The second Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) is under way in Istanbul with the arrival of 350 delegates from 33 countries.  A networking session, followed by a reception at the Istanbul’s newest hotel - Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler will launch proceedings.

The conference programme on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel includes Turkish business leaders such as:  Hamdi Akin, Chairman of Akfen Holding company; Serdar Bilgili, Chairman of Bilgili Holding; Murat Dedeman, Chairman of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts;  and Cevdet Akçay, Chief Economist for Yapi Kredi Bank.

From the global hotel management companies, speakers include Kurt Ritter of Carlson Rezidor, Dennis Hannequin of Accor and Eric Danziger of Wyndham.  Also participating are representatives from IHG, Dedeman, Hilton, Starwood and Marriott,plus international economists, bankers and hotel industry analysts.

An exhibition of sponsors runs along side the conference, with more stands than the inaugural event in 2011.  Sponsors for this year’s event are:  Platinum sponsors BDO, Corinthia Hotels, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), Marmara Collection, Wyndham Hotel Group.  Gold sponsors Accor Hospitality, AECOM Design + Planning, Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion, Best Western International, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Horwath HTL, Hyatt International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Jumeirah Group, Marriott International, Inc, Orient-Express Hotels, Premier Inn, Rixos Hotels, Servotel Corporation, The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, T&T Consulting, WATG