Dear Industry Partners

About IHIF 2008

The 11th IHIF got off to a roaring start here in Berlin, at the InterContinental Hotel. The theme for the 2008 conference is ably called "Changing Gear" and as explained by the conference chairman - Jonathan Worsley - the theme reflects the shifts occurring in the global capital markets and in European lodging investments in particular.

The conference which attracts in the range of between 1500 and 2500 delegates, started with an afternoon session called the "Green Summit". The entire afternoon was devoted to discussing the case for the hotel industry in europe to accept the reality of climate change and to discuss ways in which the industry can lend a helping hand. The session was moderated by a Lyndall De Marco, one of the few powerful women in the world involved in the travel and tourism sector. She is the Executive Director of International Tourism Partnership.  Credit must be given to Lyndall for getting the organisers of the 2008 IHIF to have a session on the environment. (she personally approached the organisers and insisted that they include a session on the environment and it was done with many early delegates attending.

She moderated a session with powerful panel members from some of the leading businesses in the sector - Ed Fuller (President & MD of Marriott International); Frank Fiskers (President & CEO of Scandic - a hotel group with businesses in nine scandinavian countries); Roeland Vos (Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide President for Europe, Africa & Middle East; and Wolfgang Neumann (Area President - Europe Hilton hotels.

The second session was moderated by Jean Claude Baumgarten and it was about "Demystifying Carbon Offsetting". The session was about bringing the subject of carbon emission reduction to the level of understanding by many people - removing the mystery out of the subject. This was ably done by the panel made up of practioners from WWF in Germany (Juliette de Grandpre); Dr Dietrich Brockhagen (MD of Atmosfair), Richard Edwards (partner in NativeEnergy) and Pia Heidenmark-Cook who is vice president, Responsible Business within the Rezidor Hotel Group. A very interesting and eye -opening session on carbon emission issues.

The conference moved into another gear with a networking opportunity with a difference called Networking Xpress. In this session, delegates were given the opportunity to meet on a face-to-face basis with each other  get to know each other within a time span of 5 minutes. AN interesting session which is strictly controlled from a time management point of view but very effective. WIthin a space of 1 hour, one gets to make beneficial contacts.

The last session of the day was the opening function at the InterContinental hotel. This was the official opening function for the conference and it was at this session that one got to see the sheer number of delegates attending the conference. Its a sight to be experienced - hundreds of people - lawyers, investors, financiers, hotel owners, hotel developers, marketing organisations - all gathered to hear from their peers on the latest trends in running their businesses. Its a very interesting event and one where deals are made in real terms.

Enough reported for DAY ONE. 



Warm Greetings from Berlin

Mmatsatsi Marobe

CEO - TBCSA