Record Registrations for Thailand Hotel Investment Conference

travel_index_029Bangkok (Thailand) – May 8, 2014 – Thailand Hotel Investment Conference (THIC) has registered record numbers of overseas registrations, topping 24 countries ahead of the May 19-21 event, confirming its importance for the Asia Pacific hospitality investment community.

The draw to a destination recognized by the industry as the home of hospitality in Asia remains strong despite the ongoing political uncertainty in the capital, a fact further consolidated by the strong speaker line up for the two-day event.

Held at the Dusit Thani Bangkok, THIC will be opened by Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik.

Marilyn McHugh, Questex Hospitality + Travel vice president, global events and organizer of THIC, confirmed that 24 countries were represented so far – with just over half the delegates coming from overseas for an event that presents an opportunity to gain access to hundreds of new projects and contracts.

“It’s very gratifying to see the international confidence in Thailand,” she said. “The high sign-up rate of overseas delegates is proof of the Thai hospitality sector’s resilience in the face of the political uncertainty and demonstrates that there are no real concerns.”

The event’s highlights will include a high-level investment-focused discussion, “Regional Hotel Investment Roundup: What Areas in Asia are Hot for Investment and Why?”

Tourism Solutions International Managing Director Eric Levy will moderate the discussion, and the panelists will include Faez Jumabhov, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate for CIMB Investment Bank, Royal Group of Companies Managing Director Bobby Hiranandani and Peter Meyers, Host Hotels and Resorts Managing Director – Asia Pacific.

Other discussion highlights include “Insight Panel: Proactive Risk Management for Investing in Growth Markets” and “Risk Management Panel: Managing Cyclical Businesses, Epidemics, Currency Wars and Other Risks”.

The first panel will be moderated Prab Thakral, Group CEO, Boutique Group of Companies. The panelists will include The Ascott Limited Chief Investment Officer Gerald Yong, Amburava Hotels & Resorts Managing Director Ashwani Bajaj and Lombard Investments Managing Director Pote Videt.

The second panel will be moderated by CFO Innovation Asia Editor-in-Chief Cesar Bacani, and will feature Nova Group Founder Rony Fineman, Minor Hotel Group Vice President Finance Wayne Williams and Sipim Srisuro, Group Financial Controller for the Bandara Group.

Other notable speakers and panelists include Nigel Cornick, CEO of Kingdom Property and Anchalika Kijkanakorn, Owner and Managing Director of AHMS Hotels, a pioneering boutique hotel group. She is also the Chairman of the Board of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Networking highlights include IHIF Networking Express, a successful speed dating meet and greet based on that from the IHIF flagship Berlin event, as well as interactive roundtables – discussions on investment niches and hot topics with like-minded individuals.

About Thailand Hotel Investment Conference
Thailand Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC) is one of the leading hotel business events in the region, providing investors, developers and hospitality professionals with unprecedented insight into the industry, its opportunities and future trends through access to a roster of distinguished speakers and access to high level networking events. Sister event, APHIC was launched in 2009 and has been held in Bangkok, Thailand since 2013. This year the Thailand event will focus on investment opportunities in Thailand and Mekong area and be held at the Dusit Thani Hotel from May 29-21. For more information see: http://ihif.questexevents.net/

About Questex Hospitality + Travel
Questex Hospitality + Travel, the largest multimedia organization in the world dedicated to travel and lodging, drives revenue, productivity and value-creation for these related industries through strategic investment and deal-making forums, powerful lead-generation tools, interactive online business solutions, world-class events and industry-leading publications. Questex Hospitality + Travel also provides business development, marketing and training services to national tourism organizations, destination marketing associations, hotel, gaming, resort and cruise companies, online travel agencies and travel advisors worldwide. Questex Hospitality + Travel is a division of Questex Media Group LLC, headquartered in Newton, Mass., with offices throughout the world.

For further information, please contact:
Charis Jiang
Event Director, Asia
Questex Hospitality
Tel: +852 2589 1369
E-mail: cjiang@questexasia.com
Website: ihif.questexevents.net