AHIC attracts the interest of China's Wanda Group

AHIC will see high-powered discussions taking place.

This year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) has attracted the attention of the world’s largest real estate enterprise, Wanda Commercial Properties.

The firm is part of the wider Dalian Wanda Group which was founded in 1988 and is engaged in three key business activities - commercial properties, culture, and finance.

The Chinese giant hopes to raise its overall profile in the Middle East, as well as that of Wanda Hotels and Resorts.

While Wanda Hotels and Resorts is known as an operator, the company is looking to enter new markets as more than this 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,” said Wanda Hotels and Resorts president Qian Jin.

---FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AHIC DISCOUNT AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE---

Story continues below

“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, Bench Events.

Until now, AHIC 2016 has registered attendees from 34 countries to listen to 124 speakers and attend 25 hours of networking time.

The 12th AHIC will take place in Dubai at the Madinat, Jumeirah on April 26-28, 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.

AHIC has released a 15% registration discount for Hotelier Middle East readers; you can find this on the Hotelier LinkedIn Group along with more information.