IH&RA 40th Annual Congress: A Preview
'Managing Through Rapidly Changing Times' December 5-9, 2003, Cairo, Egypt
By Staff -- Hotels, 10/31/2003 11:00:00 PM
Even as hospitality practitioners, consultants and forecasters alike remain “cautiously optimistic” about the industry’s recovery, it is clear the business has forever changed. Today’s society is faced with a wider and more global array of risks than ever before. These risks are not limited to the ongoing threat of terrorism or world conflict, but also include the rapid spread of communicable diseases, the widening gap between haves and have-nots and changing customer demographics. What are the steps to recovery in this new world environment? If and when recovery occurs, how will business practices have changed? How can companies be prepared for the threat of future instability?
These are just some of the questions that will be addressed at the IH&RA 40th Annual Congress, “Managing Through Rapidly Changing Times,” to be held December 5-9, 2003 in Cairo, Egypt. The Congress includes an insightful and interactive three-day program full of cutting-edge topics, presented by highly professional industry leaders.
Keynote Speaker Franesco Frangialli, secretary general of the World Tourism Organization, will kickoff the program with an address about challenges and solutions for recovery in global tourism. It will be followed by a panel discussion with Pedro Ortun, director services, commerce, tourism, e-business & IDA of the European Commission, Belgium; Anupam Narayan, senior vice president of Global Strategy & CFO, Best Western International; Ufi Ibrahim, vice president development, World Travel & Tourism Council; Richard Snead, president and CEO, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide; and Alain Dupeyras, Head of Tourism Program of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development.
Also part of the program are panel sessions dedicated to the following hot topics: improving hotel and restaurant security, promotion, communications and operations in the face of known and emerging risks; tapping new markets, generating new clients and finding new investment opportunities in a time of recession and international market instability; spotting new development opportunities in emerging markets; improving the image of hospitality as an employer to attract and retain the best and brightest employees; and, forces driving change in the foodservice industry as multi-national chains push into new markets.
Among those international industry leaders slated to share their expertise in these panel discussions are: Mike Schiff, vice president international strategy & development, Cendant Corporation Hotel Division; Ichigo Umehara, president and CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts; Alan Orlob, vice president of loss prevention, Marriott International; Ashley Spencer, vice president, Hilton International—Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria; Stefan Breg, food and beverage director, Hilton UK & Ireland; and Jean Paul Herzog, senior vice president Nordic Hilton and Scandic.
Above and beyond the program, the 40th IH&RA Congress provides an excellent opportunity to meet, network and expand business contacts with hospitality professionals in a truly spectacular setting. Congress delegates will be treated as kings in the land of the sphinx and pharaohs by the hosts, the Egyptian Hotel & Restaurant Association and Congress Guest of Honour Dr. Mamdouh El- Beltagui, the Minister of Tourism of Egypt.
You also will experience VIP, personalized visits to Cairo’s treasures and sites, plus nightly gala dinners: one on the banks of the Nile, another in the shadow of the Pyramids and a final-black tie evening at the new, 5-star Conrad Cairo Hotel.
IH&RA is offering Congress delegates an all-inclusive registration package, plus discounted rates at the Conrad Cairo Hotel (just US$96 per night in a single or double room including daily breakfast) and 75% discounts off roundtrip airfare to Cairo valid on Egypt Air from any Egypt Air gateway city. The Congress registration fee for IH&RA members is US$1,095 per person; US$1,295 per person for non-members. All accompanying persons pay US$895 per person.
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