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Boutique Hotel Summit Press Releases

Boutique Hotel Summit is a sold-out success
Ben Elliot and Alistair Gosling to speak at Boutique Hotel Summit
Cardola is Gold Sponsor for Boutique Hotel Summit
Mr & Mrs Smith founder to speak at Boutique Hotel Summit
Financial Times is supporting partner for Boutique Hotel Summit
Boutique Hotel Summit welcomes yoo and Worldhotels as sponsors
Boutique Hotel Summit confirms HVS as sponsor
Boutique Hotel Summit confirms BLLA as sponsor
Boutique Hotel Summit announces industry sponsors and media partners

Day One

4:00-6.30PM Tour of local boutique/lifestyle hotels (transport provided leaving St Ermins at 4PM sharp):

St. James's Hotel and Club has been known for providing the highest standards of hospitality and service since it first opened its doors as a gentlemen's chamber for the English aristocracy. The elegant St. James's Hotel and Club is part of the luxury Althoff Hotel Collection.

St Ermins Hotel is located a minute's walk from St. James's Park. Entered through a lush tree-lined courtyard, it is a local haven of calm, offering its guests professional and attentive service. Following an extensive £30 million refurbishment, this luxury hotel is a unique blend of historically significant interiors and textural design that creates a sense of warmth and repose, whilst offering modern and innovative facilities.

6:30-8.30PM Cocktail Reception sponsored by The Patrón Spirits Company 

Day Two

8:00-9:30AM Registration, Coffee and Pastries

9:00AM Welcome
Piers Brown, Founder, Fractional Life

9:10AM Conference Preview
Frances Kiradjian, Founder Boutique Lifestyle Lodging Association

9:20-9:50AM Keynote Speaker
Peter Tyrie MBE

9:50-10:30AM How Did We Get Here?
The term 'boutique hotel' has been used more and more over the last decade to broadly describe small hotels that offer an intimate and memorable experience for the guest. As the sector has grown, together with the need for differentiation it's become increasingly unclear where the definition stops - boutique hotels are now budget / luxury / country house / resorts.

Panel: Jason Pomeranc, Thompson Hotels
Stéphan Baghdassarian, Development Director, GLA Hotels 
Tim Walton, Vice President, International Development, Marriott Hotels
James Lohan, Founder, Mr and Mrs Smith 
Frances Kiradjian, Founder Boutique Lifestyle Lodging Association
Craig Markham, Director of Marketing and PR, Firmdale Hotels
Moderator: Andrew Sangster, Editor, Hotel Analyst 

10:30-11:15AM Performance of the Boutique Hotel Segment
A review of the performance of the boutique segment over the past five years, including increases in supply, with a focus on London and other major cities.

Sarah Duignan, Director of Account Management, STR Global
Tim Smith, Director of Valuations, HVS

Moderator: Eric Gummers, Partner, Howard Kennedy

11:15-11:45AM Networking Break

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

11:45-12:45PM Branding a Boutique Hotel?
Some would argue a brand devalues a boutique hotel's ‘uniqueness' Other owners believe the quality reassurance and market power of a brand are crucial elements to success. Brand executives, owners and consultants discuss.

Panel: Mark Jones, Senior Director, Hotel Development, World Hotels
Massimo Ianni, CEO, Alrov Luxury Hotels
Tom Valentine, Founder, Secret Escapes
Meg Reid, Director, The 2M Group
Irene Hoek, VP Development, Upscale Brands, InterContinental Hotels Group

Moderator: Frances Kiradjian, Founder Boutique Lifestyle Lodging Association

11:45-12:45PM Hotels as Private Clubs or Private Clubs as Hotels?
Panel: Matthew Bell, Operations Director F + B, The Hospital Club
Ian Campbell, The Caledonian Club and Vice Chairman The Association of London Clubs
Brandon Kinsman, Owner, Eight Clubs
Moderator: Lara Sarheim, Associate Director, HVS

11:45-12:45PM Boutique Hotels and Mixed Use Developments
In urban, beach, mountain and country destinations residential property is becoming more closely aligned with the hospitality sector. What opportunities do mixed use developments, in particular Private Residence Clubs and fractional ownership, present to boutique and lifestyle hotel owners and operators?

Panel: Philip Bacon, Managing Director, HVS Shared Ownership Services
Chris Boulton, CEO, yoo
Nick Turner, VP New Business Development, The Registry Collection
Andrew Coutts, President and CEO, The ILM Group

Moderator: Piers Brown, Founder, Fractional Life

12:45-2:15PM Lunch

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

2:15-3:15PM Who Are The Boutique Hotel Investors of Today and Tomorrow?
The panel discusses the background of financing boutique/lifestyle properties and what sources of capital are available for acquisitions and new development, and the development strategy boutique operators are pursuing.

