Invest, involve and inspire was the mantra for this year’s International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), which saw over 2,500 delegates descend upon Berlin, including 550 investors representing $74.9bn hospitality assets under management (AUM).

Despite continuing challenging conditions across the globe, the hospitality investment community embraced the IHIF headline theme ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’, with delegates from around the globe gathering at the InterContinental Berlin to hear over 230 experts from hospitality, real estate, asset management and academia share insight and advice to help shape the future of the sector.

Day one’s opening keynote from Professor Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, Oxford University set the tone for the conference, stating that “Investors need to realise that this is the time to get in. Hospitality is a good investment”, but encouraging attendees to really focus on experiential and dynamic places. The day was fuelled by two new focuses on F&B and ESG, while the main stage attracted keen investors and brands to hear insight from industry leaders Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor and Keith Barr, the outgoing CEO of IHG.

Barr, who will leave his role next month, shared a positive outlook on hospitality: “People aren’t buying TVs, cars and goods, they are buying experiences, airline tickets, booking restaurants and hotels, and that’s a great sign.”

Day two’s sessions started with a focus on hotel investment. In Finding Finance: Securing the Best Term Sheet banks and alternative lenders Jens Blomdahl of KSL Capital Partners, Bettina Graef-Parker of Aareal Bank AG and David Gorleku of Blackstone discussed how borrowers can increase the appeal of their project to potential lenders and offset increasing margins.

In the CEO Panel discussion, Dilip Rajakarier of Minor Hotels, Katerina Giannouka of Jumeirah Group, Oliver Bonke of Deutsche Hospitality and Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO JLL Hotels & Hospitality, explored the value of partnerships for competitiveness. Echoing Barr’s comments, Rajakarier suggested that “the best is yet to come. Travel from China, India, and South America is coming back and we will embrace it.”

Further activity on day two included the presentation of the 24th Lifetime Achievement Award and the 15th Young Leader Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Stavros Andreadis and Dr. Andreas Andreadis, who have expanded and developed their Sani & Ikos resorts in Greece and across the Mediterranean. Upon receiving the award, Dr. Andreas Andreadis commented: “We followed our dream and beliefs. We executed our plans well,” before thanking staff, partners, guests and investors. The presentation also saw Florian Montag from Apaleo named Young Leader of the Year.

Concluding IHIF was Professor Hannah Fry, who gave a keynote on ‘The Joy of Data: The Mathematics of Shaping the Future’, in which she challenged hospitality industry leaders to use a data-informed approach rather than a data-led one, letting it be part of the story, not the driver.

CREDITS
Photography: Courtesy of Simon Callaghan Photography