Arabian Hospitality
Investment Conference
Part of FHS
25-27 September | Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Part of FHS
25-27 September | Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island
08:15 – 09:00
ROOM: AHIC Chat
An opportunity to have an off the record discussion and ask your questions.
Pre-registration on the event app/registration required.
Norman Fon Sing
Head of Corporate and Domestic Banking, SBM Bank Mauritius
Kapil Jobanputra
Head, Commercial Real Estate, AME, Standard Chartered Bank
Jamie Odgers
Associate Director, Real Estate Banking Europe, Middle East and Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
Alejandro Martin
Head - Multinationals, International Wholesale Banking Group, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Zain Qureshi
Executive Vice President, Global Head of Real Estate Finance & Advisory, Mashreq
09:00 – 09:15
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Acquisitions, refurbishment and new markets. How Jumeirah is placing its confidence and cash in the hotel sector?
Jonathan Worsley
Chairman & CEO, Bench
In conversation with:
José Silva
Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
09:15 – 09:45
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Anita Mendiratta
Special Advisor to the Secretary General, UNWTO
In conversation with:
Issam AbdulRahim Kazim
Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM)
Kashif Khalid
Regional Director - Africa & Middle East, IATA
Amine Moukarzel
President, Louvre Hotels Group/Golden Tulip MENA
Jochem-Jan Sleiffer
President Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Hilton
09:45 – 09:55
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Michael Grove
Chief Operating Officer, HotStats
09:55 – 10:30
ROOM: AHIC Stage
How is the operating model shifting and are owners and operators expectations around profitability shifting as well?
Alison Grinnell
Chief Executive Officer, RAK Hospitality Holding LLC
In conversation with:
Hassan Ahdab
President of Hotels Operations, Dur Hospitality
Marcus Bernhardt
Chief Executive Officer, Steigenberger Hotels AG/ Deutsche Hospitality
Hamid Sidine
Chief Operating Officer MEA, Millennium Hotels & Resorts
Gabriel von Bonsdorff
Principal - Hospitality, Investment Corporation of Dubai
10:00 – 10:10
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Sarah-Jane Grant
Director, LXA
10:10 – 10:25
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Muhammad Ali Syed
Chief Executive Officer, Mingora
10:25 – 10:55
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Greg Wright
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Food People
In conversation with:
Panchali Mahendra
Managing Director, Atelier House Hospitality
Samer S. Hamadeh
Founder, Big Mouth Concepts
Jessica Kahawaty
CEO & Founder, Mama Rita
10:30 – 11:00
10:55 – 11:10
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Alexis Marcoux-Varvatsoulis
Foodservice Consulting Lead, MEA, JLL
11:00 – 11:25
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Nick van Marken
Managing Director, van Marken Limited
In conversation with:
Sébastien Bazin
Chairman & CEO, Accor
11:10 – 11:40
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Emma Banks
Vice President, F&B Strategy and Development EMEA, Hilton
Claudia de Brito
Gulf Academy Chair, MENA's 50 Best Restaurants
Michael Ellis
Founder and President, Passionomy.tv
Ian Ohan
Founder & CEO, KRUSH Brands
Samantha Wood
Founder, FooDiva
11:25 – 11:45
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Winner Presentation & Award Giving
Sébastien Bazin
Chairman & CEO, Accor
Marloes Knippenberg
Chief Executive Officer, Kerten Hospitality
11:40 – 12:05
ROOM: AHIC Chat
David Singleton
Partner, Strategic Advisor and Coach, Socius Group
In conversation with:
Andy Holman
Chief Executive Officer, Eathos Ltd
Ravi Chandran
Chief Executive Officer, Liwa Minor
Tjalling van den Burger
Country Manager – UAE & International Markets, Foodics
11:45 – 12:20
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Wolfgang M. Neumann
Chairman, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
In conversation with:
Stephen Albert, RIBA CSD
Director, Architecture - London, SB Architects
Ibrahim N. Al-Zu’bi
Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Al Futtaim-Holding
Inge Huijbrechts
Global Senior Vice President Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications, Radisson Hotel Group
Brune Poirson
Chief Sustainability Officer, Accor
12:05 – 12:15
ROOM: AHIC Chat
How has demand for F&B evolved over recent years in comparison to the declines in RevPAR / Occ%. As discounting has become prevalent and the cost of goods increasing, what is the real impact?
Michael Grove
Chief Operating Officer, HotStats
12:15 – 12:35
ROOM: AHIC Chat
The role of cities has come under pressure over the past year, as the way we live, work, and play have altered the value we place on housing, office space, retailing and F&B in the city centre. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on city centres? What are the opportunities and challenges in the future to be aware of faced by the city centre? Looking at Global case studies.
Khawar Khan
Head of Research, JLL
12:20 – 12:35
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Key emerging consumer trends that are driving innovation
Tim Peck
Chairman, OBMI
12:35 – 13:00
ROOM: AHIC Chat
What do investors and operators need to know about getting into this booming market? What types of homegrown concepts are succeeding and have potential to grow regionally?
Ralph Nader
Chief Executive Officer, Amber Consulting
In conversation with:
Mario Aoun
CEO & Founder, BBQ Bros
Freddie Ghabbour
Partner Egypt, Amber Consulting
Mario Jr. Haddad
Owner / Managing Partner, Passion Projects
12:35 – 13:00
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Nick van Marken
Managing Director, van Marken Limited
In conversation with:
John Pagano
Group Chief Executive Officer, The Red Sea Development Company & AMAALA
13:00 – 14:00
13:45 – 14:30
ROOM: AHIC Chat
What are the keys to creating a genuine wellness offering and how can you tap into this lucrative segment of the market? Why is it an increasingly attractive segment for investors?