Panel: Phil Golding, Cedar Capital Partners
Tim Helliwell, Head of Hotel Finance, Hospitality and Leisure team, Barclays Corporate
Peter Anscomb, Royal Bank of Scotland
Moderator: Russell Kett, Managing Director, HVS 

2:15-3:15PM PR, Marketing and the Mystique of a Boutique Hotel
PR is an integral part of the boutique hotel ‘cocktail'. Traditionally it has centred around two key forms -newspaper and magazine editorial, and events, either on a small or large scale. However, the changing consumer landscape and growth of digital communications has thrown up a plethora of new opportunities to spread the word about a brand. A top panel of luxury PR executives discuss what works in the digital age.

Panel: Pippa Evans, Director, Wixhill
Pippa Isbell, Chief Executive, PRCo
Debbie Hindle, Managing Director, Four bgb

Moderator: Philip Bacon, Managing Director, HVS Shared Ownership Services

2:15-3:15PM Restaurants and bars - can they ever be as profitable as rooms?
The buzz of the bar and restaurant are essential to the success of a boutique hotel, and crucial in creating the 'see and be seen' scene. Is it more important for the image of the hotel than the guest rooms? 

Alexander P Bohnekamp, Managing Director, Spencer Management Partners AG
Arnaud de Saint-Exupéry, General Manager, Andaz London
Robbie Bargh, Founder, Gorgeous Group

Al Gosling, CEO, The Extreme Sports Company

Moderator: Chris Brown, Co-Owner, Turpin Smale 

3:15-3:45PM Networking Break

3:45-4:30PM Case Study: St Ermins Hotel
An inside look at independent luxury hotel brand creation.  Successful projects require an keen understanding of a property's key points of differentiation. This involves integrating numerous diverse elements including concepting, branding, design, architecture, sales & marketing, public relations, human resources, hotel operations, construction, market analysis and determination of target markets/customers

Jon Cummins, CEO, Amerimar 

4:30-5:15PM Where Do We Go From Here?
The challenge with boutique design is to be fresh, cutting-edge and to create a product that has lasting appeal. Architects, boutique designers and design-oriented owners and operators share their viewpoints, with a special emphasis on the environmentally conscious luxury traveller.

Discover 10 upcoming trends in the industry in terms of design / product and customer expectations. 

Panel: Catherine Martin, Assistant Editor, Sleeper Magazine
Philip Bijiaoui, Hotel Missoni, Rezidor Hotel Group
Mark Cannata, Head of Culture and Heritage, HOK Architects
Ben Elliot, Founder, Quintessentially Group
Andrew Coutts, President and CEO, The ILM Group
Moderator: Russell Kett, Managing Director, HVS

Terms & Conditions. For full speaker bios please see base of page

PLATINUM SPONSORS

HVS is the world’s leading consulting and services organisation focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980 by President and CEO Steve Rushmore, MAI, FRICS, CHA, the company offers a comprehensive scope of services and specialized industry expertise to help you enhance the economic returns and value of your hospitality assets.

Over the past three decades, HVS has expanded both its range of services and its geographical boundaries. The company’s global reach, through a network of 30 offices staffed by 300 seasoned industry professionals, gives you access to an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. In Europe the company has offices in Athens, London, Madrid and Moscow.

HVS Shared Ownership Services is a division of HVS focused on the development and operation of mixed use hospitality-based assets, with particular expertise in the integration of hotels with fractional ownership products and branded residences. Its European base is in Madrid. www.hvs.com

www.hvs.com

The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association is the first and only association dedicated to uniting the world's boutique and lifestyle properties. Created to be the unifying voice of this distinctive subset within the hospitality industry, its goal is to unite the world's collection of boutique & lifestyle properties and the suppliers that sustain them, offering them the opportunity to successfully compete on a level playing field with major hotel companies, as well as market themselves to meet the ever-increasing demand from discerning boutique-seeking clients. For more information, or to become a member, visit: www.blla.org. Book a stay at www.realboutiquehotels.com.

Read about unique destinations at www.boutiquelodgingmagazine.com.

Fractional Life is the number one consumer lifestyle brand dedicated to growing the fractional ownership marketplace. The company has three divisions: interactive, b2b fractional conferences and consumer exhibitions.

FractionalLife.com features 19 different categories including fractional property, destination and PRC clubs, aviation, boats and yachts, classic and super cars and more, and is the most comprehensive source on the web for users looking for help and purchase advice from over 300 fractional operators.
Fractional Life holds successful b2b fractional real estate conferences on three continents – Europe, North America and the Middle East, while our consumer event, the Fractional Life Expo, will be held at a new venue for this, its fifth year, when it becomes part of the OPPLive Property Investor Show at London's Excel. 

