Bench Events, the organiser of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, has unveiled a thought-provoking programme and high calibre speaker line-up for AHIF 2014, under the theme ‘Reaching New Heights’.

As the two-day conference will take place in Ethiopia for the first time, it allows international investors to take a closer look at the country, which has a tourism economy forecast to be worth ETB150 billion by the end of 2024.

Matthew Weihs, managing director, Bench Events, said: “Ethiopia remains one of Africa’s ‘best kept secrets’. 

“Few people realise that its economy is growing at more than seven per cent per annum and that it is forecast to be the third largest economy in Africa by 2015.

“For the tourism industry, this event is an opportunity to focus attention on what the country, and the continent, have to offer in both product and opportunity.”

Tewolde GebreMariam, chairman of the national tourism organisation and chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, added: “We have a long term vision to make Ethiopia Africa’s most important travel destination and I am greatly looking forward to discussing how we deliver that vision with a multitude of business leaders at AHIF.”

Ethiopia is not the main subject however.

The conference will focus on the geopolitical and economic climate across the whole continent and the latest developments in the hotel sector. 

Big issues such as the importance of conserving Africa’s tourism assets and connecting each of the African countries through good, new infrastructure will be discussed too.

The feasibility of investing successfully in Africa in general and in hospitality specifically will be explored in a series of panel discussions led by a group of experts on each topic.

Speakers are drawn from the ranks of government, hotel chains, banks and a range of prominent consultants.

To set the scene, the political economy across Africa and legislative framework that underpins investment and connectivity throughout Africa will be analysed by the internationally renowned strategy guru and academic, Martyn Davies, chief executive, Frontier Advisory. 

He will then be joined by a panel of African airline chiefs to talk about open skies.

This is followed by an examination of what is happening on a local and regional basis, led by Tendai Madziwanyika, chief executive of Rainbow Tourism Group and several regional representatives of Horwath HTL.

The benefits to business in conserving Africa’s tourism assets are up for debate next and questions will be posed on sustainability.

Examples of current innovations for addressing energy conservation and water shortage in Africa will be given and how these can be applied within the hospitality arena.

The topic will be championed by Salim Bitar, chief executive, Rani Invest.

Day two begins with international hotel operators having their say on the value they bring to the African market and how the market will develop over the next ten years. 

Panellists include top executives from Hilton, Mangalis, Rezidor, Starwood and Wyndham.

AHIF 2014 is taking place from September 29th-October 1st in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.