Sir Rocco Forte to be special guest at IMEX 2012
Sir Rocco Forte will join up to 70 industry leaders and 30 international politicians at the prestigious Rocco Forte Hotel, the Villa Kennedy, for the 10th Politicians Forum at IMEX in Frankfurt on May 22nd. Forte’s presence, together with that of keynote speaker, Nick de Bois, MP, Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events, will provide valuable, added authority to the Forum.
Forte is chairman of luxury hotel group, Rocco Forte Hotels, which he founded in 1996. The company operates hotels in key European destinations, including three in the German market - Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich - and recently opened its first property in the Middle East, Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi.
His wealth of experience as a supplier to the meetings and events industry since joining Forte Plc in 1969 means his comments and observations about the industry will set the tone for the day’s debate. The Politicians Forum programme will focus on the critical role played by meetings, conventions and related business events in the development of the knowledge economy and how destinations and their political representatives can work together more effectively.
Says Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group: “We are delighted that Sir Rocco is able to join the Politicians Forum in our 10th anniversary year and Villa Kennedy is also a stunning venue in which to be holding this important meeting which never fails to get the industry talking and committed to positive change.”
A veteran of the hospitality industry, Forte was knighted in 1994 for services to the UK tourism industry and, in 2005, was awarded the highest Italian accolade – the Gran Croce dell’Ordine al Merito della Republicca Italiana - for his entrepreneurial achievements. He is also past President of the British Hospitality Association and has been an active member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
ADVERTISEMENT