Fractional Life: The Smarter Way To Own.

www.fractionallife.com   www.fractionallifeexpo.com    www.fractionalsummit.com    www.fractionalsummitusa.com     www.sharedownershipfractionalsummit.com

GOLD SPONSORS

Founded on the belief that real estate is not a passive investment but an active, "hands-on" operating business, Amerimar is a recognized leader in the renovation and repositioning of under-performing hotel and real estate assets. The Grade II listed St Ermin's Hotel in the heart of London is the company's first property in the UK. Current and recent redevelopments in the USA include The Hutton Hotel in Nashville, The George in Washington and The Derek in Houston.  

www.amerimar.com 

The St Ermin's Hotel, St James' Park is a highly personal, four star deluxe hotel with an absolute commitment to client service. Retaining its classic architecture, art nouveau styling and dramatic Rococo plasterwork, the hotel has been given a distinctive, highly textural look and feel. Offering guests a contemporary version of ‘The Grand Tour' that infused the English great house style, hand picked antiques and collectables sit together with modern pieces to provide a warm, sophisticated London welcome. A lush courtyard garden gives a dramatic sense of arrival into the beautiful historic lobby, with sweeping staircases, theatrical balconies and open fireplaces.

www.sterminshotel.co.uk

Welcome to yoo: a world leader in interior and residential design.

The yoo Design Studio, together with its individual designers Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger, Anouska Hempel and Kelly Hoppen, exists to help our developer clients compete successfully in the property marketplace, by providing the very best in architecture, hotel and residential interior design, branding and marketing.

www.yoo.com

Founded in 2009 Cardola specialises in creating software solutions for hotels wishing to differentiate themselves. Through extensive experience in the hospitality industry Cardola understands the challenges and needs of hoteliers, and is able to help drive new revenue streams, lower operation costs and increase guest satisfaction.

Developed by hoteliers for hoteliers, the Cardola Virtual Hotel product is a guest focused multi-platform solution, which offers an extension to existing concierge services. It provides guests with easy touch-screen access to all hotel services including room service, local information and shopping on their choice of device. Cardola enables hotels to offer a responsive and personalised service to guests whilst also providing centralised marketing and up sell opportunities for individual hotels. Cardola currently provides solutions to hotels throughout Europe and can support customers globally.

www.cardola.com

SILVER SPONSOR

Howard Kennedy are a London based law firm with international reach who have recognised expertise in the hotel and hospitality sector acting for owners, operators, brands and suppliers.

An example of their work is acting on the successful recent sale of The St James's Hotel and Club at a reported price of £1m per room

www.HowardKennedy.com

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

The Financial Times is firmly established as one of the world's leading business information brands, internationally recognised for its authoritative, accurate, and incisive news, comment and analysis.  Wherever business travellers are in the world, the FT is the first place your guests will want to look for business intelligence each morning.

-32% of FT readers in the UK are frequent international business travellers
-On average, FT readers in the UK spent 20 nights in hotel accommodation for business in the past year, and 14 nights for leisure.
Source: BE: Europe 2010 (UK filter)

The Financial Times Partnership Programme is tailored to hotels' individual requirements, supplying the FT at a substantial discount, and enabling hotels to provide their guests with a daily complimentary copy.

To set yourselves apart and make a difference for your guests, join the FT Hotel Partnership Programme by contacting Vicky Nunn at vicky.nunn@ft.com

British Association of Hospitality Accountants

www.baha-uk.org

NETWORKING PARTNER

Luxury Society is the world's most influential online community of top luxury executives. Based in Paris, with members in more than 150 countries, Luxury Society informs and connects CEOs, managers, journalists, consultants, designers and analysts from across the luxury sector, in industries as varied as fashion, design, art, jewelry and timepieces, beauty, travel and hospitality, yachting, private aviation, automotive, private banking, real estate and personal services.

Luxury Society provides an effective and trusted networking platform where luxury professionals can forge productive relationships, find great people and come away with strong ideas, innovative strategies and new business opportunities.

www.luxurysociety.com

MEDIA PARTNERS

Sleeper is targeted at all those involved in hotel design, development and architecture on an international level.Our portfolio comprises a beautifully presented bi-monthly magazine, an affiliated website (www.sleepermagazine.com) and regular email newsletters.

We are the only media brand to reach all the individuals and disciplines throughout the supply chain involved in the delivery of new hotel projects worldwide.

www.sleepermagazine.com

Hotel Analyst is the newsletter for the global hotel investment community. The title draws on more than 10 years of experience covering the leisure industry for other publishers. It is designed to understand, as well as report, the news and features daily, weekly and bi‐monthly editions.

See www.hotelanalyst.co.uk for more details.

Hospitality Net is one of the leading and trendsetting online trade publications for the global hospitality/hotel industry. Launched in 1995, the portal serves a worldwide audience of hospitality professionals, providing them with both daily updated content and interactive services. The site's HospitalityNet360 daily newsletter reaches an opt-in audience of 38,000 industry professionals.

www.hospitalitynet.org

COCKTAIL SPONSOR

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón tequila is an ultra-premium luxury white spirit that’s delicious on the rocks, and mixes flawlessly into most any cocktail. From the highest-quality Weber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Owned and marketed by Patrón Spirits International, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón tequilas and liqueurs, as well as Pyrat rums, and Ultimat vodka.

