returns, supply and security, facilitation of foreign investment, ownership models and even exit strategies for distressed assets."

Worsley continued: "Our Advisory Board also discussed new investment vehicles; innovative finance models; cryptocurrencies and digital payments; the impact of the co-living and working movement on the hotel model; how to maximise the religious tourism market in KSA; and where and what is the new mid-market. These are the hard-hitting topics we plan to address at AHIC 2018."

Considering the latest Middle East hotel pipeline and performance data, presented to the Advisory Board by Philip Wooller, Area Director Middle East, STR, owners and operators alike aired their concerns about the continuing imbalance between supply and demand and the inevitable consequence of declining RevPAR. Currently, the Middle East is one of only two regions globally, the other being South America, in which supply is outstripping demand, with supply increasing at a rate of 4.9% versus demand at 3.2%.

"Room rate alone will not be enough to drive revenues for owners, so hoteliers must look at ancillary revenue sources, from food and beverage and spa and wellness to MICE, retail and as yet largely untapped opportunities, such as shared working spaces," said Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director – Middle East, Bench Events. "We are developing a specific content stream for AHIC 2018 to help our delegates understand the opportunities to innovate their business models in ways that will help drive returns".

The Advisory Board also revealed a desire for insights from other business sectors and for the first time, AHIC 2018 will feature a 'Spotlight on Innovation' series with speakers from outside the hospitality industry taking to the stage.

There will also be live-on-stage interviews with leading hotel operators, expected to reveal their approach to maintaining the competitive edge. Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer of InterContinental Hotels Group, appointed in July 2017, is confirmed as a key speaker, along with Christoph Hoffmann, CEO and Partner, 25Hours and Amar Lalvani, CEO and Managing Partner, Standard International.

In addition to three days of engaging content, AHIC 2018 will present its first Project Showcase, highlighting regional and international hotel investment opportunities.

Locally, these will include Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the few markets bucking current performance trends, with Total Guest Nights up 17.7 per cent during the first six months of 2017 and Room Revenue increasing by 13.3 per cent.

Haitham Mattar, CEO, RAKTDA, said: "These strong performance indicators, which are expected to continue throughout the last quarter of 2017 and beyond, clearly outline the potential for investors in looking at Ras Al Khaimah for their next hospitality venture. As Ras Al Khaimah draws closer to reaching its one million visitors target by the end of 2018, and charts a path towards attracting 2.9 million visitors by 2025, the need for quality hotel rooms has never been so important."

"To accommodate this growth in visitors, we are providing potential investors a range of innovative opportunities to develop stand out properties across the emirate," Mattar said, adding that these would be showcased at AHIC.

RAKTDA is working closely with the AHIC team to create the custom-built AHIC Village, in partnership with renowned designer Harlequin Arena Group.

John Emmerson, Director of Events, MEED, said: "Everything Ras Al Khaimah has to offer, from the highest mountain peak, to the depths of the sea and everywhere in between, made it the perfect location to enhance the AHIC experience within an authentic cultural setting. The venue and landscape provides an amazing opportunity for the industry to get away and focus on relationships, opportunities and knowledge. We're delighted that AHIC 2018 will take the industry out of the day to day, creating an environment for attendees to focus on connecting, learning and doing deals."

The AHIC Village will feature purpose-built spaces for more than 800 delegates to conduct prearranged meetings onsite; pop-ups from innovative restaurateurs; activities for attendees to break the ice and strengthen relationships; informal beach bar networking areas and much more.

For registrations and for more information, visit: www.arabianconference.com

Contact: Lisa Flanagan, Senior Communications Consultant, In2 Consulting; [email protected] Office: +971 4 455 8499; Mobile: +971 52 689 5509

About AHIC 2021

AHIC, now in its 17^th year, is the annual gathering for the Middle East's hospitality investment community organised by global hotel investment event organiser Bench in partnership with Middle East business intelligence brand, MEED. AHIC creates a knowledge and networking platform for global and regional investors of all backgrounds, offering essential insights to investing in hotels, showcasing regional and international hospitality investment opportunities and facilitating direct connections with hospitality industry stakeholders. AHIC 2021 will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 20 to 22 September under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, whose continued support of the industry and AHIC has been critical to the region's tourism growth.

AHIC 2021 Sponsors

Sponsors include: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as Host Sponsor; Accor, Dur Hospitality, Hilton and SMIT as Platinum Sponsors; Emaar Hospitality Group, IHG, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, NEOM, Radisson Hotel Group, Rotana and Taiba Investments as Emerald Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality, Bespoke Modular Solutions, Colliers International, Compass Project Consulting, Farnek, HVS, The Indian Hotels Company, Insignia, IT Hospitality Group, Katch, Louvre Hotels Group, OBMI Architecture, SSH, STR, TIME Hotels, Toggle Hospitality and The London Project as Gold Sponsors; Al Tamimi and Company, Colliers Project Leaders, Deutsche Hospitality, Diriyah Gate Authority, Hotstats, JLL, MMAC Design, CHIC-NAIA, PWC, Ròya, Shangri-La Group, The Red Sea Development Company, and Voltere by Egis as Silver Sponsors; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Sustainability Hospitality Alliance and WiH Global as Supporters; JA Resorts and Hotels as Golf Supporter; and Nespresso as Official Coffee Partner.

Anne Bleeker
In2 Consulting FZE
+971 56 6030886
MEED