Tuesday, 18 February
At-a-glance →08:00 - 09:00
Networking
Registration & welcome coffee in the Sponsors' Showcase
09:00 - 09:20
Welcome Remarks
Jonathan Worsley
Chairman & CEO, Bench Events
Marina Franolic
Managing Director Central and Eastern Europe, Bench Events
09:20 - 09:40
The world we live in
Economic changes that effect hospitality industry and what is the future like
09:40 - 10:20
Keynote & discussion on The Future of Hospitality
10:20 - 10:50
What can we learn from other industries?
Experiences, data collection and usage, technology... what is out there that has already been implemented and can be used in hospitality.
10:50 - 11:15
Networking
Morning refreshments and networking in Sponsors’ Showcase
11:15 - 11:25
Hotel performance overview – from global to local
11:25 - 11:40
Development pipeline report in the region – are we developing fast enough?
11:40 - 12:30
Where does the money go?
Investors and ministers panel – what makes a country more appealing for investors, is it time for development in the region, do governmental incentives make and change and should we be doing anything differently?
12:30 - 13:00
Three Minute Pitch - The product differentiation vs full service product – what is out there and can it be applied?
13:00 - 13:20
Brand marketing value vs. brand price
The management and franchise agreements' price is sometimes questioned on whether they justify their price. It is the question what is the marketing value and reach of such companies and how do they stand in relation to non branded hotels.
13:20 - 14:45
Networking
Lunch in the Sponsor’s exhibition area
14:45 - 15:30
Breakout Session 1 - Hall A
A Focus on Croatia
Possibilities, challenges and threats in investments.
14:45 - 15:30
Breakout Session 1 - Hall B
Residential debate – does branded residences work in terms of both financing and operations?
This scheme does not seem to stop – on the contrary, countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Moldova are indirectly encouraging for-sale residences aimed at non-permanent residents by way of their “Golden Visa” programs.
15:30 - 16:15
Breakout Session 2 - Hall A
A Focus on Slovenia
Discussion focused on key development opportunities. Meet, pose questions and share knowledge with industry experts as well as fellow attendees.
15:30 - 16:15
Breakout Session 2 - Hall B
AviaDev discussion: Airlift
Are low budget airlines seriously bringing low budget guests? What can we learn from other destinations?
16:15 - 17:00
Breakout Session 3 - Hall A
A Focus on Serbia
How Belgrade will deal with high development number and is there an opportunity in the secondary markets?
16:15 - 17:00
Breakout Session 3 - Hall B
GRIF discussion
Hotel restaurants competing with the high street
19:00 - 21:00
Networking
AHF Cocktail Reception
We are delighted to invite AHF delegates to join us for a cocktail networking reception at the end of the first day. Delegates will be treated to delicious food and drinks whilst networking with old acquaintances and new friends.
Jonathan Worsley
Chairman & CEO, Bench Events
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of Bench Events, is one of the founders and organisers of multiple leading international conferences for the hotel investment industry, including the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) now in its 15 year; the 10th annual Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and the 3rd annual Saudi Arabia Hotel Investment Conference (SHIC). Bench Events entered the Latin America market in 2016 partnering with SAHIC on their South American and Latin Amerian events. Jonathan also branched out into aviation and F&B, through AviaDev inaugurated in 2016, and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) now in its sixth year. Exciting new events are planned for Europe in 2020 which will be revealed soon.
In 1997, Jonathan co-founded the annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, a conference he subsequently organised for 19 years, which today attracts over 2,000 delegates. Earlier in his career, he worked for real estate consultants CBRE & Hotel Partners, hotel advisors PKF and hotel operator Forte & Holiday Inns.
Jonathan sits as a board director of STR Global (now STR), a global benchmarking company with over 60,000 participating hotels following the merger of The Bench, STR and Deloitte’s Hotel Benchmark. He sits on the board of Hotel Swaps, which allows participating members to swap empty hotel rooms with other members around the globe and is an investor in TripTease, the tech start-up that enables hotels to increase direct sales and aims to defeat rate disparity.
Jonathan sits on the Advisory Board for RAK TDA and is a Trustee of Future Talent, a charity that provides financial support to gifted young musicians in need of financial assistance to pursue their dreams and talent.
Marina Franolic
Managing Director Central and Eastern Europe, Bench Events
Marina began her hospitality career at the Glion Institute of Higher and the Hotel Savoy, Rocco Forte group, in Florence. After several years outside of the hospitality industry, in 2012 she established her own company with the goal of bringing global trends to the regional industry.
In 2013. Adria Hotel Forum was launched with an idea of showcasing world trends, sparking the creation of new ideas and partnerships and overall development of the hotel industry. Within years, AHF confirmed to be the only internationally recognized hotel investment conference within the South Eastern Europe whose partners are global companies.
In 2017, the company started a unique event with a goal of bringing trends into everyday hotel operations – HOW /Hotel Operations Weekend/ Festival that gathers every year more than 500 participants.
In 2018, the company has been rebranded as HESA Group and served as the connoisseur of the regional market and opportunities.
In addition, Marina is Industry Advisory Board Member at Glion Institute of Higher Education and holds both Croatian and Italian citizenship.