For more information visit www.patronspirits.com.

SELECTED SPEAKERS

Philip Bacon is managing director of HVS Madrid and managing director EMEA & Asia of HVS Shared Ownership Services, a specialist division of HVS Global Hospitality Services based in Madrid and focused on the development of mixed-used resorts and resorts developed around shared ownership business models such as vacation ownership, residence clubs, branded residences and condo hotels.

Philip is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and has over 25 years' experience in professional business advisory services and general management having worked with a wide range of both independently-managed and publicly-listed international companies. 

A French national, Stéphane Baghdassarian has lived and worked between London and Paris. He graduated from a French Business School and holds an MBA in International Hospitality Management from IMHI, a joint programme established by Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and ESSEC. Stéphane started his career in 1998 as Deputy General Manager of the Whitehall Hotel in London. He previously held administrative and operational positions in various hotel and restaurant groups. In 2001, Stéphane joined Westmont Hospitality's strategic headquarter in London where he participated in the development of the company for more than six years. He then joined GLA Hotels in 2007 to expand the company's activities mainly through new management or sales representation contracts and technical services.

Born in Manchester, Robbie Bargh is Founder and Creative of Gorgeous Group and has been involved in the hospitality business for over 20 years. Robbie has run bars, restaurants and clubs all over the world before setting up London based Gorgeous Group in 1999. Obsessed with the eating and drinking experience, he is a hospitality guru, hungry to change the face of Hotel food and drink.Gorgeous Group have vast experience creating food and beverage concepts for International five star hotel food and beverage operations, global airlines and stand-alone high street operators. Milestone projects Gorgeous Group have been involved in include The Club House Virgin Lounge Heathrow, Hakkasan London, The Bar at The Dorchester, The Fifth Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols, HUNter 486 at The Arch Hotel Marylebone, Bar Missoni at Hotel Missoni Edinburgh and Kuwait, The American Bar and The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy, the recently opened Dishoom London's first Bombay Café and its sister Pop-up Dishoom Chowpatty Beach. Current projects include a Roof Top Bar in Wall St New York, a bar at The Radisson Blu AQUA Hotel in Chicago, a new bar and restaurant at Sofitel St James London and hotel projects in Paris, Milan, Moscow and Shanghai. 

Matthew Bell: Operations Director, The Hospital Club. Having read politics and international relations at Southampton University, Matthew pursued his passion for the hospitality business, attending Leith's School of Food.

Matthew went on to be part of the opening team at the Great Eastern Hotel London, a pioneer in the world of luxury boutique hotels where he worked across all the food and beverage departments culminating in the running of event operations

On leaving the Great Eastern Hotel, Matthew took on the role of General Manager at Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa, a 19 room destination hotel and spa.  Under his guidance the hotel was awarded 5 Red Stars, 3 AA Rosettes, 1 Michelin Star and the title of best Destination Spa at The British Spa Awards.In October 2007 he joined The Hospital Club, a private member's club for the creative industries. As Operation's Director he is tasked with the strategic positioning of the hotel and f&b proposition both in London and for the club's international roll out programme.

Philippe Bijiaoui is vice president business development and head of development Hotel Missoni for The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel chains in Europe. Philippe had already been part of the Rezidor team from 2001 until 2005 as director of business development. Then, he joined HVS International Madrid where he held the position of managing director. Prior to joining the Rezidor Hotel Group, Philippe was director of acquisitions for City Hotels, a company listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange. He was previously asset manager and developer for the Group SIH. Philippe has 15 years of experience in hotel development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Business Administration from IMHI-Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

Alexander P. Bohnekamp, Managing Director, Spencer Management Partners AG. Alex has more than 20 years of extensive international and multi-unit senior level management and leadership exposure within a variety of luxury and lifestyle hospitality segments.He has held several senior executive positions with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (nowadays IHG), Ian Schrager Hotels (nowadays Morgan's Hotel Group) as the Opening and General Manager of Sanderson in London and as Executive Vice President of Design Hotels, a hotel competence platform with 200 individual design led hotels. Alex is the founder of Spencer Management Partners AG, an investment leadership and performance management firm for investors, owners, developers, and lenders within the hospitality and tourism industry.

