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October 15-17, 2012, at the Radisson RoyalHotel Moscow.
Now
in its eighth year, RHIC has become the region’s largest hotel
industry gathering. The conference will bring together top-level
executives from all areas of the industry including investors,
developers, brands, operators, financiers, advisors and government
officials – all with one common purpose: to do business in Russia
and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Attendees
will gain insights from Russian and global leaders as to where the
real opportunities lie in the region, discover successful strategies
from those already operating in the market and hear from government
officials and top economists on the latest forecasts and trends. More
than 70 of the industry’s key players will speak at RHIC this year,
sharing their knowledge and experience to help conference
participants succeed and grow in their regions.
In
comparison with other global markets, business in Russia and the CIS
is holding up well, as evidenced by Russia’s annual GDP growth of
nearly 4 percent*. The region continues to attract investors with
Moscow of particular interest with a further 7,000 hotel
rooms planned during the next five years**.
“This
year’s programme has a focus on real
estate investors,
with discussions centered on the growing interest to invest in the
sector and returns,” stated Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench
Events, co-organiser of RHIC. “We are delighted to have the
involvement of the Mayor’s office from Moscow, and also leading
officials from St. Petersburg participating on conference sessions
throughout this three-day event.”
Conference
highlights include:
• Insight
into Russia's economic and political outlook and an industry roundup
covering the last 12 months by Chris Weafer, Chief Analyst, Troicka
Bank, and Daniel Thorniley, President, DT-Global Business
Consulting.
• Russian
real estate leaders Sergey Riabokobylko, CEO & Managing
Partner, Cushman & Wakefield, and Artem Kuznetsov, General
Director, Guta Development, will share their experience to date and
plans for the future.
• Mark
Wynne Smith, Global CEO, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, will host
The Finance Forum,
a panel Q&A session with representatives from Bank of Moscow,
Raiffeisenbank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and
JSC Hotel Development. The session will examine what it takes to
secure affordable finance and lender requirements in the
region.
• Leading
executives from the region’s luxury hotel sector will discuss
historic and iconic property development. Robert Gaymer-Jones, CEO,
Sofitel Luxury Hotels; Simon Naudi, CEO, Corinthia Hotels; and
Roeland Vos, President - EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide Inc. will join Jeremy Heyes, Senior VP at WATG in this
discussion.
• Back
in 2012! The ever-popular “investment den” returns this year,
showcasing four projects that need funding.
There
also will be sessions covering franchising, regional resorts,
midmarket brands and mega events.
A
selection of confirmed speakers include: Scott Antel, Partner, DLA
Piper; Petr Chitipakhovyan, President, CH-Group; Remco Gerritsen,
Chief Executive Officer, AZIMUT Hotels; Marty Kandrac, Managing
Director, The Blackstone Group; Kenneth McLaren, Executive Vice
President, Interstate Management Services Inc.; Michael O’Hare,
Managing Director, Horwath HTL Hungary & Russia; Kurt Ritter,
President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Sergey Shpilko,
Chairman, Committee of Tourism and Hotel Industry Moscow; Artem
Vasyutin, Partner, THL Global Tax Leader, Deloitte & Touche CIS;
Smirnov Vladislav, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Hotel Chain LLC;
Andrey Yakunin, Partner & CFO, VIY Management LLP; and many
others.
