This year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) has attracted the attention of the world’s largest real estate enterprise, Wanda Commercial Properties, which is part of the wider Dalian Wanda Group founded in 1988.

The Chinese giant is attending in order to promote and introduce Wanda Hotels and Resorts’ management capabilities to key industry contacts, as whilst its services and competitiveness is well known in Europe, US and Asia Pacific, the organisation is keen to raise its overall profile in the Middle East.

Primarily, Wanda Hotels and Resorts is known as an operator, however the company is looking to enter new markets due to the extensive hotel business support it can offer in terms of subsidiary divisions including travel agencies and online travel agencies (OTAs).

“We are pleased to be one of the sponsors of AHIC 2016, as a luxury hotel management company with four brands within our portfolio and we believe that attending AHIC will present us with opportunities to expand our various business facets in the Middle East. We are looking forward to networking with fellow sponsors and industry peers in order to gain valuable insights to the region and pinpoint new investment opportunities,” Qian Jin, president of Wanda Hotels and Resorts.

“We know that the Middle East guest profile closely matches that of our Asian guest profiles in terms of their expectation from luxury properties and service standards so attending AHIC will give us an opportunity to showcase our strengths and products in a market where we can draw many synergies," he added.

“The attendance of such an organisation as Wanda Group at AHIC just demonstrates the importance of the Middle East and its hotel investment industry on a global scale. We are delighted that Wanda Group is joining us as an event sponsor and we look forward to a fruitful event for all sponsors, attendees and speakers,” said Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, managing director Middle East of Bench Events.

Wanda Group is one of 38 event sponsors who will come together to form one of the highest delegations of industry leaders in terms of investment and growth. So far AHIC 2016 has registered attendees from 34 countries to listen to 124 speakers and attend 25 hours of networking time. AHIC aims to encourage growth and strength for the tourism and hospitality sector in the region by securing and nurturing international and regional investment.

Running from April 26 to 28, the 12th AHIC will take place in Dubai at the Madinat, Jumeirah. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Dept for Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates, the event is the region’s leading hotel investment conference and is renowned for its programme designed to tackle industry challenges directly. - TradeArabia News Service