Alex holds a MBA from Brunel University, a Diploma in Management from Henley Management College in the United Kingdom and a Diploma in Hotel Operations & Management from IHTTI in Switzerland. www.management-partners.com

Chris Boulton is the Chief Executive of yoo. He is responsible for managing both the property and design elements of the business. In addition, he is also involved in developing new products, managing joint venture relationships and the sourcing of development finance and new design and development opportunities throughout the UK and the world.Chris is a chartered surveyor with wide experience of property activities around the world both as an advisor and as a principal.Prior to joining yoo, Chris spent over 20 years in the real estate industry in various senior roles, including Group Property Director of serviced office operator, Regus plc and Chief Executive of property advisors, Lambert Smith Hampton. He has also been involved in running his own businesses both in and outside of the property sector and is a non-executive director of Flexas Ltd and a member of the RICS Business Development Board.

Piers Brown, Fractional Life, has been part of the fractional ownership marketplace for nine years, since initially being an avid fractional consumer / owner to ultimately founding FractionalLife.com in December 2006. This followed his MBA, completing his thesis on ‘fractional ownership'. Previously Sales and Marketing director of one of the most successful fractional car clubs, he has also held senior positions in the national media and retail industries. Piers' responsibilities include spearheading the on and offline growth of the Fractional Life brand and raising general awareness of the fractional ownership concept. He speaks on the subject at conferences around the world and has made numerous radio and television appearances.

Ian Campbell attended Birmingham College of Food between 1973 and 1976, gaining OND and Final Membership of the HCIMA. He spent 5 years with the Savoy Group at Claridge's, from 1976 to 1981 with a stage at the Hotel du Rhone in Geneva in 1979.

Having worked at Chewton Glen, The Royal Lancaster and the Institute of Directors, his career to date has spanned a broad cross section of the Hospitality Industry, including hotels, clubs and contract catering.As Director of Hospitality & Premises at the IoD he overhauled hospitality operations, spear heading the reverse outsourcing of the catering contract then held by Compass. He moved to The Caledonian Club in September 2008 as Club Secretary.He is currently Chairman of the Club Secretaries and Managers Association and Vice Chairman of the Association of London Clubs.

Mark Cannata is the head of Culture and Heritage at HOK. Current projects include refurbishment of the BBC Maida Vale studios, the Manchester town hall redevelopment program, the redevelopment for a hotel scheme in Haymarket, and a number of projects in Italy.Mark was raised in Italy where he studied Architectural Engineering at the Universita’ degli Studi di Catania. On his return to the UK he continued his architectural at Leeds Metropolitan University, where he completed a Master of Arts. He has extensive knowledge of architectural history and experience on historic buildings of all ages, which lead to him being awarded RIBA-AABC accreditation as Architect Accredited in Building Conservation whilst also being LEED GA accredited.

Andrew Coutts is managing partner of the ILM Group specializing in providing strategic advice, development and asset management services for the Hospitality, Leisure, & Tourism sectors. ILM, established in 1999 is Portugal's market leader. Andrew has been working in Lisbon since 1990 and has fulfilled development roles for some leading local property groups, resulting in some landmark projects, e.g. the Hilton Vilamoura Resort, Oitavos Dunes- one of the world's top 100 golf courses and Palacio Belmonte-the boutique hotel rate leader in Lisbon.Andrew's early operational career included spending the 80’s in hospitality management roles including the St. Ermin’s, Brown’s, The Montcalm, Mosimann’s Club and Gravetye Manor.

Jon A. Cummins is a co-owner and the Chief Operating Officer of Amerimar Enterprises, Inc., a position he has held since 2001.  Jon joined Amerimar in 1989. 

His primary responsibilities are the general oversight of the company's operations as well as the sourcing, acquisition, asset management, property management, financing and disposition of the company's multifamily and hotel properties. Prior to joining Amerimar, Jon worked in the Real Estate Investment Banking Division at Lehman Brothers in New York where he was involved in the placement of debt and equity financing vehicles and the acquisition of property for the firm's own account. 

Sarah Duignan – Director of Account Management – STR Global. Sarah departed Irish shores in May 2005 having spent 7 years in Hotel operations.  She joined the HotelBenchmark team at Deloitte in London as a Business Development Executive and as the team re-structured she came to manage a number of key international clients in the Account Management Team. STR Global was formed in March 2008 following the merger of the HotelBenchmark team with The Bench and Smith Travel Research. Sarah is now the Director of Account Management. She regularly attends and presents at Hotel Operator and Industry events.  She holds a 2:1 Honours Degree in Translation (German & Spanish) from Dublin City University, Ireland.

Ben Elliot co-founded Quintessentially in 2000. Ben graduated with a Bsc in Politics and Economics from the University of Bristol. In a decade, Quintessentially has gone from a small London based concierge company to the leading international luxury lifestyle group, operating in 60 cities globally and has 32 luxury sister businesses.Ben is the Chairman of the Quintessentially Foundation and has been a pioneering force behind Quintessentially Soho at The House of St Barnabas. Ben is also a non executive director of YouGov Plc, as well as being a regular contributor to the FT/New York Times and other publications. Most recently Ben has taken on a new role of exec producer for the BIFA nominated feature documentary “Fire in Babylon”, coming out in cinemas in May 2011.

