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BBC’s Simpson to speak at hotel forum

John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor will be the keynote speaker at the 11th annual International Hotel Investment Forum, scheduled for 3-5 March 2008 at the InterContinental Berlin.The IHIF is hosted by Questex Media and Burba Hotel Network (BHN), with organizational support provided by The Bench.

In a BBC career spanning 40 years, Simpson has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most experienced and authoritative journalists. His assignments have included the great majority of big international news stories since the 1980s: the Iranian revolution against the Shah (when he flew to Tehran with Ayatollah Khomeini), the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe and in Russia itself, Tiananmen Square, the Gulf War, the wars in Bosnia, the end of apartheid in South Africa, the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, their overthrow in 2001 and the invasion of Iraq two years later. Since then Simpson has reported regularly from Baghdad.

About Simpson’s upcoming keynote address to IHIF delegates, Jim Burba, president of BHN said, “We’re delighted that Mr. Simpson will be able to join us as the keynote speaker at the IHIF. With a reputation amongst journalists for breaking the big story and getting the big scoop, John has reported from some of the world’s most troubled spots over the last quarter of a century. His first hand knowledge of the issues gives him a unique insight into foreign affairs, and the geo-political challenges facing the world today.”

The IHIF is one of Europe’s largest gatherings of hotel industry leaders, drawing a record crowd of nearly 1,600 in March 2007.
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