IHIF EMEA 2024: Questex promises a bright future for hotel investments in Europe

On April 17, 2024, the final day of the International Hotel Investment Forum EMEA (IHIF EMEA) by Questex took place in Berlin, bringing together all discussion topics and focusing on innovations and inspiration aimed at empowering the community to confidently enter the market, realize their visions, and explore new opportunities.

After the sessions and roundtable discussions, attention turned to the power of partnerships, including discussions with GHA, Radisson, and Booking.com. Participants also gained insights into innovative concepts designed to reflect the spirit of the times, with presentations from Room Mate, Alpitour, Club Med, and Sunset Hospitality.

Additionally, on this day, there was an exclusive interview with the legendary hotel entrepreneur Sir Rocco Forte, who revealed plans to expand his hotel brand into other countries following investments from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

He also confirmed that the group has already signed a contract for a hotel in Dubai and is considering Marrakech as well as Saudi Arabia, with plans to open "two or three" hotels there.

The event concluded with an inspiring keynote by technology futurist Lindsey McInerney, who shared insights on innovation, leadership, and emphasized humanity's important role in the ever-changing landscape of artificial intelligence and technology.

Questex Hospitality organization

It collaborates with ITHIC, the Italian conference on investments in tourism and the hospitality industry, to continue developing its quality delegation and showcase opportunities for the global capital market in the Italian hotel industry.

A partnership was also announced between Questex Hospitality and Enterprise Greece, which will organize the Resort and Residential Real Estate Forum in Athens this November.

Young Leader Award

In addition, the award was presented to young leader Brian Swift from IHIF EMEA and the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), who is the Vice President of Development for Northern Europe at Hyatt.

Plans for Expansion

Well-known companies like Marriott International, Inc. and Leonardo Hotels have also announced plans to expand their presence in the market.

It is worth noting that the Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) and Karisma Hotels & Resorts International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for creating luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia.

Results of the IHIF EMEA 2024 Forum

Overall, the IHIF EMEA 2024 forum turned out to be successful and productive, bringing new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities for industry participants.