Pippa Evans, Founder / owner WixHill Limited- Specialises in hotels, travel and property sector. Currently leading PR communications on behalf of the St Ermin's Hotel, Pippa's other hotel experience includes Anantara Resorts & Spas, Naladhu, Driftwood, Coco Collection, Aphrodite Hills, InterContinental Hotels (Europe), the opening of InterContinental No1 Park Lane, Jumeirah Essex House and Cap Cana.

Phil Golding is a partner at Cedar Capital Partners where he focuses on hotel acquisitions and asset management. Since joining Cedar he has worked on the acquisition of over Euro 1.2 billion worth of hotels and recently completed the acquisition of Le Richemond Hotel in Geneva, and a portfolio of five star hotels across Europe. Prior to joining the company, he worked at HVS International in their London and Singapore offices. Mr. Golding has valued hotel real estate in excess of US$5 billion in over 30 countries and has advised some of the world's most prominent hotel investors, lenders, operators and developers. Mr. Golding started his career at the Savoy Group of Hotels where he completed the prestigious five-year management training programme.

Meg Goodman Reid is well regarded internationally for her strategic planning, design and development skills that establish destinations for sophisticated markets who demand high standards. Her education in architecture and design launched her career with The Rouse Company, a multi-billion dollar developer that combined private and public sector support for complex mixed-use projects, many of which were historic re-use destinations.  She co-founded The 2M Group in 1991 and 2M International in 2006 – consultancies specialising in strategic planning, brand development, marketing and management for spas, resorts and retailers targeting global high net worth audiences.  

Ms. Reid has been a guest speaker on hospitality and luxury development at conferences in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. She volunteered her consulting services for The National Trust for Historic Preservation; she was an Olympic-qualified figure skater; and she is the recipient of numerous international design and marketing awards.

Al Gosling developed a passion for extreme sports during his early teens and went on to set up a business that would rapidly grow into The Extreme Sports Company. Aged 24 and unable to find a job that interested him, he set up Extreme with the goal of mixing sports and business, working with great people and having fun while making it happen. He initially focused on building the worlds leading Extreme Sports TV Distribution Company. In 1998 having achieved this goal he came up with the idea for The Extreme Sports TV Channel. The Extreme brand is now developing a portfolio of strategic partnerships with market leading companies across the hotel, destination, travel, drinks, apparel, footwear, cars, video gaming, mens grooming, and electronics sectors. 

Tim Helliwell heads the Barclays Hotels Team, with responsibility for the Bank’s hotel clients within the UK and Western Europe. The hotels team is an integral part of the Barclays Hospitality & Leisure business with key relationships in the travel, restaurant, pub, gaming, health&fitness, leisure operators and sports sectors.As Head of Hotel Finance for Barclays, Tim focuses his time on ensuring the Bank maintains a cohesive approach to the market place both in terms of our funding strategies and our long term relationships with our clients and advisors. The Barclays Hotels Team has been together for over ten years and consists of 30 directors & managers based in the UK and Ireland and covers all aspects of funding from development to investment loans, equity & debt capital markets and day to day banking needs.

Debbie Hindle (@bgbcomms) is the Managing Director of travel PR and Representation experts Four bgb – the dedicated travel practice of Four Communications – which PR Week has ranked as the 6th leading independent communications company in the UK, and 4th digital agency in country. Debbie has specialised in travel communications for the past two decades and has worked for hotels as varied as global hotel groups to boutique properties. She's shared her experience by speaking at conferences and events in the UK, continental Europe, Russia and the Middle East on subjects as varied as destination branding, how not to outsource social media and PR, crisis communications and sustainable tourism. Debbie is a judge of the Virgin Holidays annual Responsible Tourism Awards, VisitEngland Enjoy England Awards For Excellence and the TTG Awards. She is ranked in the PR Week “Power Players of Social Media UK” and in April 2011 was rated one of the top 100 most influential women in the hospitality leisure travel and tourism industry in the UK. The PR Week "Powerbook" of the most influential people in PR describes her as "an attentive and relaxed character with a legendary calm demeanour”

Irene Hoek is responsible for growth of the InterContinental brand for Europe and North Africa through management and franchise contracts, for both new-build and conversion opportunities.Prior to returning to Europe with IHG in 2008, Irene worked in IHG’s US head office in Atlanta specializing in branded residential development.  Irene also worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts for over 7 years, initially in Europe and more recently in Starwood’s White Plains office as Vice President Development, Upscale, North America. Irene has also worked in the investment banking industry for BNY Capital Markets, focused on mid-size Merger & Acquisitions transactions.Irene holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School and a BA in Finance from Georgia State University.

