Optimism about hotel development, financing and property values prevailed among the 2,000 delegates from 73 countries who attended the 17th annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) , which took place last week at the InterContinental Berlin.
The final day of the 17th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) opened with the results of the IHIF Student Challenge which was deservingly awarded to Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Students took to the stage to summarise their project to the audience. Andrea Belfanti, Executive Director, International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), then presented the IHIF Young Leader Award to Patricia Gellardo, Global Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. On presenting the award Belfanti said of Gellardo that she was "truly passionate and cares deeply about making the world a better place". Gellardo accepted the award and urged everyone in the industry "to think about responsible business". She stated that it was "time to start doing things differently". The award is presented in partnership with the IHIF and recognises outstanding contribution to the industry by a young hospitality leader.
The second day of IHIF 2014 started with a message of thanks to Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group from Kerry Gumas, Chief Executive Officer, Questex Media Group LLC for hosting the African Extravaganza themed opening night reception on Monday night at the Radisson Blu Berlin.
The 17th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) opened to a delegation of close to 2,000 this afternoon. Kerry Gumas, President & Chief Executive Officer, Questex Media Group LLC and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, Bench Events welcomed all delegates from across the complete range of the investment community. Worsley thanked the 52 members of the advisory board and the 200 participants scheduled to speak, present and moderate over the next three days.
This week, Hotel Management is in Berlin for the 17th annual Hotel Investment Forum. Events kicked off today with nearly 2,000 delegates from all over the world in attendance. Editor in chief Stephanie Ricca shares some highlights of the first day on video, including a recap of European hotel performance in 2014 and some forecasts for the investment environment in 2014.
Innovations set trends in the tourism industry too, which is why ITB Berlin is devoting a part of its show to these products. From 5 to 7 March 2014 in Hall 7.1b, visitors can find and take a look at tourism innovations and also try some of them out themselves. In collaboration with Multivisio and the experts from TrendONE the world's leading travel trade show has gathered 100 tourism trends which visitors can vote for online at www.itb- innovators.de until 5 March. At the ITB Berlin Convention Nils Müller, CEO of TrendONE, will host a live multimedia show presenting forward-looking innovations in the tourism industry. Admission is free for trade visitors and exhibitors.
Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion with first-time exhibitors from Mexico, ITB's partner country, Slovenia, Majorca, Madrid and China – show debut for media networking event – ITB Berlin Convention programme features discussion round – popular ITB TomOnTour Party on 5 March
Maintaining its position as a leading conference for the global hospitality industry, the 2014 International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), presented by Questex Media Group 3- 5 March at the InterContinental Berlin, will feature tourism ministers from emerging and developed countries offering their perspective on key issues affecting hotels and resorts.
Hotel online distribution specialist eRevMax will bring an Asian twist to the mega travel tradeshow, ITB Berlin, next month. The company will be hosting its signature TigerTime sessions with an interesting mix of major Asian OTAs. The aim of the sessions is to provide hotels with valuable insights into how to capture their fair share of bookings in these emerging markets from the key online distribution players in the region.
More chief executive officers are expected to attend the 17th annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) at the InterContinental Berlin 3-5 March than in any previous year.
eTravel World joins Travel Technology under one roof in Hall 6.1 for the first time – international companies' latest trends and innovations occupy a larger display area – leading eTravel experts host workshops, papers and discussions on up-to-the-minute topics
Companies and international travel bloggers meet at the second ITB Berlin Bloggers Speed Dating event – lectures and workshops on working with bloggers – first ITB Berlin YouTube Film Award offers prize money worth 1,000 euros for the most creative entry
Continuing the long standing commitment to delivering a varied and comprehensive educational programme, the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Berlin will host some of the most respected and learned speakers from across the world. Over the follow weeks, we will highlight some key topics to be addressed across the broad IHIF 2014 programme.
Researching and networking in order to look for a job: these are the skills required of students and graduates, and for them ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, is an important platform as well. This year, for the first time, the show will be assisting this audience by providing them with a comprehensive online guide which enables visitors in search of courses and jobs to make the best possible use of the opportunities at ITB Berlin.
Meeting place for business travel and event managers at the world's leading travel trade show – outstanding papers and workshops – latest: Peter Schaar, former Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, will speak about "leaving a data trail on one's travels – how accessible should traveller information be?"
The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), has announced its coveted conference program and speaker line-up for 2014. Scheduled to take place at The Hotel InterContinental Berlin, March 3 – 5th, 2014, IHIF is the leading international meeting place for the hotel investment community. The prestigious event routinely steers the direction for the hotel investment industry and is attended by nearly 2,000 of the most senior level professionals from around the world, with over 60 countries represented.
Further to its announcement on 1 July 2013 of the acquisition of the freeholds and associated inventories of art'otel berlin mitte and art'otel berlin kudamm (the "Hotels") by companies within the Company's group of companies (the "Group"), the Company is pleased to announce that those companies amongst others have today entered into a 50:50 joint venture in relation to the Hotels with the Nakash group and its wholly owned entities ("Nakash").
Torsten K. Schulze is to head up the new first-class establishment Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt in Berlin when it opens for business at the start of May. 50-year old Torsten K. Schulze moves from the Steigenberger Hotel Berlin, where he has held the reins as General Manager since 2007. With very few exceptions, he has remained loyal to the Steigenberger Hotel Group since the outset of his career. After completing initial vocational education and training in the occupation of hotel clerk at the Steigenberger Conti Hansa in Kiel, Torsten K. Schulze went on to gain further experience at Kempinski and Sheraton Hotels before returning to the Frankfurt-based Steigenberger Group and taking over as Deputy Director at the Steigenberger Drei Mohren in Augsburg in 1993. In the role of Director, he supported the openings of the Steigenberger Esprix Hotel in Celle and of the two Steigenberger Hotels Frankfurt City and Metropolitan, Frankfurt between 1996 und 2007. In addition to his duties as Director of the new Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt in Berlin, Torsten K. Schulze will continue to act as Area General Manager (AGM) for the Berlin Region.
57-year old Gondra Wettley stepped into Torsten K. Schulze's shoes at the Steigenberger Hotel Berlin with effect from 1 January 2014. Before joining the Steigenberger Hotel Group in 1992, Ms. Wettley had already completed two courses of study at the Dresden Trade School and at the Leipzig School of Management. She also brought more than 15 years of experience in the hotel business to the table, having worked in the field of procurement before moving into human resources management. Following two years as Management Assistant at the Steigenberger Maxx Hotel Jena, she was appointed General Manager at the Steigenberger Esprix Hotel Halle, a position she held for two years. Gondra Wettley had spent the whole of the period since 1997 as General Manager of the Steigenberger Hotel Sanssouci in Potsdam, beginning by successfully guiding the establishment through its pre-opening phase. Between 2007 and 2009, she studied part-time for a Masters Degree in Tourism Management at Chur University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.
Sofitel has signed a management contract for the Hotel Concorde Berlin which, as of February 1st 2014, will be operated under its new name, the Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm.