Matthew Weihs, the Managing Director of Bench Events and key driver of the Africa Hotel Investment Summit, welcomed a sell out crowd – in the end there were only standing spaces in the room – to a briefing session ahead of the next AHIF event which will take place, as reported here, in Addis Ababa.
Following a networking lunch at the Century City Conference Centre did a full afternoon programme await delegates who had signed up for the event, starting with eminent economist Daniel Silke who gave an overview of Africa’s economic situation.
Maryke Dreyer then provided a current hotel performance update before making way to and Investor’s Panel. Four panel members, Wayne Godwin, Joe Bester, James Nathan and Lasse Ristolainen discussed investors’ sentiments, opportunities and the hurdles one has to overcome to see a project through from planning to opening.
Well known Mark Dunford then had a one on one session with Olievier Granet of Kasada Capital Management before a hotel operators’ panel, comprising Wayne Throughton, Michael Devereux, Boela Du Plooy, Kim Irmler and Andrew McLachlan debated how present day South Africa fit into a broader investment strategy for the continent.
Last but not least was the Government Perspective raised, again featuring Wayne Goodwin, Ilse van Schalkwyk, Cornelis Van Der Waal and Dr. Theus Vivian, telling the audience what the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government were doing to attract additional investments.
AHIF will take place from the 23rd to the 25th of September this year at the Addis Ababa Sheraton Hotel.
Source:Prof Wolfgang Thome- ATC News
