Dubai, UAE. 23 June, 2021. The region’s leading hospitality investment conference, AHIC, has confirmed the first 50 speakers for this year’s event, being held live and in-person from September 20-22, 2021 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company and Amaala; Samih Sawiris, chairman, Orascom Hotel and Development; Olivier Harnisch, head of hospitality, Public Investment Fund; Jerry Inzerillo, CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority; and Olivier Granet, managing partner and chief executive officer, Kasada Capital Management, are among the names representing the Middle East and Africa’s mega projects and funds.

Leaders from some of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups are also confirmed to speak, including Sébastien Bazin, CEO and chairman, Accor; Federico J. González, Global CEO, Radisson Hotel Group; Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited; Simon Vincent, president EMEA & EVP, Hilton; Kenneth Macpherson, chief executive officer, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, IHG; Guy Hutchinson, president and CEO, Rotana; Marloes Knippenberg, CEO, Kerten Hospitality; and Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer, MEA, Milllenium & Copthorne.

Under the theme Rise Together, these hotel owners, developers, investors and operators will lead debate and discussion to navigate the ‘Great Reset’ born out of the pandemic, with many more speakers set to join them over the coming months.

Jose Silva, chief executive officer, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, host sponsor of AHIC, will address the audience in one-on-one interview live on stage, while the world of F&B will also be represented, with Jillian Maclean, founder and CEO, Drake & Morgan; Chris Miller, founder, White Rabbit Fund; Lynne Bellinger, director of food and beverage development, Marriott International; and Robin Rowland OBE, Operating Partner, TriSpan on the line-up.

Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench and founder of AHIC, said: “We are thrilled to have already signed up such a stellar roster of global and regional hospitality leaders to speak at AHIC 2021, and are currently working with them and our Advisory Board to ensure our programme will deliver content that will challenge and inspire, as well as provide a robust buyer and seller platform under one roof”.

Reimagined for 2021, the new-look Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC) will bring together the four close-knit investment communities of the Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC), Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC), Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF).

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Note to Editors:

About AHIC 2021

AHIC, now in its 17^th year, is the annual gathering for the Middle East’s hospitality investment community organised by global hotel investment event organiser Bench in partnership with Middle East business intelligence brand, MEED. AHIC creates a knowledge and networking platform for global and regional investors of all backgrounds, offering essential insights to investing in hotels, showcasing regional and international hospitality investment opportunities and facilitating direct connections with hospitality industry stakeholders. AHIC 2021 will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 20 to 22 September under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, whose continued support of the industry and AHIC has been critical to the region’s tourism growth.

AHIC 2021 Sponsors

Sponsors include: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as Host Sponsor; Accor, Dur Hospitality and Hilton as Platinum Sponsors; Emaar Hospitality Group, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Neom, Radisson Hotel Group and Taiba Investments as Emerald Sponsors; Compass Project Consulting, The Indian Hotels Company, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Insignia, IT Hospitality Group, Katch, Louvre Hotels Group, OBMI Architecture, SSH, STR, Toggle Hospitality and The London Project as Gold Sponsors; Al Tamimi and Company, Hotstats, HVS, JLL, Opeco, NAIA, PWC, Ròya, Shangri-La Group, The Red Sea Development Company, TIME Hotels and Voltere by Egis as Silver sponsors; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Sustainability Hospitality Alliance and WiH Global as Supporters; and JA Resorts and Hotels as Golf Supporter.

For more information about AHIC 2021, please visit: www.ahic.com

Press Contact: Anne Bleeker, Managing Director, In2 Consulting; anne@in2consulting.com Office: +971 4 455 8499; Mobile: +971 566030886