Trends and future developments in hotel financing
around the Middle East region are just two of the core subjects under the
spotlight in a major panel session at the Arabian Hotel Investment
Conference, taking place in Dubai between April 30 and May 2.Speakers including Bernard Mouchbahani, managing director of Beirut-based
ProFinance, Istithmar’s chief investment officer David Jackson, and Husam
Hourani, a partner at Al Tamimi & Company in Dubai, will join moderator
Thierry Loue, partner at the RSP Group.

The panel will address topics such as Islamic financing and its impact in
the region, as well as discussing the major players in this specialist
financial sector.

According to conference organiser, Jonathan Worsley, the liquidity of
financial investment is key to development of the hospitality sector
through the Arab world, and the transfer of local funds in to the market
has in part fuelled the spectacular growth in hotel numbers in recent
years.

“The Middle East region has always had its peculiarities in terms of hotel
ownership and the type of finance available, and at a time of change, this
key topic is of vital importance to all delegates to the Arab Hotel
Investment Conference,” he said.

“How Islamic financing may develop, and who is likely to invest in the
market are just two of the topics that are likely to top the agenda, and
the answers will be of interest to everyone with a stake in the Middle
East hotel industry.”

A curtain raiser to the Arabian Travel Market, the Arabian Hotel
Investment Conference at Madinat Jumeirah conference centre in Dubai is
organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate
firm in the world, and MEED Conferences. Details of AHIC can be found on
www.arabianconference.com
.

The advisory panel includes among others:  Sarmad Zok, CEO Kingdom Hotel
Investments; Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing
director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels
and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff,
CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World
Travel & Tourism Council; and regional directors from international hotel
groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.

 

Already signed up as platinum sponsors are: IFA Hotels and Resorts;
Nakheel Company LLC; Kingdom Hotel Investments and Rezidor SAS
Hospitality.

 

Gold sponsors are: Arabian Travel Market; Deloitte; Dubai Festival City;
Emirates Airline, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Gullivers Travel Associates;
HVS International; Interval International; Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels;
Jumeirah International; InterContinental Hotels Group; Le Méridien Hotels
& Resorts; M. A. Kharafi Group; Marriott International; Movenpick Hotels &
Resorts; RCI Middle East; Octopus Travel; RSP Group; Starwood Hotels &
Resorts and Strategic Solutions.

 

Media sponsors are: AME Info, CNBC Arabia, CNBC Europe, Global Hospitality
Resources, HOTELS, Sleeper and TTN.

 

Supporters are: Dubai Convention Bureau, Emirates Academy of Hospitality;
International Hotel & Restaurant Association; International Business
Leaders Forum, Villeroy & Boch; the World Travel & Tourism Council and WOW
Travels.

——-