Iran to host maiden hotel investment conference

Iran will host its first Iran Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (IHTIC) on February 7-8, at the Parsian Evin Hotel in Tehran.

The conference will gather international investors, owners, operators, developers and government officials.

Close to 20 speakers have been confirmed for the two-day event with several panel discussions lined up throughout.

Under the 2025 Tourism Vision plan, Iran is expecting to increase the number of tourism arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million by 2025.

The 4.8 million tourists brought around US$6.5 billion in revenue to the country despite sanctions and limitations imposed by the EU, the UN and the USA.

With the lifting of sanctions in January, it is expected that by 2025 the country will receive $30 billion from tourism income.

Only 13 out of the 96 hotels in Tehran are classified as four or five-star, although it is widely acknowledged that these would not meet internationally recognised standards for such classification.

Bench Events and IHTIC founder Jonathan Worsley said: “I greatly enjoy pioneering new markets; it started with IHIF in Berlin 20 years ago and has continued right through to the Iran Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference in 2017.

“I believe in Iran’s hospitality potential and whilst breaking new ground is risky with numerous obstacles, those that are first-to-market will no doubt benefit from healthy ROI’s and relationships with both local partners, investors and authorities alike.” 

Other hotel operators have also seen the potential and entered the market. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management Corp. signed management has agreements for four hotels in Iran – two in Tehran (opening in 2018) and two in Mashad (opening in 2017).

Melià Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel in 2017 on the Caspian Sea, with investment coming from a third party, and German hospitality company Steigenberger Hotel Group is set to build 10 hotels in different parts of Iran over the next 10 years.