Massimo Ianni has over 27 years experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. Currently he acts as Chief Executive Officer for Alrov Luxury Hotels based in London, UK. He has recently finalized his Senior Consultant role as Managing Director for Armani Hotels and Resorts with the first property opened in Dubai this year. Working directly with Mr. Giorgio Armani, he has followed all aspects of the development and start up of the project. Massimo has also acted, in the past, as Chief Operating Officer for Alrov Luxury Hotels with operating properties in Jerusalem and projects in Amsterdam, London and Paris.He has also been an Advisor to some leading hospitality and tourism organizations both in Europe, South America and Middle East. This includes project design coordination as well as the FF&E and OS&E concepts and sourcing. 

Pippa Isbell is Chief Executive of PRCo Ltd, the integrated Public Relations and Digital consultancy, with offices in London, Paris, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Moscow and New York.
Pippa joined PRCo in January 2011 from Orient-Express Hotels, where, as Vice President, Corporate Communications and a member of the management team, she was responsible for public and investor relations throughout the world and established and ran a network of 13 international agencies.She joined Orient-Express in 1998, having started, built and sold PIPR, her own highly successful travel and leisure specialist public relations consultancy.  Founded in 1987, PIPR became the largest independent travel and leisure specialist, numbering among its clients the Thomas Cook Group, Avis Rent A Car and the Spanish Tourist Office. Pippa has over 30 years' experience of public relations in the travel and hospitality industry.  Hotel clients at PIPR included Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts, Forte, Hilton International, Jarvis Hotels and Millennium and Copthorne. 

Mark Jones is Senior Director Hotel Development EMEA at Worldhotels, an exclusive collection of the world's most unique independent hotels with over 450 affiliate properties in more than 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide, under the banner "Unique Hotels for Unique People". Before joining Worldhotels Mark was Global Director of Sales for Great Hotels of the World, a collection of some of the best 4 and 5 star luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, and previously as Director of Sales UK & Ireland with Preferred Hotel Group, a network of over 700 hotels through the brands of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, Summit Hotels & Resorts and Sterling Hotels.Having trained in the first boutique hotel in Perth, Australia, in 1986 and with 10 years working in the airlines industry for such airlines as Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada and Air Mauritius, Mark has a strong international background and 25 years experience covering both the hotel and travel industries.  

Russell Kett is Managing Director of the London office of HVS, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting and brokerage firm which was founded in 1980.  HVS operates from thirty offices worldwide, with the London office responsible for work carried out throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).  He also serves on the worldwide Board of HVS. Russell has some thirty-five years' specialist hotel consultancy, investment and real estate experience and generally focuses on the provision of valuation, feasibility, shared ownership, property, brokerage, investment, asset management, strategy and related consultancy services, advising hotel companies, financial institutions, developers and investors on all aspects of hospitality industry related interests, throughout the EMEA region.

Frances Kiradjian Founder of the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), Frances Kiradjian, a 25-year hospitality and travel industry seasoned professional, created BLLA to give a voice to independent properties as well as small brands around the world, offering them the opportunity and the means to compete on a level playing field with major hotel companies. BLLA serves more than 500 members including hotels and the suppliers that sustain them.Kiradjian created and developed the first travel agent centric hotel booking portal which combined multiple inventories and allowed for mark-ups of a net rate which continues to serve as an important business model for travel-related technology companies.  Kiradjian began her career in the travel industry with Carlson Travel, where she managed their California corporate and leisure offices and consulted with top accounts like Toyota and Disney. Kiradjian is a graduate of the University of Southern California, (USC) from the highly respected Marshall School of Business. 

CEO James Lohan is one half of the couple behind Mr & Mrs Smith. His first company, Atomic, organised legendary London parties and corporate events. Working in industries he was passionate about, he moved in line with his target market and co-founded a restaurant and members' club the White House. Next, naturally, he turned his attentions to boutique hotels. Since Mr & Mrs Smith's first guidebook was published under the Spy Publishing imprint in 2003, Smith has grown under James' entrepreneurial eye from a labour of love to a multi-faced boutique travel provider. The introduction of an online booking service in 2005 and an in-house reservations team in 2006 shifted the business in an exciting new direction. The company has developed a three-tiered membership programme which includes a full travel and lifestyle concierge service, and has attracted over 75,000 active members. James' latest projects include launching the Smith brand the US and Asia-Pacific with offices opening in Melbourne and New York City, creating a series of online travel videos, as well as introducing a 24-hour telephone-booking service for luxury travellers worldwide.

Craig Markham has worked in the role of Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Firmdale Hotels for over 20 years and has been a member of the board a great proportion of that time. He controls the companies sales, marketing and public relations globally. Over that period he has ensured that the company has grown its business in many markets throughout the world including the United States, Europe, Australasia and South America. Through his direct PR efforts he has made Firmdale Hotels an internationally recognised name which is considered a benchmark in the industry. Under his management occupancy and revenue at all hotels has continued to experience record breaking levels. In 2009 he was pivotally involved in the launch of Firmdale's first New York property, the Crosby Street Hotel. Firmdale's latest project is situated in London's Soho and will open in late 2013. Another is planned for midtown New York City.