Paul Boldy
Managing Director, Middle East, RLA Global
Kathryn Moore
Founder & Managing Director, Spa Connectors & Hall of Wellness Awards
14:00 – 14:30
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Where are the opportunites and who has the money? What types of brands and products are proving popular?
Aboudi Asali
Senior Vice President, Hotels & Hospitality MEA, JLL
In conversation with:
Louis Abi Abboud
Deputy Head, Lifestyle Brands & Vice President Development, Middle East, Africa, India & Turkey, Accor
Jerome Briet
Chief Development Officer - Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International
Carlos Khneisser
Vice President, Development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton
14:30 – 15:00
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Thomas Emanuel
Director, STR
Olivier Petit
Partner, In Extenso Tourisme, Culture & Hôtellerie
14:30 – 15:15
ROOM: AHIC Chat
In an era of lifestyle and millennial targeted hotels how do you define your brand positioning? From a design and brand prospective, with expectations moving so quickly, how do you design a hotel that is going to be competitive in five years’ time? How do you know what a consumer wants before they do? How do you build in increased flexibility?
Rabih Feghali
AHIC Advisory Board Member,
Christian Merieau
Managing Director / Partner, MMAC Design Associates
Maliha Nishat
Director of Interior Design for Global Design, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International
Najee Syriani
Corporate Vice President – Projects, Rotana
14:30 – 15:15
ROOM: AHIC Studio
What has changed and how has technology been embraced?
René Beil
President, HAMA MEA
In conversation with:
Christopher Hewett
Vice President - Hospitality, Al Hamra Real Estate Development
Walter Knight
Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services
Jalil Mekouar
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, inHovate Solutions
Jad Shamseddin
Chief Operating Officer, Aleph Hospitality
Consumer preferences and behaviors have changed, what are the concepts to invest in?
Philippe Doizelet
Director, Hotels and Real Estate, Voltere by Egis
In Conversation with:
Farhan Charaniya
Director, CHIC SARL
Hamza Farooqui
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Millat Investments
Andrew McLachlan
Managing Director, Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, Hilton
Ramsay Rankoussi
Vice President, Development, Africa & Turkey, Radisson Hotel Group
15:15 – 16:00
ROOM: AHIC Studio
From luxury lodges and retreats, to glamping and eco-resorts
Saurabh Rai
Global Brand Operations & Business Development, Beyond Green
In conversation with:
Donald Bremner
Chief Operating Officer, RAK National Hotels
Maja Dimnik
Founder & CEO, World of Glamping
Luca Franco
Founder & CEO, Luxury Frontiers
Chris Nader
Co-Founder & CEO, ENVI Lodges
15:30 – 16:45
ROOM: AHIC Chat
Looking at case studies across hotels and F&B outlets.
Lara Francis El Hani
Design Director, Kristina Zanic Consultants FZ
Damien Keane
Associate Director, Compass Project Consulting
Jocelyne Mangham
Senior Project Manager, Compass Project Consulting
15:40 – 16:00
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Wayne Godwin
Senior Vice President, Hotels & Hospitality Sub-Saharan Africa, JLL
In conversation with:
Olivier Granet
Managing Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Kasada Capital Management
16:00 – 16:30
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Assessing values today and down the road
Hala Matar Choufany
President-Middle East, Africa and South Asia, HVS
In conversation with:
David Damiba
Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Kasada Capital Management
Lourie Kruger
Head of Transactions, Africa and Middle East, Westmont Hospitality Group
Jamie Odgers
Associate Director, Real Estate Banking Europe, Middle East and Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
16:00 – 16:45
ROOM: AHIC Studio
General understanding of ESG, ESG investment and finance consequences (higher financing costs, less favourable valuation), ESG means different to different investors, how to make S tangible (community, staff and guests)
Margaux Constantin
Partner, McKinsey & Company UAE
In conversation with:
Tareq El Zayat, LLM, BSc
Managing Director & Corporate Counsel, OBMI
Theodor Kubak
Managing Partner, Arbireo Capital & Value One Hospitality
Jay Rosen
Group Chief Financial Officer, The Red Sea Development Company & AMAALA
16:30 – 17:00
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Mark Dunford
Partner - Head of Investment & Commercial Agency, Cavendish Maxwell
In conversation with:
Norman Fon Sing
Head of Corporate and Domestic Banking, SBM Bank Mauritius
Kapil Jobanputra
Head, Commercial Real Estate, AME, Standard Chartered Bank
Alejandro Martin
Head - Multinationals, International Wholesale Banking Group, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Zain Qureshi
Executive Vice President, Global Head of Real Estate Finance & Advisory, Mashreq
17:00 – 17:30
ROOM: AHIC Stage
Dirk Bakker
Head of EMEA Hotels & CEO Netherlands, Colliers
In conversation with:
Bani Haddad
Founder & Managing Director, Aleph Hospitality
Dr. Abbas Gullet
Chief Executive Officer, Boma Panafrican Ltd
David Grant Thomson
Vice President, TFG Hotel Management Company
Gabriel von Bonsdorff
Principal - Hospitality, Investment Corporation of Dubai
17:30 – 20:00
Timo restaurant and terrace at the all-new 5-star Al Jaddaf Rotana is a stunning venue offering indoor and outdoor spaces bringing authentic cuisine with a lively Mediterranean ambiance.
AHIC guests will have the pleasure to experience the ‘local’ offering of Rotana hospitality through an array of gastronomy dishes from around its renowned signature outlets, to enjoy inside or the outdoor lounge, with superb entertainment.