Africa’s premier hotel conference, the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, has unveiled a much-anticipated, packed agenda with leading figures from across the sector ready to reveal their personal paths to success.
This year’s AHIF being staged in Nairobi, October 2nd-4th, will cover every aspect – from the impact of macroeconomics to the hard detail of building a thriving business, plus unique networking opportunities with leading chief executives.
AHIF, which is supported by Kenya’s ministry of tourism and its Tourism Finance Corporation, is attended by international hotel investors, business leaders and politicians.
In the first week of October, Kenya will show itself off to the world with an unprecedented week of tourism promotion.
As well as hosting AHIF, it will stage a range of events, including the Magical Kenya Tourism Expo, the largest travel trade show in east Africa, and it will announce a package of measures to incentivise investment.
Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, AHIF’s organiser, said: “There could not be a better time to be in Nairobi.
“All the key players will be there.
“It’s a chance to do business, strike deals, and network like never before.”
The conference tone will be struck by a welcome from Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed, principal secretary in the Kenyan ministry of tourism and Jonah Orumoi, managing director, Tourism Finance Corporation.
They will highlight a range of new government initiatives to incentivise investment.
Daniel Silke, director of the Political Futures Consultancy, will give the macroeconomic overview, explaining the main geopolitical and demographic trends shaping the future of various African countries.
He will be followed by Tom Mundy, head of advisory, sub-Saharan Africa, JLL, on the real estate cycle and its effect on investment.
An update on hotel performance in Africa will follow from Thomas Emanuel, director of business development, STR.
He will shed insights into hotel room rates and levels of occupancy in different cities across Africa.
Other highlights will include an in-depth look at an exciting new project and a one-on-one interview with James Hogan, executive chairman, Knighthood Capital, now an investor, who was previously president of Etihad Aviation Group.