Catherine Martin is the Assistant Editor of Sleeper, the leading magazine for hotel design, development and architecture.She joined Mondiale Publishing in 2007 and is involved in every aspect of writing and designing Sleeper Magazine, its affiliated website and regular email newsletters. She recently produced a 52-page supplement focusing on hotel development in India.Catherine attends a number of international trade exhibitions and hotel investment conferences, as well as finding time to review some of the most exciting hotel developments worldwide and interviewing those who designed them.

Arnaud de Saint-Exupéry General Manager for Andaz London joined Hyatt from the renowned Park Hyatt Paris – Vendôme, where he was Hotel Manager. When the Park Hyatt brand launched, as Director of Marketing – France, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of a global strategy to position Vendôme on an international stage.

At Andaz he has focused on the development of both product and brand for the first Andaz property, which opened in London on November 16th of 2007. De Saint-Exupéry, a native French man, has lived in the UK before. Its mix of culture and diversity attracted him back, alongside the opportunity to establish a new brand, in a city with such global relevance.

Andrew Sangster is editor of Hotel Analyst, the newsletter for the global hotel investment community. The title, founded and owned by Andrew, draws on more than 10 years of experience covering the leisure industry for other publishers. It is designed to understand, as well as report, the news and features daily, weekly and bi‐monthly editions. Andrew has become a respected authority in his field, making regular appearances both in broadcast and print. He has also worked for BBC business news. In print, he appears both as a writer and commentator. He has contributed to the Times, Sunday Business, and various trade publications.

Lara Sarheim is an Associate Director with HVS’s London office. She joined HVS in 2007, having had six years’ operational and managerial hotel industry experience in the USA. Before joining HVS, Lara held the position of Director of Revenue Management with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group at their flagship property in New York. Lara holds a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, in Switzerland. Since joining HVS, Lara has worked on feasibility and valuation studies across Europe, particularly in the luxury and boutique sector, and has made the London hotel market a particular focus of her consulting experience.

Tim Smith is a Director in the London office of HVS, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting and brokerage firm. HVS operates from 26 countries worldwide with the London office responsible for work carried out throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).Tim is responsible for valuations throughout EMEA and within the last year he has valued properties in 18 different countries across the region. Throughout his career, Tim has advised the majority of European lenders, many of the leading brand owners and a wide variety of owners, operators and developers.

Nick Turner was appointed by Wyndham Worldwide in September 2006 as managing director for the Middle East region. His responsibilities included overseeing the regional expansion of the hospitality and leisure group and establishing Wyndham brands and business units in the region. Currently, Nick is vice president of business development in Europe, where he is heading a new and dedicated team with the primary goal to work closely with existing and new hotel and resort owners and developers. His teams aim is to provide step by step support and guidance to deliver increased development performance and maximise profits through new programmes and solutions. Nick has over 20 years experience in the international hospitality, travel and leisure sectors. Prior to joining Wyndham Worldwide Turner held various leadership roles with several hospitality and leisure companies based in Europe, including the De Vere Hotel Group, Forte & Le Meridien Hotels & Resort, Malmaison and the Intercontinental Hotel Group.

Peter Tyrie has had an extremely influential and successful career in the hospitality sector, founding and growing Gleneagles Hotels PLC, Balmoral International Hotels and The Eton Collection, as well as holding the position of managing director at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group PLC.

At The Eton Collection, he oversaw the development of a small group of luxury boutique hotels, providing 70 or so quality guest rooms in London, Edinburgh and Leeds, including the chain's Flagships, the Threadneedles Hotel in the City of London and the Glasshouse in Edinburgh.

Tom Valentine is the MD of Secret Escapes the UK's leading private sales club for luxury travel. Secret Escapes offers UK customers up to 70% off hand-picked luxury and boutique hotels both in the UK and abroad. The site is free to join and offers a best-rate guarantee to its members. Hotels benefit from emails to over 500,000 members, no up-front payment & a beautiful site appropriate to their brand. Sales are live for a limited time, driving urgency and allowing hotels to defend their normal pricing.Tom has worked in Marketing, Strategy and General Management roles at eBay, Seatwave & Koodos. Selling travel is the most fun he's ever had.  

Tim Walton has been Vice President, International Hotel Development for Marriott International, Inc. since August 2005.  He is responsible for the development of all Marriott brands in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, including lifestyle and boutique brands such as Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, EDITION Hotels and Resorts and Autograph Collection Hotels and Resorts.  Prior to rejoining Marriott in 2005, Tim worked as Vice President of Development with Le Méridien and was responsible for hotel development across Europe.